FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS, 1889-1891. 1301 
for the purpose of ascertaining what benefit the park will be to the 
farming country that adjoins, without the right of appeal, as I under- 
stood from the reading, is a very extraordinary provision to introduce 
into a measure here. It is rather a hardship to these people, who 
practically have only farms and gardens. 
The other proyision to which I allude is that we are not only to have 
the engineer officer of the District of Columbia, who is an Army officer, 
but we add to the military government of this District, at least so far 
as this park is concerned, and intrust the expenditure of the money of 
the people of the District to another Army officer, the Chief of Engi- 
neers, a gentleman for whom I have the highest regard, and who, I 
believe from what I have seen of him, is probably the most capable 
officer I have ever known to occupy that position, and we all have per- 
fect confidence in him. But to put the money, one-half of which is to 
come from the tax-payers of the District of Columbia, practically 
under two Army officers, appointed for life, with no control of it by 
the people of the District and no way to reach it, is going beyond any- 
thing heretofore contemplated. I had hoped we would in the course 
of time, and in a very short time, eliminate that military feature from 
the management of the affairs of the District of Columbia and put it all 
in the hands of civilians; but under the provisions of this report we 
are adding to and extending their power and authority. 
As I caught the reading of the report, these are the two prominent 
features in it, and I suggest to the Senator from Kansas, as it is late in 
the evening, for it is now twenty minutes past 5 o’clock, that he let 
this matter go over until to-morrow morning and have the report 
printed, so that we may have an opportunity to look into it. Probably 
it is true that at this late day in the session, after the long conference 
which has been had, nothing better can be done; but with no disposition 
in the world, as the Senator understands perfectly well, to obstruct the 
adoption of the report, I think it is due that the Senator should permit 
us to look at it in print to-morrow morning. 
Mr. I. G. Harris. I will say to the Senator from Maryland that the 
report is already printed. It was printed by order of the committee. 
By sending to the room of the District Committee I doubt not we can 
get any number of printed copies that the Senators may desire to see. 
Mr. Gorman. I was not aware of that. I suggest to the Senator to 
let the report go over until to-morrow morning, so that we may have 
an opportunity to examine it. § 
Mr. Incauts. The request of the Senator from Maryland is reasona- 
ble, and if he desires to familiarize himself further with the provisions 
of the report I can not object. I can only add, however, that the report 
is in many particulars more obnoxious to me than it can be to the Sen- 
ator from Maryland. I believe that the provision that imposes one- 
half of the cost of the improvement upon the people of this District is 
