Evening star., 1934-03-22
BOTANIC GARDEN
CHANGE FAVORED
Democratic and Republican
House and Senate Men,
berS Give Views.

Inc ftODlIlSOn OIL IOr transfer OF
the National Botanic Garden from
the control of the joint Congressional
Committee on Library of Congress to
the control of the Department of Agri-
culture. already has gained many ad-
herents among members of the House
and Senate Included in their num-
ber are both Democrats and Re-
publicans.
The measure for the transfer. which
has been sponsored in the Senate by
the Democratic leader. Senator Robin
son of Arkansas, has the support Of
the Garden Club of America and of
many of the horticultural societies
throughout the country. These or
ganizations were represented at a
hearing on the bill before the joint
Committee on Library, and many Of
their members have written in favor
of the bill to members Of Congress
and to the joint committee.
Senator Tydings, Democrat, OF
Maryland today declared himself
heartily in support Of the Robinson
bill. He said:
The Library Committee Is not
equipped nor has it the knowledge
or the personnel successfully to ad-
minister and supervise botanical
garden in the National Capitol.
When Congress is not in ses-
sion. the committee Is absent for
months at time. Proper conduct
and administration of the Botanical
Garden, by every rule of reason, should
be in the hands of a trained and
competent personnel who are skilled
in work Of this kind and who are
stationed In Washington, where they
can give it constant and intelligent
supervision"
introduced Last Session.
The bill was introduced in the last
session Of Congress by Senator Robin
son and was referred to the Library
Committee. Hearings were held in
January at which Frederic A. Delano,
chairman of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission and uncle
of President Roosevelt. testified at
length in favor of the shift. His
testimony was followed by that Of
Mrs. Fairfax Harrison. representative
of the Garden Club of America. and
Mrs Frank B. Noyes, Knowles A.
Ryerson, chief Of the Bureau of Plant
Industry; Harlan P. Kelsey of the
Massachusetts Horticultural Society,
Leonard Barron Of the New York
Horticultural Society and Robert Pyle,
representing the American Associa-
ton Of Nurserymen. All requested
that the change be made.
The plan has the backing Of Sec
retary of Agriculture Wallace and
Budget Director Douglas. Seantor Byrd
of Virginia, in whose State the Gar
den Club is very active, said Il think
it is more appropriate for the De-
partment of Agriculture to take care
OF the Botanic Garden and that it
should be moved under its jurisdic-
ton"
Senator Gibson of Vermont, mem
Der Of the Senate Library Committee,
expressed himself as wanting to i'm
prove the Botanic Garden. L favor
any change that would better the con-
dition of the Botanic Garden. As a
member of the Committee, would
not stand in the way of q change
that would mean better administration
and development" he stated
Senator Keyes of New Hampshire
spoke directly to the point Il think
the Botanic Garden should be under
the Department Of Agriculture"
View Of Senator Capper.
Senator Capper of Kansas indicated
he would be in favor of the plan and
Senator Carey of wyoming said he
was convinced the Department OF
Agriculture should have charge Of the
Botanic Gardens in order that they
might be adequately developed and
credit to the Capital.
In the House, the sentiment among
those who are cognizant of the sit
uation is strongly in favor of this
change in administration. Represent
ative Bacon of New York is thor
oughly convinced of the necessity.
Il favor the transfer of the Botanic
Garden to the Department of Agri-
culture" he said. AT the present
moment it fills no useful purpose and
therefore is an extravaganza Under
the Department of Agriculture 1t
would be developed into a useful sci
entific laboratory Of horticulture. Ex-
periments could be carried on that
would benefit the entire country.
Also. under the experts Of the De-
partment of Agriculture, the Botanic
Garden could be developed into a real
exhibition Of rare plants that would
be an attraction to the many visitors
to Washington"
Representative Luce, member Of the
House Library Committee. also be-
lieves this job would be best man.
aged by the Department of Agricul-
ture. He said. Il am of the belief
that We should have in Washington
a botanic garden that will be both of
interest to visitors and to students of
botany, and what is more important,
will be of service to the sciences in
volved
This last end will best be served
by putting the gardens under the
Department Of Agriculture However.
the committee is still celebrating the
considerations involved, and as a
member of the committee I should
keep an open mind until they have
all been studied"
Woman Members Views.
Both Mrs. Rogers of Massachusetts,
and Mrs. Kahn of California feel that
the Capitol should have a representa-
tive botanic garden. Mrs. Rogers said.
Il think the Botanic Garden should
go to the Department of Agriculture
where it would have the best care
and be of least cost to the Govern
ment. That department Is better
fitted for such a job than Congress"
Mrs. Kahn, who has known the
botanic garden since she and her late
husband first came to Washington
made the following statement. the
botanic gardens should be built up to
be what its name implies, a real
botanic garden of genuine scientific
value"
The Joint Committee on Library is
to hold another hearing on the bill,
at which opponents OF the transfer
will be given an opportunity to be
heard. II time is permitted them,
the supporters of the measure also