1482 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 
must pay these things for the District; or the District tax rate must 
be raised, or the expenditures of the District reduced. It is a condi- 
tion with which we must deal. It is all a business matter, and I see 
no reason why the people of this District, who asked for and were 
anxiously desiring to have the Zoological Park, should have it at the 
cost of the people at large, and without themselves paying a dollar for 
it. And if itis not a desirable thing to have it for the city and the 
District, let us go back to the original conditions before that park was 
established —— 
Mr. J. T. Hearp. That is it. 
Mr. Ciements. And if the people here do not want it for a zoologi- 
cal park, and are unwilling to pay one-half of the cost of it, when the 
people of Cincinnati and other places have to pay the whole cost of 
such an establishment, then let us dispense with the zoological feature, 
and turn it over to the other park. 
Mr. James Bucuanan, of New Jersey. Why not abolish the other 
park? 
Mr. CiemENts. Well, I was opposed to the establishment of it when 
it was first proposed. 
Mr. Hearp. And so was I. 
Mr. CiemeEnts. But they are fixtures now; they are on our hands, 
and there are expenditures which have been made in connection with 
them, and these expenditures must be met. The question then is, 
how shall we do it? Shall we increase the taxes of the people of the 
District to meet the expenses? Shall we make the expenses of the 
government of the District of Columbia less; that is the second alter- 
native; or shall we say that the people at large, our constituents all 
through the United States, shall meet and foot the bills? 
Mr. Bucuanan, of New Jersey. Or shall we withstand the blan- 
dishments of the real estate speculators around this city ? 
Mr. CLEMENTS. Yes; that of course involves, as I have already 
suggested, the question of a new assessment. There would be more 
revenue if there was a new assessment, and an equitable assessment, 
one which presented a greater degree of equality as to the taxes on 
property here. Because, as I have already said, Mr. Speaker, there 
is gross inequality now. 
Mr. A. M. Dockery. You propose, in the matter of the Zoological 
Park, that the people who urged its establishment and are responsible 
for it shall at least pay one-half of the expense. 
Mr. CLEemMeEnts. Shall at least pay one-half of it. 
Mr. Dockrry. That seems to be a very reasonable proposition. 
’ Mr. Cannon. Does the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Clements] 
agree with the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. McComas] that there 
should not be any formal resolution of instruction adopted by the 
House at this time? 
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