Evening star., 1912-07-21
HAS HARD SLEDD|N'
Sundry Civil Bill Meets Numer-
GUS distractions
ON WAY THROUGH SENATE
Discussion Leads to Dissertation on
Yawning "Chasms."
OPPOSITION TO PARK ITEMS
Senator Reed Objects to Appropria-
tion for Washington State.
Senator Myers Retorts.
OPPOSITION TO PARK ITEMS

The sundry civil appropriation bill en-
countered disputa ton and divergence OF
| opinion in trying to make its way through
the Senate yesterday afternoon, and il
was far from final passage when the
| upper house adjourned for the day. about
| $40 O'Clock.
''Yawning cnasms'' looned up strong
| during the afternoon. being productive
| Of both delay and discussion. Senator
| Reed of Missouri il was who directed the
| path of the bill toward the chasms. There
was an amendment proposed by the Sem
ate committee on appropriations pro-
| viding an appropriation of $4S,50o for
! building new roads and trails and for
| making plans for road improvements
| in the Mount Rainier National Park In
| Washington state.
Senator Reed took exception to the
pouring of the peoples money into
these national reserves away from the
| centers of population. He took to task
| the people Of the states in which are
| located the national parks for seeking
| money from the federal Treasury with
| which to maintain and improve these
breathing spots
1T is outrageous that the government
should spend now hundreds Of thousands
| Of dollars and after while millions of
I
| local" Senator Reed commented.
| Every state I'm the Union. he said,
| might find some beauties Of nature which
| they could ask the federal government to
preserve at great expense. Missouri. Tor
| instance, he said. might ask the United
| States to preserve some of the beautful
chasms in which it takes pride.
Retort by Montana Senator.
This mention of chasms in Missouri, in
addition to the general attack on the ap-
preparations for national parks in the
Rocky mountain states, aroused the ire
| of some of the western senator's. Senator
Myers of Montana was particularly STIR
| red up.
] He remarked that he was somewhat IA
milar with Missouri and that he was sur
prised to learn that there were beautiful
| chasms in the state suitable for national
| parks.
| Perhaps some Of the people of the
state have fallen into them." he remark
| ed, "for I notice that by the last census
| the population of the state outside of its
three big cities shows decrease. Per-
| haps that's the use to which they have
been put
He did recall that. in the nature OF
chasms, the Mississippi and Missouri
rivers were identified With Missouri and
that the state had been obtaining millions
of dollars from the federal Treasury for
their Improvement.
THE people Of the state have not been
slow in asking money for those streams
he remarked. In view of that he init
mated, the Missouri senator ought not To
begrudge few paltry thousands for the
national parks in some of the western
states that get little or no money fol
river and harbor Improvements.
| Senator Myers concluded by express
ing the hope that the Missouri senator
would devote his energies to getting
1 dirt to fill Up tine chasms in Missouri.
| Indulges in Sarcasm.
Mr.. Reed was somewhat stirred up
by this attack. He retorted that there
were chasms in Missouri, but there were
none as great, he said. as was created
when the senator from Montana emf
grated from the state some years ago.
1T has produced an aching void in all
nature within the confines of the state
OF Missouri continued Mr. Reed.
The Missouri senator continued to ar
que that the preservation OF the terri
tory within the national parks was a
financial burden which the respective
states in which they are located should
undertake to provide for.
We uT want Reed 10 s,
where the people have to breathe. |
would sooner vote for the creation OF
breathing spots in the vicinity of great
cities than in the interior Of great
mountain or forestry tracts
Mr.. Reed. in pursuing his fight.
sought to get roll call votes on all the
provisions for the maintenance or in
provement of the several national parks.
hut his struggle failed because not a
sufficient number of senators would sec
ond his demand for roll calls.
!! Senator Ashurst Objects.
Senator Ashurst of Arizona was
moved by the discussion to denounce the
label on one of the pictures that thou
sands Of visitors have been looking at
curing trips through the United States
Capitol. The picture is tabled Grand
Canyon of Colorado. The grand can
yon OF the picture he said. is in .Ari-
Zona, and he suggested that proper
label be put on the picture. He rose to
| literary heights to paint to the minds
OF the senator's the beauties OF the state
which he. in part. represents In the up
per house of Congress.
| Another feature of the afternoon dis
cussion was the temporary Identification
of the criminal insane ward of st. Eliza
beth's Hospital with Howard University.
An amendment to the bill for cement
wall about Howard hall and shop and
storehouse building" with an aIpropria-
ton OF 5000 was under discussion, ana
it was questioned
Senator Warren arose TO say that this
was one of the structures of Howard
| University and that the wall was much
needed. \ minute later he realized his
| error and hastened to correct it. The
| amendment Wss adopted by the Senate
Action Postponed.
| The Senate declined to take action on
the recommendation of its appropriation
committee to strike out of the sundry
civil bill provision that would prohibit
| take up big legal cases for the govern