Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-06
THE GEOLOGICAL PARK.
A Lively Discussion in the House Over Its
Management.

mr. BRECKENRIDGE OFFERS An AMENDMENT RE-
IEvTNG THE DISTRICT FROM PAYING oSE-HALF
THE RUNNING Expenses AND MAKES A STRONG
PLEA FOR THE DISTRICT WITHOUT AVAIL
The House yesterday afternoon, after THE
Stars report closed. expressed once more its
intention of continuing the unjust plan OF
charging to the District one-lalf of the running
expenses Of the National Geological Park. The
discussion came up when the clauses in relation
to the park were reached in the sundry civil
bill Mr.. Cultivate (Ohio) opened the argu-
ment by inquiring what the appropriation for
bridges meant. Mr.. Cannon replied that the
bridges were across the raylTe. and then Mr.
Cultivate said he had it from goodfauthority
that the bridges for this park, which had been
designed by q higE-priced architect, had
been submitted to a practical builder,
who had declined TO make bids on the struc-
ures ON the ground that after the props were
removed the bridges would fall down il con-
straeted ON those plans. Mr.. Cannon, in an
sWer to Mr. Cultivate. said very little about
the bridges. but explained that the estimates
for the PARK this year had been cut down one
half.
THE SMITHSONIAN REGENTS CRITICISED.
Mr.. Rogers on inquiring into the number Of
meetings which the board of regents Of the
castor, to saw in reference to the past desire
10 say that il some attention is not given to the
expenditure of this money and the improve
ment and development of this park beyond the
mere examination OF reports and the mere cali
ing of formal meetings, you are certain to drift
into some great scandal. / do not mean cor
ruption. not necessarily that by any means,
bg: some great public scandal growing ont OF
the unwise and improper expenditure OF the
public money appropriated for this park
l.. II. 81, hg.ar
OF regents. said that something like three meet
inSs of the board had been held during the
present session The board had examined tine
reports of expenditures on the Geological Park
and had inspected the plats and designs for fu-
tire work.
Mr. Rogers then remarked: Eyes and every
thing else. including the expenditure of the
pubic money. Is turned over to gentleman
VINO. understand. is a very superb astronomi-
cal Ian. but who, suppose, has never devoted
tive hours and half IN al the days of his life
10 the arrangement of any park until he
placed IN charge OF this matter. Mr.. Rogers
then criticised the board for not paying more
personal attention TO what was going on at the
park. Some practical man who understood
sUch matters should have charge of the
having ont of the park. while the as
siatance OF some person thoroughly versed
in animals should be obtained for
this branch of the subject. Mr.. Rogers sug-
gested that the committee on appropriations
ought to turn their attention to some inyesti-
g.tiOn to determine whether there ought not
10 be some change in the organic law for the
government of the geological Park.
When the last paragraph was reached, which
provided at the end that one-half of the $50. 500
appropriated should be pail by the District,
Nh. Breckinridge (kJ-) moved to strike out
this provision
PLEA FOR THE DISTRICT.
Mr.. Breckenridge made an eloquent plea for
hisamendment. He said: Think there is a very
broad distinction in point of justice between
requiring the District of Columbia to pay half
OF the purchase price Of this park and requir-
ing il to pay half of the expense of the collec-
tlOn OF the animals that to be gathered
there did not think II proper for the District
to pay any part of this expense. thought 1t
wiser that the general government should carry
on this enterprise exactly as it carries on the
Smithsonian Institution. Itappeared to me that
this park had nothing to do with the District of
Columbia. except that il is located in it: that it
Is the enterprise of the United States growing
on; of the original acceptance by the govern
ment of the bequest of James Smithson and
our putting that bequest into Official shape by
the establishment of the Smithsonian Institu-
ZION. In my view, if it a proper expense
to send agents all over the country to find the
skeletons Of animals, it was an equally proper
expense to collect living animals and to prevent
particular species from becoming extinct I
thought that the District of Columbia had prop
erly no part in this matter; that the general
government should not give the District any
control over 1t and ought not to put upon the
District the burden of paying any part of the
expense of maintaining the park.
NASIFEsrLY UNJUST TO THE DISTRICT.
Now. this has gone one step further than we
have ever undertaken TO go before. Heretofore
only made the District of Columbia pay its
share for the original Improvement Hereto
fore We only made the District pay one-half of
the cost Of the park, not for its management.
1t has no jurisdiction over the management
and hence II is marifestly unjust to the District
TO make il pay one-half of the expenditure 20
carry on an enterprise which it has no
control. and it would give to the District OF Co
lumbia basis Tor a claim hereafter for Joint
management. which do not think ought TO be
given and which certainly was not contem-
plated. in my Judgment, by the original act
But i have said this goes farther. 1t not
only makes the District pay one-half of the
permanent improvement and the administra-
tion OF the park, but IL also requires il to pay
Onc-half Of the care. subsistence. and trans
pOrtatlOn OF animals. and for the purchase
of rare specimens not otherwise obtainable.'
think that Is going rather too far.
TIE GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO HAVE 40 PARTNER
SHIP.
Il have no interest whatever in the matter
except in the most general way, but simply
oder The amendment so that it may be kept
alive ia the record. in order that there nav be
a constant understanding that this position is
net approved Of unanimously by Congress- but
thar there were some OF "a at least who thought
II unwlse in the first place, and unjust to the
District of Columbia in the second. TO require
this; and that IL IL not our desire to approve
OF a proposition by which the government
shall go into partnership with tire District
Tor the establishment OF a geological park here
The whole ground ON which | advocated
originally. the purchase OF the park was that
tine United States. after the acceptance of the
Snithson beduest and the establishment of the
Smithsonian Institution, had already COM
nltted Itself TO that line of scientific inquiry or
that line OF investigation. and that this was
SIMPLY the development Of what the govern
ment had already agreed to do Now. to make
the District pay one-haE of the expenditure
log Eainten nance Is simply 10 remove the whole
ground Ihat justltieS the expenditure in the
nrst instance, because putting il upon any
ether basis il would be entirely INDISPENSABLE
Mr. Cannon claimed that the whole matter
PASSED.
Mr.. Herbert said that he hoped the amend
nent would rot prevail. He thought that
great benefit To the city. He held that if the
taxpayers Of tie District paid half Of the ex-
peI;ses Il would make them watchful SO that
not wrongfUliy expended.
Ar. Wheeler also urged against the amend
ment- lie defended Mr. Langley and the ad-
mInis'ration vi the park II Was. he said in
charge Of men thoroughly versed in their diff
ferent departments he acknowledged that
the regents did not go to the, park, as they did
not have time.