FIFTIETH CONGRESS, 1887-1889. 1198 
on the District of Columbia, says that no gentleman interested in that 
property has ever approached him. I take his statement as true. 
I take it as true, subject to this qualification: I do not suppose that my 
friend ever inquired into that matter at all. But, sir, there does come 
to us through other sources, there does come from citizens of this 
District who are in communication with members of this House the 
statement that there are persons engaged in a large real-estate specu- 
lation about this proposed Rock Creek Park. They have their attor- 
neys, who do approach other members of this House and who do press 
that project. It is doubtless being urged by them, and all of this 
word painting as to the beauty and importance and value to the city of 
this park is the work of those artists. 
Now, sir, so far as I am concerned, I am not willing to do anything 
that will put into the hands of the House conferees at such a time as 
this, with little opportunity for deliberation, with little opportunity to 
ascertain whether it is true, as stated by honorable citizens of this Dis- 
trict, that real estate speculations are involved—I am not willing, I 
say, to put into the hands of the House conferees authority at such a 
time to take action upon this important question. If it is true that 
speculators are organized to urge the sale of this park, let us beware, 
for the best of us may be misled. Let us postpone .this matter until 
we have time to investigate through a committee of this House the 
questions that are raising doubts in our own minds, and when we shall 
have done that and the matter shall have come up before us for delib- 
erate action, then let us give it due consideration. 
Sir, let us bear in mind the situation. Up to this hour the House 
of Representatives has refused to take up this question. It has been 
apprehensive about the parties in interest who were behind this proj- 
ect. It has been apprehensive lest it should be misled in this matter. 
It has been interested to preserve its own good name free from any 
possible imputation of scandal. While this is true of the House, the 
Senate has tacked on to this bill an appropriation of $200,000 for a zoo- 
logical garden, and when the conferees get together certain interested 
persons will be there pressing not for the $200,000 but to sell 2,000 
acres of land. They tell you of what is done in Paris, of what is done 
in London, of what is done in Philadelphia; they appeal to your 
national pride to take up this matter now and not to postpone it. In 
the closing hours of the session, in that hurried conference, shall we 
make haste to dispose of the public treasure? My colleague has just 
stated that the Senate amendments to this bill involve an increase of 
expenditures in one year of 25 per cent. What city in this country 
would not make a halt at such a suggestion? It is enough of itself to 
cause us to stop short, and now, in the closing hours of this Congress, 
to put an end to this question, for the present at least, by instructing 
