The evening times., 1897-12-25

Secretary Alger has replied to the local
florists, who take exception to the free
distribut ioL Of plants and cut flowers by
the superintendent OF the public build
ings and giounds.
The reply is ia answer TO the le.t.r
sent to the Secretary OF War about
month ago, pttitioning the War Depart
ment to prohi bit such distribution Of
flowers, on the ground that IL is unjust
to the floral trade. The matter was e
ferred To Col. Bingham, superint endent Of
public buildings and grounds, anil he
reported that the. small distribution OF
flowers by the Government did not ar
feet in any large degree the florists Of
this city. He thought. on the cOntra-y y.
that such distribution cultivated II taste
for fIcwers among people. He said the
distribut ion is at present made To hos
pitais. official Of the Administration,
to the Supreme Court, members OF Coi-
gress, and particularly to the employees
of the Government for funerals ana s;ich
purposes
The reply Of Secretary Alger is to the
local florists ma med in the petition, but Is
addressed to Nj. Studer. II follows:
''Ackrowledging the receipt OF Your let
ter Of tie ati, ultimo, protesting against
the free distribution OF cut flowers, plants,
etc. by the Superintendent OF Public Build
ings and Grounds, beg to inform You that
the chief of engineers, to whom the mat
ter was referred. reports as follows: Tine
custom OF dis riburing flowers that may
be In bloom ut the pIopagatins gardens is
one OF long standing, and 1t is understood
has been in existence ever since the com
meDceruent OF the construction OF the green
houses at the nursery, over a third OF a
century ago.
1T seems 10 he rToEcr thing to send
out TO hospitals. IaiIs, festivals and church
es and to prominent Government officials
and orhers, these pretty blooms, rather
tnan to permit the flowers to ia de and die
upon the shrubs. and there appears to ,ie
no legal Objection to using iCr tie cuff
,ation of flowers for decorative purposes
at large and important public functiols,
when not otherwise occupied. the az ailsble
area or glass so necessary during aS"H
one half the year for propa "a ting the half
million pla rts used in assisting in tie sum
mer decoration of TIE ruhlic parks.
...Thc custom In this n after las ,een
frequently n.entiuBed in annual rpeor's 10
Congress, and tie fact reported that willie
under the Lew, the loan or gift Of the plants
was constantly courteOGsiy refused, the
blooms were gladly distributed so far as
the limited ouaBtity would admit.
The florists dc not appear to be 81 tisfi,d
with the answer. Many Of them say it is
no reply at . II, and several say that it is
only begging the question and as reply
beneath thu dignity OF the War Department
Mr.. j. K. Freeman, the florist on Thi-
teenth street, when appruac ched on the sub
iect, last night, said: Il consider the
letter no reply at all. 1t is simply e
hash Of " hat Col. Bingham and Mr.. WI
son, former superintendent OF buildings and
grounds, have written to us time and
time again"
Mr.. Freeman exhibited letters which he
had received iron. these gentlemen III
cUrroiora ate his statement. He had ask ID
Col. Bingham to show him the statute :.u-
th"rizing suci, flee distribution of flow
to him unneI dstc OF october ., last, say
ing that he had been una blc To find any
such law up to that time.
Nj Freeman said that the Ia W most EN-
phatically tells what shall be done with
the products of the Government gardens.
The law is to be fnundm in the United states
statutes at large, Forty-fifth Congress.
second session. 1S77-1S1s, volume 20,
page ego, ard provides: THAT tere-
after only such trees, plants and shrubs
shall be propagated at the greenhouses
and nurseries as are suitable for the pub
lie reservations, To which purpose only
the said Productions of the greenhouses
and nursery shall be applied
Mr.. Freeman said that the law, as just
stated, was not being complied with de
said that while talking to Col. BinshanI
recently on the matter he was informed
that about 1000 boxes OF cut flowers
were being distributed by the Govern
ment. Figuring at the rate of So a box.
this ;,l;,ne would amount to So, 100 month.
He said that the Government hothOuscs
south of tue Monument are only first-cliss
bouquet shops" They grow such biooms
as roses, carnations, and lilies of the val
ey, as well as smilax. OF which, he said,
he could not see in the parks any such |
flowers. Mr.. Freeman said that just such |
flowers were being grown by the Govern
ment gardeners, and freely distributed,
while the growing of budding plants was
not being carried on is it should be.
1T Is argued he said, That such blooms |
as roses and carnations are being grown |
for the " hite House. II such Were the case
would raise no objections at all, even |
though tbs White House has conservatories |
enough tt furnish all the flowers and |
plants required foi tn. seven or eight ,tate |
gwen during the winter season. |
Such Is not the case, though, and evan now |
You find upon Investigation that artificial |
flowers have disgraced the mantels IT tie |
Mansioh."
Mr.. Freeman remarked In CONCLUSION |
that while Congress was in extra session |
last spring th. gardeners we're kept - Susy |
growing Roses and such plants that rhty |
neglected. the gardens. He said they found !,