FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS, 1889-1891. 1439 
Mr. Rocers. If the gentleman will yield to me for two minutes I 
will yield him back the floor. I want to say only a word. 
Mr. Cannon. Very well; I yield to the gentleman for two minutes. 
I hope we shall then have a vote. 
Mr. Rogers. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. 
Wheeler] was wholly mistaken if he understood me as having under- 
taken to reflect upon the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian. Insti- 
tution. And my friend from Kentucky [Mr. Breckinridge] is likewise 
mistaken if he supposes I have spoken with a view of dragging this 
matter into partisan politics. I have not had the slightest intention 
of that kind. The only criticism I make is that we have not made the 
investigation which should have been made before authorizing these 
appropriations for the support of this park. 
I have not charged that money has been extravagantly expended, 
that there has been any corrupt conduct on the part of anybody, or. 
any misappropriation of the funds. My object. was to ascertain 
whether money had not been expended for purposes we would believe 
improper, for improvements that ought not to have been made; 
whether, in other words, things which ought not to have been done 
had been done with this money, whilst things which ought to have 
been done have been left undone. That is the point I was making; 
that is a question which ought to be submitted to practical men who 
have time and opportunity to go to that park whenever necessary and 
determine precisely what ought to be done and how it should be done. 
We do not want simply to ascertain that we have in charge of the 
Institution a man who will act honestly. 
I have no sort of doubt about the integrity of the head of the Smith- 
sonian Institution; I have no information which impeaches him in any 
respect. I have no sort of doubt about his probity as a public officer, 
his desire to do exactly what is right in the establishment of this park. 
But the question is, What is right, for what should this money be 
expended—what should be done there? That is the main point; and 
this question should be turned over to practical men instead of mere 
scientists or theorists. 
Mr. Cannon. I renew my motion to close debate on the pending 
paragraph and amendments thereto. 
The motion of Mr. Cannon was agreed to. 
The Cuarrman. Debate is now closed on the pending paragraph and 
amendments thereto. The question is on the amendment proposed by 
the gentleman from Kentucky, to strike out the words which have 
been indicated. | 
The amendment was rejected. 
Mr. STocKDALE rose, 
The CuHarrman. The gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Stockdale] 
now proposes the amendment which will be read. 
