The Washington herald., 1908-05-27
PARK BILL DEFEATED
Rock Creek Measure, Carry
ing 100000, Is Beaten.
TAwNEY PLEADS FOR PASSAGE
By Overwhelming Vote Of 161 to 50
Bill 10 Acquire Additional Land
for Playground Is Killed by House.
It's Defenders Prove Few-Last
Chance TO Get The Land.

BY an overwhelming vote the House
yesterday afternoon declined 10 pass the
LII recently reported from the Commit
tee on Appropriations, authorizing the
expenditure OF SiO0, 900 for the acquisition
Of additional land for Rock Greek Park.
The vote resulted 16i to &C. but ii was
plainly evident long before the roll call
was taken that there was little hope for
its passage, in spite of Chairman Taw-
ney's admirable effort to show good cause
why Congress should purchase the land
in question now.
Mr.. Tawney was, in fact. the principal
orator in advocacy Of the dill. although
Representatives Olcott. 6s the District
Committee. and Gardner OF the Appro-
priations Committee also spoke in behalf
of its adoption.
should buy Land.
Mr.. Tawney contended that the gov
ernment would do well TO buy this land
which Is diseased ct $500 an acre. He
said that the owners OF the property
have asserted that IL Congress fails "a
take up the option at this session. nc
similar opportunity TO purchase at such
a price will be given
Mr.. OlcOtt and Mr.. Gardner both con-
tended that Congress should obtain this
land now. when II can be purchased al
"A comparatively reasonable figure. IT Il
necessary. and should be secured for
the addition to Rock Creek Park
Representatives Bartholdt. Sherley
Fitzgerald, and Andrus all were opposed
10 the bill II was stated by these mem
bers that several years ago this property
would have cost 100000. and that then
the northwestern part Of Massachusetts
avenue had not been developed as at pres
ent
Consequently. II was shown. when the
owners had reduced the price by $500, 600
after Improvements had been made In the
neighborhOOd. 1t is quite bellevable that
still further reductions in price may bt
expected.
In closing the argument. Mr.. Tawney
said that in his opinion the government
might as well buy the land now, because
there would be so much pressure brough,
to bear upon Congress ultimately that II
would practically be driven 70 make the
purchase. and then. perhaps. make It al
larger figure.
Action Is Final.
This action Of the House puts the hna'
Quietus upon this subject and spofs the
hopes OF c. G. Glover who appeared be-
fore the subcommittee Of the Appropria.
tions Committee. which reported the bill
1t was Mr.. Glover's testimony before
this subcommittee which proved that the
option at the $4,000 figure VIII expir,
with this session Of Congress. y
Mr.. Glover's entire dlsinterestedness Is
shown by a portion OF the testimony
which he willingly gave the subcommit-
tee.
If this bill passes said Mr. Clover
ample time is allowed 20 make the neces-
sary examinations and conveyances, and
so forth I could not do Il. and Mr.
Tawney. l am going to say another thing
/ cannot come up here 70 Congress again
70 speak Of matters Of this kind
Il leave the bank full OF people dowr
there, and it is n colossal sacrifice.
have not any more interest in il than any
man at this table and I have already
left sufficient public monument for pub.
ic-spiritedness. and I could not posslbly
obtain a renewal OF this option
IF you do not take this now-it is a
lot Of subdlvided lots-you know what
you will have to pay II It goes into town
lots.