1612 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 
could not be properly guarded, and persons visiting the park would 
be in danger. 
I submit, Mr. Chairman, that unless we are prepared to abandon all 
appropriations in the interest of education and science, which it has 
been the settled policy of the Government to promote, there is no 
reason for slaughtering this institution. When this House, which 
within a week has passed a river and harbor bill carrying millions 
upon millions of dollars, turns round and without a word, in order, I 
suppose, to compensate for such expenditures, undertakes to cut down 
a beggarly appropriation of a few thousands to be expended in the 
interest of science and popular education, it is guilty of hypocrisy of 
the meanest kind. 
Mr. Battey. Mr. Chairman, in reply to the suggestion of the gen- 
tleman from Massachusetts that somebody needs to be educated, I have 
this to say: That the crying need in this House is not for education in 
books, but for an education that would enable members to distinguish 
between what is ours and what we hold in trust. If I desire to give 
for the pleasure or the profit or the education of people in this Dis- 
trict something belonging to myself—if I desire to make a benevolent 
or charitable gift, as was done in the bequest of the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution, there can be no ground for objection or question; but when a 
great Government puts its hands in my pocket and against my will 
exacts tribute for the mere amusement and gratification of others, it 
is downright robbery and injustice. 
I want to say to him, besides, that I sat here and saw this House 
vote down a proposition to buy schoolbooks for the-children of the 
public schools, and now, for the sake of education, as they claim, they 
propose to maintain a bear garden! I voted with the majority on that 
occasion, and I: regret that the majority does not vote with me on this. 
I submit, Mr. Chairman, that if we must enter upon the work of 
educating the people—if the Federal Government is to become a great 
eleemosynary and educational institution—let us go about it in a proper 
manner and establish schools and send teachers to take charge of them 
and teach the children. Sir, what man will be wiser because you 
maintain bears and monkeys and snakes in a public park here? What 
woman will derive refinement or grace from such an institution? 
What child will be taught to tread the path of virtue our fathers trod 
before us by this particular process of education? Let us meet the 
matter directly and openly, and determine, first, if the Federal Gov- 
ernment should support this institution for the purpose which gentle- 
men claim. 
[Here the hammer fell. ] 
The CuarrmMan. The question is on agreeing to the motion to strike 
out the paragraph. 
