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FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS, 1889-1891. 1389 
Mr. C. A. Hix. Mr. Speaker, I hope the Senate amendment will 
be adopted. Ithinkitisright. I can see nosubstantial reason why it 
should not be adopted. This is a national park and it should be pur- 
chased and paid*for at the national expense. 
The title to this Zoological Park is, or will be when completed, 
wholly in the United States. It is true that it has been paid for in 
part by taxes levied on the people of the District of Columbia; but’ 
nevertheless it is national in its character, and the title to it rests in 
part in the United States, and when the condemnation proceedings are 
completed the title to the entire park will be in the Government of 
the United States. 
The Zoological Park, Mr. Speaker, contains 1664 acres, and is 
located about 2 miles from the President’s mansion, in a northwestern 
direction, on what is known as Rock Creek. The object and purpose 
of that bill is fully explained by the second section, in which it is said: 
That the National Zoological Park is hereby placed under the direction of the 
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, who are authorized to transfer to it any 
living specimens, whether of animals or plants, now or hereafter in their charge, to 
accept gifts for the park at their discretion, in the name of the United States, to 
make exchanges of specimens, and to administer the said Zoological Park for the 
advancement of science and the instruction and recreation of the people. 
Mr. Speaker, that is not a local matter. It is not, except in its 
name, and to some extent in its purpose, even a national matter. It 
is for the benefit of the world of science, not merely of America, but 
in the world at large. This section provides that all the plants and 
animals now in charge of the Smithsonian Institution shall be placed 
in this park and taken care of. By whom? By the people of the 
District of Columbia? Not at all. By officers appointed and selected 
by them? Notatall. But by the Regents of the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution, a national institution. It is thus placed in the direct charge 
of the officials of the United States Government. | 
The title to this property rests as much in the United States as the 
title to the Capitol grounds on which this building stands. It is as 
much for the benefit of the entire United States as the Museum or 
any other public institution to which any gentlemen on this floor can 
point. And I can see no good reason why the people of the District 
of Columbia should be made to bear a part of the expense, not merely 
to-day, to-morrow, this year or next, but for all time to come, because 
the precedent which we set in this appropriation will be for the guid- 
ance of future Congresses for all time. 
I say it is unwise and unprecedented; and, Mr. Chairman, if I could 
have a word more in reply to the question put by my colleague from 
Illinois, as to whether gentlemen upon this floor will vote for another 
park project called the Columbus Park. We had a bill of that kind 
up a few days since. The distinction is clear. That is directly for 
