Evening star., 1934-11-25
BOTANIC GARDEN
CHANGE FAVORED
Subcommittee of Planning
Group to Ask Complete
Reorganization.

Complete reorganization OF the
United States Botanic Garden strictly
along scientific. educational ana
esthetic lines will be recommended IN
a report to .he Botanic Garden Plan
ming Committee approved yesterday
afternoon by its sub committee on cor
relation and administration.
Details Of the recommendations were
withheld until released by the general
chairman, Frederic A. Delano, to whom
the sub committee will submit its COM
plete report before December l. 1t was
learned. however, that an agreement
was reached by the sub committee.
which freely discussed all phases OF
the proposed reorganization plan at a
two-hour executive session in the COM
mittee room of the House Committee
on the Library.
1t is understood the sub committee
proposes to continue the Botanic Gar
den as an independent establishment
under the legislative jurisdiction OF
the Joint Committee on the Library
In accordance with the wishes OF the
Library Committee, it was understood
that the scope of the report is aimed
at lifting the Botanic Garden out OF
the nominal existence it had expe-
rienced in the past to a place OF real
importance in the scientific, eouca-
tional and esthetic world.
Consensus for Correlation.
For this reason. the sub committee
made known that it was the consensus
at the meeting to correlate both Fed
eral and non-Federal institutions with
the Botanic Garden in common pur-
! nose along botanical lines. In this
there was complete accord, it was an
nounced.
The Federal institutions to be cor
related with the garden, in line with
preesnt recommendations, include the
Smithsonian Institution and National
| Museum. which have skilled and
! trained botanists; the Department OF
: Agriculture. with its Bureau OF Plant
| Industry and various divisions devoted
to exploration and scientific study.
The National Academy of Sciences.
which was created under an act OF
Congress thus with members drawn
! from practically every scientific branch
/ of the Government, would possibly be
/ another cooperating group. In the
strictly non-Federal field this plan OF
Correlation would include some OF the
great private gardens Of the Nation,
such as Brooklyn Botanic Garoens'
as we'll as some Of the sclentlnc
! societies and clubs dealing with botany
and gardens.
Subcommittee Members.
The members Of the subcommittee
! consist of DR.. H. H. Bartlett. the
chairman. professor of botany OF the
: University Of Michigan: DR.. Frederick
V. Coville. acting director OF the Ma
, ,ional Arboretum, Department OF Agrl-
| culture: DR.. William r. Maxon, as
scciated CURATOR Of the Smithsonian
Institution; DR.. Rodney H. True, d.
rector of the Morris Arboretum, Uni
yersity of Pennsylvania, and capt.
John G. Bradley, clerk Of the House
Committee on the Library.
DR.. Bartlett said he expected TO get
his report in the hands OF MI. pei,
ano within a week for the fnal
general meeting Of the full committee
| in December. After all the subcom-
nlittee reports are in legislation grow.
/ ing out OF these studies will be sub
mitted to Congress at the next session:
DR.. Bartlett is sailing soon to spend
a wear in the Philippine Islands as
member of the staff of the Governor
| General. He will help with the ed-
ministration of on-Christian tribes
engage in botanic studies ana serve
also as exchange professor at the unl-
versity of the Philippines
| The meeting yesterday was the out
growth of a general meeting held on
! July lS and 10 with Chairman hent
E. Keller of the House Committee on
| the Library. in compliance with
special resolution OF the commlttee
which provided for a study and IN
yestigation of the Botanic Garden.
| New Planning Committee.
Out of the meeting emerged a new
Planning Committee with Mr.. Delano
as general chairman. Mr.. Delano Is
chairman also Of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission which
would have a direct interest also in
the development Of the Botanic
Garden.
In addition to the subcommittee on
correlation and planning there are
seven others as follows: Subcommittee
on Scope and Functions Of the Gar
den, Location and Size; Education
and Public Relations Publications;
Library Facilities; Report and Legis-
lation.
The functions Of the Report Com
mittee involve the compilation of re-
ports to be made to Congress. while
the Legislative Committee is to pre-
pare the recommendations for legis-
lation growing out of the various
studies, which Is to be submitted