Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-27
CHANGES PROPOSED IN THE HOUSE.

ChhNtES fhOfOSED IN THE HOUSE.
This bill was passed by the Senate January
%, 1890. When the bill went to the House Dis
trict committee it was there modified consid-
erably. The name of the park was changed
to Columbus Memorial Park. This was done
in Difference to the Columbus sentiment that
then had big swing at the Capitol. For the
first time the limitation to width south of the
Broad Branch and Blagden Mill roads appeared.
This strip of the park was not to exceed 500
feet on either side of the creek The whole
tract 70 be acquired was limited to 2 900 acres
A direct appropriation of 81, 200, 900 was in
serted, one-half to be charged to the District
and provision made that half the annual
charge of maintenance should be paid by the
District Another change placed the park,
when purchased, under the joint control of
the District Commissioners and the chief of
engineers Of the army.
TEMPORARY DEFEAT.
March "a the bill was up in the House and
warmly debated. Strong speeches in favor of
the bill was made by Messrs. Grout, Cannon
Atkinson, Moore, Hooker, Heard and Hemp
hill, while Messrs. Kerr. Payson and Blount
opposed it. The proposed name of the park
was cut down from columbus Memorial to
PLAIN Columbus" Before the consideration
Of the bill was completed it went over. April
70 1t came up again in committee Of the whole
An amendment by Mr.. Payson to assess the
benefits to adjacent lands was agreed to. The
bill was favorably reported to tine House the
same day and defeated-ayes IS, noes 49, Mr.
Hemphill, who had voted in the negative for
the purpose, immediately moved reconsidera-
ton. The friends of the bill were not dis
Outraged by the temporary defeat. An active
and careful canvass made of the members abb
sent or not voting that day led them to believe
that the result might have been different in a
fuller vote. The bill came up again May 26, on
the motion to reconsider and the excellent
work done meanwhile by the citizens commit
tee was shown when the bill was passed by a
vote of 1O7 to SO.
The bill then went to conference committee,
where 1t underwent further changes One
thing done by the conference committee was tn
drop the nameNolumbuS and restore the name
of Rock creek. The House amendment pro-
vIding for assessing benefits to adjacent prop
erty was retained. The amount Of 81 200 900
was appropriated, and it was provided that the
commission should be composed of the chief of
engineers, the Engineer Commissioner of the
District and three citizens to be nominated Ly
the President and confirmed by the Senate.
THE FINAL VICTORY.
By good management Mr.. Hemphill secured
the consideration of the conference report bv
the House September %. 1890, and the report
was agreed to-ayes, 1913: noes, IS. On the fol-
lowing day 1t was agreed to by the Senate. The
next day it reached the President and became
a law, having received his signature Saturday.
September q. The President showed deep
| interest in the measure. not only by his prompt
approval OF it, but by Immediately nominating
the three civilian commissioners, SO there
might be no delay in carrying its provisions
into effect.
The commission was composed of Gen.
Thomas l.. Casey, the chief of engineers. and
Lieut. Col. Henry NJ. Robert, the Engineer
Commissioner of the District, who were men,
bers of the board by virtue Of their Offices and
three citizens appointed by the President, Gen.
n. V. Boynton, Prof. S. 2. Langley and Mr.. r.
Ross Perry. In addition Capt. Rossell, the as
sistant to the Engineer Commissioner, in charge
, OF public highways, became by law the ex-
ecutive officer to the commission. Upon the re-
| tirement of Col Robert from the Office of
Engineer Commissioner of the District, Capt.
Rossell. who was appointed Engineer Commits
| sioner, by virtue of that fact became a member
of the Rock Creek Park commission and Capt.
Fiebiger became the executive officer of the
commission.
THE WORK OF THE PARK COMMISSION
The work Of the commission was bepun At
once, but many distractions were placed in
their way. Upon Mr.. Perry, who is the lawyer
of the commission, devolved labors of unex::
pected magnitude, but at q great sacrifice of
his personal interests he devoted himself to
combating the constant and ingenious efforts
made on the part of owners of land to defeat
the Will OF the people, as expressed by Con-
| gress, as to the disposition of Rock creek.
| However great the credit awarded to the citi-
| zens whose efforts resulted in securing the park
legislation, no smaller debt of gratitude ia due
| by the public to the park commissioners and
| especially to its representative in court Mr.,
Perry, for steady loyalty 10 the trust imposed
| In them and vigorous management of the af-
fairs intrusted to them, that preserved what
| the citizens committee had won and which
might have been lost IL the commission had
| been satisfied with a mere perfunctory dis
| charge of duty.
First the commission had to makea thorough
+ exploration and survey Of the whole park re-
gion In March, 1891, the final map of the
proposed park prepared by the commission was
filed and the report Of their findings as to value
| made. In April the report was approved bv
the President and an offer for the land was &c nj
to each OF the property owners. In the same
| month the commissioners were obliged to ask
| an injunction from the courts to protect the
trees IN the park, which were being cut by
some OF the property holders. Several hear
| ings were given and in May Judge. Hagner
granted the injunction. The sums offered nv
| the commission were accepted by number of
owners, and 30 about 800 acres were purchased
by private agreement as provided in the act
A considerable number Of owners held ont.
however, and the commissioners petitioued the
court as provided by law, for the appointment
OF an apprsising commission. Mr. Watson.
one OF the owners, enlivened the proceedings
| by petitioning for an order restraining the
commissioners from Interference with his
property, which petition, however was re-
fused The property owners in June petit
uoned 70 nave the request Of the commission
ers Tor appraisers disalldwed They pleaded
the unconstitutionality of the original sct
Arguments followed before the Court in Gem
eral Term, and in July the petition of the own
| ers was denied, and. q. J. Seuferle. Norvsl w.
Burchel and J. L. Norris were appointed APP
TIE ArrzAlsx,uxr.