FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS, 1889-1891. 1399 
- advantages, are ground down under burdens of: taxation to pay for 
a 
them. 
In view of these facts, Mr. Speaker, I say that this House should 
stand by the amendment that was proposed by the Committee on 
Appropriations and adopted by the House. They should say to these 
people and to the country that they propose that this expense shall be 
equitably divided between those who enjoy the results as special 
advantages and those who can only enjoy them for a brief season 
while here on pleasure trips. 
Mr. Cannon. Now, Mr. Speaker, in conclusion I desire to say that 
there has been much talk about the purposes of this park; much has 
been said that, to my mind, is misleading. Let us, then, go back to 
the main fact. 
One year ago, on the suggestion of the Senate, the House of Repre- 
sentatives, after full debate, concurred in the appropriation of $200,000 
to buy this Zoological Park, one-half payable by the District of Colum- 
bia and one-half to come from the Federal Treasury. The property 
has been purchased. It was after the fullest consideration, and my 
friend from Ohio [Mr. Butterworth] and my friend from Kentucky 
[Mr. Breckinridge] were present and participated. . After this site 
has been bought and paid for, the Senate of the United States, by the 
pending proposition, says that now we are committed to the project 
we will release the revenues of the District of Columbia and will 
require the whole expense to be paid from the Federal Treasury. 
Against that I protest. It is not fair. That was not contemplated 
when this site was bought. On the contrary, the very provisions of 
the bill itself show that such was not the idea. Therefore, in my 
opinion, it is not just; it is not proper. 
Now, gentlemen have talked a good deal about the taxes in the Dis- 
trict. The truth is, I say again, taxation is not half as burdensome 
in this city as in most of the cities of the country. Asa result, many 
times millionaires from my own State and from New England and 
from Ohio and other parts of the nation come here and make their 
homes that they may enjoy the surroundings of Washington and 
escape with half the taxation they would necessarily pay if they 
remained where they made their fortunes. 
But gentlemen say that this is a national object, a national park. I 
ask is it not proper that this city, as the other cities of the country, 
should have its own zoological garden? Cincinnati, I believe, has one, 
Philadelphia has one, New York, and probably other cities. But they 
say the District of Columbia has no voice in the matter. No; that is 
true. The District of Columbia is controlled by Congress. The Con- 
gress of the United States is the government of the District and appro- 
priates the money for it; and at the same time we, for the time being, 
are masters of the Federal Treasury. I, for one, Mr. Speaker, am not 
willing to take the burden of one-half off the District of Columbia, 
