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FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS, 1889-1891. 1431 
Mr. Hmary A. Herpert, Mr. Chairman, I hope this amendment 
will prevail. 
. I was opposed for one to the establishment of this zoological park 
originally; but when the citizens of this District inaugurated this 
project, as they did, and succeeded in persuading the Congress of the 
United States to enter upon this business, and provide a menagerie 
here in the city of Washington, which was certainly intended on their 
part to benefit the city, it seems to me that the city should pay its. 
joint share of the expenditures. 
Mr. Brecxrnriper, of Kentucky. Let me call the attention of my 
friend from Alabama to the fact that this park has no reference to 
what is known as Rock Creek Park. He is confounding’ the two, 
apparently. 
Mr. Hersert. I can not understand any difference between the two. 
Mr. BreckrnripcE, of Kentucky. Then the gentleman does himself 
great injustice. 
Mr. Hersert. They are both for the same purpose, simply for 
the adornment of this city, and largely for the benefit of the people 
‘of this District who moved in the matter; and I take it as a general 
thing that if this park is to be inaugurated here we have the citizens 
of the District of Columbia who reside here, and who can watch over 
the expenditures for the park, who are interested in doing it when 
they pay one-half of the expenditures. Then, to some extent, we 
have the benefit of their local supervision and their interest in the mat- 
ter; for having to pay one-half of the taxes of the whole enterprise 
they will help us to see, and they can do it much better than we can, 
that the expenditures do not get to be too unreasonable; in other 
words, that they are kept within reasonable bounds. 
I think it was wise in the beginning to provide that the District of 
Columbia should pay one-half of the expenses; and if it was wise then, 
it is certainly wise now to continue in the annual appropriation bills 
the same provision. 
Mr. Cannon. I hope that we may have a vote. 
Mr. WHEELER, of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, the great point made 
by the gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. Breckinridge] is that if we 
pass this bill in its present form it will or may make a basis fora 
claim on the part of the District of Columbia against the Government. 
The same argument might be made with regard to every class of 
expenditure, as gentlemen might argue that everything should be paid 
by the General Government that is asked for, because unless it is paid, 
possibly at some time, several centuries hence, some claim may be 
brought against the Government. 
I sought the floor after my genial friend from Arkansas [Mr. 
Rogers] took his seat, to make some reply to his criticisms regarding 
the Smithsonian Institution. 
