FIFTIETH CONGRESS, 1887-1889. 1205 
gress in an independent act, which was approved on the 15th day of 
July, 1882, entitled ‘‘ Ansact to increase the water supply of the city 
of Washington, and for other purposes.” 
My recollection of the origin of that act is that it came to the House 
from the Senate; that it first passed at the other end of the Capitol 
and came to this House. I venture to make the statement that it was 
considered and reported to this House by the Committee on the Dis- 
trict of Columbia in the Forty-seventh Congress. 
Mr. Hempnityi. Will the gentleman state who was the chairman of 
’ the Committee on the District of Columbia in that Congress? 
Mr. Wriison, of West Virginia. In the Forty-seventh Congress? I 
was not a member of that Congress. 
Mr. Ciements. Mr. Neal, of Ohio. - 
Mr. Witson, of West Virginia. Mr. Neal,-of Ohio, was chairman 
of that committee. My recollection is that this bill was passed at a 
night session devoted to the business of the District of Columbia. 
Mr. Butrrerworru. I understand that the fault is not in the law, 
but in the execution of the law. 
Mr. Wizson, of West Virginia. I was going to make that statement— 
that the trouble is not in the law so much as it is in its execution. 
Mr. James Bucuanan. The water supply has not been increased, 
but ‘‘the other purposes” have been faithfully carried on. 
Mr. Wuson, of West Virginia. The whole trouble has come from 
the plans adopted for a subterranean tunnel. If the plans proposed by 
General Meigs or those proposed by Colonel Casey had been adopted 
it would have been completed years ago and at an expense of not one- 
fourth of what has already been expended, which seems now to have 
been wasted, and an adequate water supply obtained for the elevated 
portions of the city of Washington. 
The SpeAKER. The time of the gentleman has expired. 
Mr. Ciements. I yield two minutes to the gentleman from Missouri 
[Mr. Bland]. 
Mr. Buanp. I only want a few minutes in which to enter my protest, 
inasmuch as these parks and Government reservations are under con- 
sideration, against the manner in which they are used and abused on 
public occasions; and I do not allude to the occasion of the present 
inauguration, but to four years past and since, and to every oppor- 
tunity since I have been a member of this House. 
We talk of the people of the United States, and of the benefit that 
they derive from these reservations and parks. It is said that the 
streets belong to the people of the United States; that the parks are 
the property of the people of the United States; that the public 
buildings belong to the people of the United States; and yet we see all 
these reservations partitioned off to-day with scantling for seats, 
' where no citizen of the United States who comes to Washington can 
