1156 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 
Like the collections of the National Museum, the people, no matter how ignorant of 
natural history, will feel it is for them, and they will support it accordingly. Under 
the management provided for in this amendment, no man who votes for this amend- 
ment will ever regret it. We have lost too much time already in the prosecution of 
this enterprise; let us delay no longer, but begin at once to build up the grandest 
collection of American quadrupeds, birds, and reptiles on the face of the earth. 
Mr. Knute Netson. Mr. Speaker, I do not propose to enter upon any 
extended discussion of this matter. I think on its face it will commend 
itself to the favorable consideration of every member of the legislative 
department of so great a country as that of the United States. This 
city, sir, ought to be something more than a mere political center, 
something more than a mere gathering place for statesmen and poli- 
ticians. The people coming from every part of the country expect at 
the national capital to see something else than to come into these gal- 
leries and look down upon members of Congress to see us perform our 
duties in a listless and perfunctory manner, as we often do. This city 
ought to be not only the political center, but it ought to be the great 
art and educational center toward which the attention of our people 
should be directed. 
The people of this country, Mr. Speaker, are not endowed with the 
little and mean spirit some persons suppose. Amongst the great insti- 
tutions we have established in this city, which are now in successful 
operation, are the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum. 
I venture to say there is not a man or woman who comes to this capital 
throughout the year who does not visit those institutions to examine 
carefully the specimens and study the object lessons there presented, 
and who does not go away satisfied and content that the Government 
has established those institutions, and who does not cheerfully acqui- 
esce in the taxation necessary to supply the money to carry them on. 
All great governments have recognized the fact that such scientific 
establishments as the National Museum and the Smithsonian Institu- 
tion and a zoological garden are well calculated to train and educate 
the people and to cement the nation into one harmonious, intellectual 
whole. 
All great countries on the face of the globe have these zoological 
gardens or institutions of a similar character established in some form 
or other. There is scarcely one—indeed, I doubt if there is one—that 
has not already made a beginning in this direction except the United 
States of America. And now, Mr. Speaker, when we have an abun- 
dance of money in our national Treasury, when the country is so rich, 
powerful, and prosperous, can there be any valid reason assigned why 
we should not inaugurate this establishment, this great scientific 
instructor that all nations have the benefit of to a greater or less 
extent? Shall we, claiming a higher grade of civilization than many 
of the other nations of the world, be the only one which is to deprive 
