The Washington times., 1902-04-01
Representative Cannon
Objects to Proposed
Improvements.
VETOES A HALL OF RECORDS
Declares the District Can Wait-Urges
Additional Taxation to Provide Larger
Revenues-Industry of District Ex-
plotting the Treasury.

Representative Cannon, the chairman
Of the Committee on Appropriations in
the House yesterday delivered his opin-
ion upon the subject of District improve
ments and the question of taxation along
with other kindred topics of interest to
! Washington.
His remarks in regard to the sundry
| civil appropriation bill. the consideration
of which was begun yesterday. were di-
rected largely to matters pertaining 20
| the District.
| The keynote of his statement was the
declaration that there is but one industry
in the District of Columbia-that Of ex-
plotting the Treasury for the benefit of
| local public improvements. He disclaim-
| ed however. any intention of speaking un-
kindly OF the District of Columbia
District Can Wait.
He knew, he said. that certain public
buildings were needed, but he thought
the District could wait for time
Mr. Cannon was severe in criticism Of
the work of the Parking Commission and
its plans and purposes. He was emphatic
in expressing his disapproval of its pro-
ject for the aggrandizement OF the Capt.
tai.
In reference to the proposed park sys-
tenn Mr.. Cannon said:
Great plans have been made for the
extension of the park system in the Dis
trict of Columbia. We already have q
great park system. many hundreds of lit
tie parks scattered all through the city,
and then we have the Zoo. We have Rock
Creek Park, and have had il for many
years. The future is well cared for and
well assured from the standpoint of the
Government service in the District of
Columbia and for the convenience of its
inhabitants and for the welfare and
pleasure of all the people. But this sys-
tenn OF parks being reserved. we can go
slowly. The Almighty did much in the
Rock Creek Park. If you Just let it alone.
making few roads, which are gradually
being constructed, you cannot improve
much upon nature, and it will not be
necessary for a decade to make much OF
expenditure in that splendid park.
Parking Commission Plans.
There is a parking commission PROPOSE
tion that has never been adopted by Con-
gress, and so far as I am concerned, I
am inclined to say never will be adopted
by my vote. 1t was not self-appointed
commission, but commission appointed
by the coordinate branch of Congress
under a resolution. That commission
made their plans splendid and magnif-
cent. When the improvement is complete
il is to cost s200, ,000. 900. AS l understand
1t, it involves the condemning of all the
territory between the Mall and Pennsyl-
mi md no ,f hA
damages from the public Treasury, and
a great many other matters that, in my
Judgment ought not to be enacted
Defining his position as to public i'm
provements in Washington, Mr.. Cannon
continued:
My position and that of your commit
tee, | think without dissent, as l under
stand it, is about as follows: That for
of public buildings to carry
on the public business in the city of
We stand quite ready to CO.
operate and recommend all apt appropri-
alton as speedily the public service re-
quires and the public revenues will al
low, with due regard for the public SER
vices elsewhere in the United States
The District to Pay Half.
The second proposition is to beautify
the city without regard TO the public ser
vice and to make il a beauty spot in the
United States. AS to that great project
the proposition of your committee is that
we shall go just so fast in beautifying
the city of Washington as the people of
the city OF Washington are willing to 90.
and no faster, paying half the expense
thereof.
The Hall of Records.
There is one other matter that | want
TO call to the attention of the committee.
There is a great cry for a hall of records
in the District. There is a great cry for
he erection of a palace of Justice a new
State Department. new Department OF
Justice, and so on, and so on. Some of
.hese works might we'll be commenced.
lut they ought to be commenced with
are. to make them fairly agree with the
that have been made in the
District on the one hand and to shut of
,xJTayagance upon the other.
There are he said, many records now
being treasured which, for all practical
purposes, are worthless. He made special
-eference to some census reports 1l0 years
I'D which were of no value except to take
ID storage room, for which the Govern
nent is obliged to pay rent. Many others
should be destroyed.
He recognized, however. that there were
md that a hall of records would be n good
hing. He thought, however. an office
building for members OF the House was
more essential. Now members have no
place to conduct their business, save at
heir homes or hotels.
Needs of the Capitol.
He said that an investigation had re-
-ealed the fact that an appropriation of
2 800, 900 was necessary for the compile
ion of the Capitol. and s275.O00 for the
enovation of the Rotunda.
Referring again to local public i'm
Mr.. Rucker Dem. MOI
allied Mr.. Cannon's attention to the con-
roversy which has recently been going
IN regarding a personal tax law.
Mr.. Cannon said that his committee had
deferred the District appropriation bill
ending legislation to provide for improve
nents in the District. He said he was
unwilling to provide for expenditures for
for the District proper ex-
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