Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-07-20
DELANO TO HEAD
BOTANIC GROUPS
Park and Planning Official
to Name Chairmen of
Eight subcommittee.

The House Library Committee and
the scientists whom It has asked 70
aid in drafting plans for a great ma
tional botanic garden in Washington
decided today upon appointment Of
eight subcommittees to carry on the
work. which is TO be in a report and
In legislation to be submitted to Con-
gresS at It's next session. These sub
committees will deal with the follow
ing subjects
l. Scope and functions Of the bo-
tanic garden.
2. Location and size.
g. Administration and correlation.
4. Education and public relations
5. Publications.
g. Library.
T. Report
g. Legislation.
DeIano Accepts Chairmanshlp.
Chairman Keller Of the House III
brary Committee. which has under
taken this work. announced that Fred
eric A. Delano. chairman Of the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission had agreed 10 act as
chairman OF the general committee.
and that Mr.. Delano would appoint
the subcommittee within a few days.
Scientists and horticulturalists from
many OF the great gardens OF this
country have agreed to serve with the
House committee in this work, and
they will be assigned 10 membership
on the subcommittee.
In connection with the size and
location Of the garden, il was said the
plan Is 10 go right ahead for the
present with the United States Bo-
tanic Garden, located at the foot Of
Capitol Hill, and for which Congress
has recently built new conservatory
at cost approaching million dollars.
There is a big area of property
parallel 10 Canal street southwest,
which has been assigned to the use
OF the United States Botanic Garden.
Part Of this property is being occu-
pied by the garden, but great deal
of it has not seen utilized at all. The
suggestion was advanced at the meet
ing Of the committee today that this
land be traded" for two or three
blocks OF land lying Immediately ad-
iacent to the present site OF the Bo-
tanic Garden. In this way a very
considerable development could pro-
coed promptly. The land that may
be desired lies between Virginia ave-
nue. and B street southwest and be-
tween First and Third streets.
House Members to Serve.
The Subcommittee on legislation
will have at least two members Of the
House committee. probably Represent
atives Keller of Illinois and Luce of
Massachusetts. Mr. Luce was chair
man OF the House Library Committee
when the Republicans had control OF
the House. The Subcommittee on
Report will be made up Of the chair
men OF all the other subcommittee.
Mr.. Keller said at the meeting to-
day that he considered the present
United States Botanic Garden
nucleus" around which to build up
the proposed great garden.
Dr. Rodney H. True, director OF the
Morris Arboretum of the University
of Pennsylvania. expressed the idea
that the present Botanic Garden is
such In name only, but that there Is
today "lots Of good stuff" from A.
botanic standpoint in the new green
houses OF the garden which can be
used to good purpose in the develop
ment Of greater garden. Such A
garden. he said, should serve scientific
and botanic purposes and be really
an educational institution.
Thomas jefferson. said DR.. True.
had opposed the setting up OF a boz
tanic garden by Congress way back
IN 1912 because. he said, Congress
would look on 1t as a place 10 get
free flowers and free vegetables.
80 far as flowers are concerned"
said DR.. True, ct looks as though Mr..
jefferson had been pretty good
prophet"
Congress, however. has failed 10
provide for the free distribution Of
shrubs and plants by the garden in
the last couple OF years.