Evening star., 1955-03-12
On Preserving Rock Creek Park

The recent hearings demonstrated
shere is largely one principal issue
which can only be resolved by current
expression of intent by Congress as to
the future of Rock Creek Park. That
issue is whether or not the original
partnership agreement between the
United States and the State Of Mary
land is to be honored and preserved or
allowed to lapse into worthless scrap
of paper.
The words of Senate Joint Resolution
36 for Preservation of Rock Creek PARK
merely spell out more clearly what
already is contained in the Capper-
Cramton Act and embodied in the
agreement signed by the President OF
the United States and the Governor OF
the State of Maryland. Only those who
intend to ignore the spirit and expressed
intent of that act and agreement can
find any grounds for objection to a
reiteration of those principles and pur-
poses. Thus everyone testifying at
these hearings, except handful OF
Maryland officials, is for the resolution.
and because of the Maryland opposi-
ton, the present threat of violation OF
Vic dCU dllO oSACCAA1SAlO 40 SASoA etAAo SA@eeS
the need for the resolution is clear.
Many national organizations have
joined with local citizens and groups OF
the District of Columbia and the
neighboring counties of Maryland in
support of this resolution. They see
this issue as one which if not met
squarely here and now. can and will
allow our national parks throughout
the land to be invaded in like manner.
Uniformly, Federal park and conserva-
ton officials have expressed these same
fears and recommend passage Of the
resolution.
A careful reading of the brief reso-
luton reveals that it is in truth but a
restatement of existing law; that it asks
nothing of the State of Maryland except
adherence to solemn agreement be-
tween that sovereign State and the
Federal Government whereby Maryland
has benefited greatly in the past and
stands to benefit further in years to
come; and that it merely instructs its
own Federal agency to stick to the prin-
ciples and limitations of the Capper-
Cramton Act which made possible.
through Federal funds, the extension of
Rock Creek Park into Maryland under
generous but nevertheless binding con-
ditions. The resolution therefore gives
opportunity to Congress to revitalize
the spirit and great wisdom of those
who had the vision to preserve the
incompatible natural beauty of Rock
Greek. The situation can best be ex-
pressed perhaps by one of those original
authors of the Capper-Cramton Act.
Honorable Louis C. Cramton in June,
1854, wrote: There is an attempt in
some quarters to call this wonderful
park area parkway. And when they
do, they put all the emphasis on the
second syllable and would have it be-
come way, dropping all emphasis on
park"
The statement of Senator Murray on
behalf of the sponsors of the resolu-
tion explains in some detail the deep
interest of Congress and the Nation as
a whole in preserving Rock Creek Park
from encroachment upon its dedicated
purpose. Nothing occurred in these
hearings to suggest any departure from
the wise course laid out by Congress
and agreed to in 1881 by Maryland as
to the extension Of the park into the
adjoining counties of that State
Ernest F. Henry.