Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-28
THE GEOLOGICAL PARK.
Lr. Enlos Criticises the Regcnts Of the Smith,
sonian Institution.

n THINKS THEY sHouLD HAVE FORMALLY Ac
crprED THE TRUST GIVEN THEN BY coNaRxs.
BEFORE TEIs--THE PROPOSED AsrHoPHrsrcAI
OBSERVATORY AND ITS PURPOSE
Soon after the roll call in the House yester.
day afternoon Representative Enloe of Ten
nesses rose to . question Of privilege on the
matter of the resolution Of inquiry concerning
the operations of the Geological Park commits
sion. This resolution introduced by Mr..
Enloe some time ago and referred to the com
mittee ON expenditures Of the Interior Depart
ment. Mr. Enloe said in the course Of his re-
marks yesterday;
Congress at its last session appropriated the
sum Of 80, 900 for the organization, mainten-
ance and improvement OF the National Zoologi-
cal Park and I find. according TO the prece-
dents that have been established, and believe
under the terms Of the act, it was necessary and
proper that the regents of the Smithsonian In
stitution should assume that trust and devise
ways and means to execute 1t, or vest the au-
thority somewhere to Use the appropriation In
accordance with the direction OF Congress. /
am informed that the board of regents have
not had a meeting since the passage OF that act;
that IL has never assumed the trust; that the
money appropriated has not 90 far been ex-
pended by due authority of law. l think it is
clear that no one had the right to draw one dol
lar Of the money from the treasury and ex-
pend it without the direction Of the board OF
regents Of the Smithsonian Institution"
THEY ARE ADMINISTERING THE TRUST.
Mr. Cutchson wanted to know il the board of
regents proceeded to administer the trust
whether that would not be as much an accept
snce Of il rs If they had taken formal action to
that effect?
Mr. Enloe-"Certainly, IL they proceeded 10
administer it, but they have had no meeting
since the trust was imposed upon them and
therefore they cannot have taken any action
Of that kind. But the secretary and the execu-
tive board have assumed, i suppose, that the
board of regents, when it did meet. would ap-
prove whatever had been done by them.
Mr.. Milliken asked why this whole matter
should not be taken charge of by the super
yising architect OF the treasury.
WHY THE sUBJEcr WAS BROUGHT Up.
In reply Mr.. Enloe said:
mo one else is directed or authorized to ac-
cept this trust but the regents Of the Smith
sonian Institution, and they could only carry
il forward in pursuance OF the designs Of Con-
gress. There has been no official acceptance
OF the trust by the regents, but the secretary
OF the Smithsonian Institution has been acting,
i suppose, on the assumption that his acts
would be approved by the board wheE it met
NOW the board holds its meeting tomorrow.
and wanted to call attention to the matter to-
day so that it might be brought 10 the attention
OF IQe DOdru AT Lnls IlectlUx. II setUlS W mt
shat il is q very loose way Of doing business to
provide a national park and place it under the
control of such n body as the board Of regents
of the Smithsonian Institution, made up as that
is, consisting Of the Vice President, members
Of Congress and citizens who reside in distant
states. gentleman who, in my Judgment. are
about little fitted. by reason of their posi-
tiOns. for such a trust as anybody could be- My
opinion is that members of the board do not
know anything about what is done with the
they Qat the nj or ti0v
the reports of their officers They have no
practical knowledge of the matter committed
to them, and they pay little or no attention to
what Is done.
THE PARK FENCE.
Continuing, Mr.. Enloe went on to say:
1T is a very important matter if We are 60
ing into the business of establishing a zoologi-
cal park or menagerie that we should have a
frst-class. respectable place of resort for the
people who visit this city. / opposed the
original appropriation; / did not like the gov
eminent going into the business of raising
animals and running menagerie: but as it has
embarked in the business l think the money
appropriated by Congress ought to be properly
expended:
Now, / understand that the park has been
iaclosed by picket fence. do not think it
was the intention of Congress ofence the pub
lie out of the park, but that the appropriation
for fencing was intended to fence in the ami
mails.
"a part of the property has been res n ed for
administrative purposes-about fOurtosa acres
OF the most attractive part. / do no. know
whether that ought to be reserved from the
TO be open like the remainder of the park. /
understand also that the contemplated i'm
provements in this park will cost when COM
pleted, the sum of g 700 per acre, s456 000."
THE AsrRoPHYsIcAL OBSERVATORY.
Later on Mr.. Enloe said: There ia one other
matter to which want to call attention In
the estimates for the present year now sub
mitted to the committee on appropriations and
under consideration, there is a proposition by
Prof. Langley 10 establish in this geological
park astrophysical observatory. / do not
think this Is exactly the proper place for
trophysical observatory. 1t may be that sci
ence, and especially the branch Of science
which this institution is intended to promote,
has some connection with a geological garden,
but cannot see it. / understand from Prof
Langley the object in going out there is to get
some retired place, some secluded retreat"
Mr.. Mlliken-'1 wish the gentleman would
have the goodness to explain to the House, for
am sure We do not all understand the sub
ject, the purpose and uses Of this astro-physical
observatory.
WHAT THIS OBSERVATORY r. FOR.
Mr.. Enloe-"well. II the gentleman from
Maine would like to have an official answer
will have to refer him to the book Of estimates,
which shows, / believe, for what purpose this is
intended believe the astro-physical observ-
atory is projected for the purpose Of promoting
\ branch of science here which will give en-
ployment to a large number of scientific gen.
tiemen. who will have very expensive instru-
ments furnished them ~ the expense of the
government, instruments Of o very sensitive
nature, so that they can study the relations of
the sun and other heavenly bodies to human
life, SO that in the DEVELOPMENT Of this science
the gentleman from Maine may be able to de-