— ee eee, re 
FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS, 1889-1891. 13% 
original interest in this bill grew out of my personal friendship for 
Senator Beck and his request that I should look into the matter. He 
was the originator of the idea. It so happened that the present Director 
of the Smithsonian Institution fell in with Senator Beck and showed 
him a little collection, the beginning of a zoological collection, at the 
Smithsonian grounds. Senator Beck became interested immediately, 
and said that if it were an object worthy of expenditure to provide 
for the purchase of a dead animal, it certainly was equally within the 
power of the nation to appropriate money to prevent a species from 
becoming extinct; and he drew the first bill which was introduced in 
the Senate and passed by that body for the purpose contemplated 
by the present bill. That bill came to the House, and at his request 
I introduced it here. 
This is not a local matter; the District of Columbia has nothing 
whatever to do with it, except that it is located in the District of 
Columbia. It ought not to have anything to do with it; it ought to 
have no power over it; it ought to have no interest in it; it ought to 
have no concern with it. Its not a zoological park to adorn the city 
of Washington. It is not to beautify the city. That is not the object, 
and if it were, speaking for myself, I should oppose it. I would have 
nothing to do with it. But this is an entirely different matter. 
The United States was the recipient of a devise from James Smith- 
son, which was accepted, and out of which has grown the Smithsonian 
Institution. With that devise and with appropriations made by the 
United States, scientific investigations have been pursued by that 
institution. 
Now, this is simply in the same direction as the Museum and the 
Smithsonian Institution, with its lectures, its professors, and its means 
of scientific investigation. This is simply an addendum to that Smith- 
sonian Institution for the purpose of a scientific investigation of the 
animals, the flora, and the fauna of America. It is an attempt to apply 
to the live animal scientific investigation, especially to those species 
which are rapidly becoming extinct. It is supplying an arena where 
they may be kept, grounds where they may be preserved, buildings 
where they may be fed, maintained, and examined, and it has as 
much to do with the United States as any other appropriation for the 
benefit of the Smithsonian Institution. 
I beg gentlemen of this House, therefore, to entirely eliminate the 
' idea that my friend from Georgia has expressed in this matter—that 
the District of Columbia has anything to do with it; that it is local to 
the District; that it is for the purpose of beautifying the District, add- 
ing to its wealth, and giving a place where the people can go and enjoy 
themselves. Incidentally and supplementarily this may occur. You 
can not have a park of 158 acres with animals that will not attract 
public attention. They will no doubt attract public gatherings; but 
H. Doc. 732——87 
