Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-12
FAIL TO RAISE FUND.
Antipathy to Roosevelt Speci-
mems Charged in House.
AMENDMENTS ARE LOST
Efforts Of Republicans to Increase
Smithsonian Appropriation
Are Defeated.

SiHS tHal the antipatny 10 the
Roosevelt policies in politics was inter-
fering with the Smithsonian Institution s
scientific progress in that there is de-
iiberate attempt to ruin the Roosevelt
African collection" by not appropriating
money for it's preservation. republican
leaders in the House today vainly en-
deavOred to increase the appropriation
| which the democrats have allowed the in
stitution in the sundry civil bill.
Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
has been measured out by the House ap-
preparations committee as sufficient for
the scientific work of the institution, but
Representatives Cannon, Mann and
Cooper, all republicans. tried to get $780,
600 more, and then, failing at that. asked
in vain for $4,000 more.
The bill was considered today by the
House In committee of the whole.
Today is ''Holy Wednesday, as calen-
dar Wednesday Is called at the Capitol,
| but the representatives, anxious to get
the big appropriation bills out of the
| way, set aside the regular business of
the House.
Cannon Offers Increase.
Representative Cannon offered an in
crease in the Smithsonian Institution ap-
preparation OF $3.50 900, suggesting a raise
of $4,000. 1t drew fire from Representa-
tive Fitzgerald. chairman Of the ap-
preparations committee, in charge Of the
BILL
Representative Cannon urged that the
money be appropriated. and mentioned
the Roosevelt collection" still unmount-
ed, and referred to the Sunday opening Of
the National Museum. Representative
Fitzgerald claims the credit for the great
boon to Washington in the Sunday OPEN
ing.
rs the Sunday opening compulsory by
law or not?' asked Mr.. Cannon.
They opened Sunday because / in
sisted on it, said Mr.. Fitzgerald.
There ought to be enough money ap-
propriated to mount this collection said
Representative Mann Of Illinois. 1T has
an inherent interest because the speci-
mems came from Col. Roosevelt, ana the
people of the United States are interested
in him.
Il would be sorry to see the demo-
cratic antipathy to Roosevelt and his
policies show itself in the democratic
refusal to appropriate money enough
to place this great collection on ex-
hibition. If you refuse to do this,
bid you remember that there. will come
b udy When you Will WISH you ndO
given the money"
Republicans Applaud Sally.
Republican applause greeted this sally,
and Representative Sherley of Kentucky
arose to explain that the increase asked
for by Representative Cannon, if it fol-
lowed the lines laid down in the hearings
before the committee, would not have
anything to do with mounting the Roose-
welt collection. The extra amount, he
said, was asked for to send out certain
expeditions in connection with arts and
industries. He said that in his opinion
too much money and too much speed are
bad things for q scientific institution.
Too much money, in Representative
Sherley's opinion. makes curators care
less, makes them mount anything and
everything in the way of specimens. while
a little streak of economy makes them
mount the best thing they have.
IT'S all right to go SLOW" retorted
Representative Cooper, but why not ap-
propriate money for the mounting of
these Roosevelt specimens when you have
them deteriorating in the building?"
He and Representative Sherley there
upon had an argument as to whether 1t
would hurt the Roosevelt birds and skins
to be packed away In moth balls and
cedar instead of being stuffed and labeled
OeHinu glass; case. MT SnerIey also az
sured the members of the House that the
Roosevelt element in the collection was
not q factor In the committees determi-
nation OF the amount to be appropriated
for the Museum and Smithsonian Insti-
tuition.
THE appropriation which the demo-
Gratis have given the Smithsonian" said
Representative Cannon, will make it
necessary to stop much of the work at
the institution. The appropriation for the
present year is small enough as it stands,
and II the amount is cut to $4,000 the
work OF the taxidermist will cease alto
gether."