1180 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 
Mr. Biount. Do the conferees consider it is competent for them to 
entertain the proposition ? 
Mr. Henprerson, of Iowa. We can enlarge or decrease it, but I 
think some expression should come from the House before we enter 
on any such proposition. 
Mr. Breckrnriper, of Kentucky. Will the gentleman yield to me? 
Mr. Henperson, of Iowa. Yes, sir. 
Mr. BreckInripGr, of Kentucky. As the amendment now stands it 
is limited to a zoological park. 
Mr. Henperson, of Iowa. Yes, sir, 
Mr. Breckrnriper, of Kentucky. What the gentleman wants is 
instructions to go further and make an amendment for a national 
park. 
Mr. Henperson, of Iowa. We want an expression from the House 
whether they want a park or not. 
Mr. BreckrnrinGe, of Kentucky. There is the difficulty with those 
of us who are in favor of a zoological park and against a national 
park. For one I am in favor of a zoological park. I think if we 
can appropriate money for the purpose of making archeological and 
ethnological researches and to send out the Adbatross to find fossils at 
the bottom of the sea we can certainly spend a few thousand dollars 
to keep the animals now nearly extinct from becoming entirely so by 
the establishment of a zoological park in this city. I think that is a 
wise thing, but I am not willing to go into a real estate speculation to 
the extent of 2,000 acres for a national park. 
Mr. Henperson, of Iowa. I wish to impress upon the House if we 
are going to have a park here it must be provided soon, for when 
houses are built and the city extends into the region where the park 
is proposed to be built, the only available ground for it will be taken 
up. It is now within our reach, and citizens are eager to contribute 
from their own pockets to aid in building it. If the larger scheme 
can be made the property holders will contribute largely toward it. 
Mr. BrecxinrinGr, of Kentucky. I do not wish to be understood 
as wishing to prevent any liberal citizens from buying 1,800 acres of 
land and presenting it to the Government or city for that purpose if 
they choose. I wish to be understood only as favoring the zoological 
park instead of the other; and, if possible, I should like to have some 
expression of sentiment on the part of the House which would enable 
the conferees to act on that proposition. 
Mr. Henperson, of Iowa. But for the fact that a few men planted 
in the midst of the proposed park, having the power of refusing to sell 
their lands or fix any price upon them, are able to block the way of 
their fellow-citizens in this respect, there would probably be not so 
much necessity for this action. But the power to condemn must be 
given to reach that class of people. That is why the citizens of the 
