56 ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN. 



Washington, D. C, May 21, 1920. 

 Hon. Frank B. Bkandegek, 



Chairman Joint Committee on the Library, 



United States Senate. 

 Sir : With further reference to the hearing before your committee held this 

 day, and in order to complete the record (which seems to be incomplete in cer- 

 tain respects), for the benefit of members not able to attend the hearing, I 

 have the honor to submit the following facts and conclusions and request they 

 be made a part of my remarks. 



LEGAL STATUS. 



On May 17, 1910, by act of Congress, a permanent Commission of Fine Arts 

 was created, to be composed of seven well-qualified judges of the fine arts, and 

 said act provided : 



" It shall be the duty of such commission to advise upon the location of 

 statues, fountains, and monuments in the public squares, streets, and parks 

 of the District of Columbia, and upon the selection of models for statues, 

 fountains, and monuments erected under the authority of the United States, 

 and upon the selection of artists for the execution of the same. * * * The 

 commission shall also advise generally upon questions of art when required to do 

 so by the President, or by any committee of either House of Congress." 



On October 25, 1910, the President issued an Executive order, by the terms of 

 which — 



" It is hereby ordered that the plans for no public building to be erected in 

 the District of Columbia for the General Government shall be hereafter ap- 

 proved by the officer duly authorized until after such officer shall have sub- 

 mitted the plans to the Commission of Fine Arts created under the act of Con- 

 gress of May 17, 1910, for its comment and advice." 



On February 2, 1912. the President directed the commission to advise the 

 officer in charge of public buildings and grounds in regard to the improvement 

 of any of the grounds in the city dt Washington under his charge whenever 

 such advice is asked fur by that officer. 



On November 28, L913, the President issued the following Executive order: 



" It is hereby ordered Unit whenever new structures are to be erected in the 

 In'striet of Columbia under the direction of the Federal Government which 

 affect in any important way the appearance of the city, or whenever questions 

 involving matters of art and with which the Federal Government is concerned 

 are to lie determined, final action shall not be taken until such plans and ques- 

 tions have been submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts designated under 

 the act of Congress of May 17. 1910, for comment and advice." 



The dm it's of the commission were thus enlarged to embrace the giving of 

 advice upon the plans and designs for public structures and parks in the District 

 of Columbia, as well as upon all questions involving matters of art with which 

 the Federal Government is concerned. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



In 1!M4. iii the matter of the restoration to the street and park systems of 

 the grounds now occupied by the Botanic Garden, the officer in charge of public 

 buildings and grounds, at the request of the Joint Committee on the Library, 

 conferred with the commission regarding plans prepared under his direction, 

 and later rendered a report to that committee as a result of the conference. 



<>n August 16, 1916, the chairman of the Committee on the Library of the 

 House of Representatives requested the commission to furnish data "with 

 reference ro the effect on rhe general plan for the development of the Mall and 

 the ground around the Grant Monument of the bill recently passed by the 

 Senate to continue the Botanic Garden on its present site." The bill adverted 

 to i s. iil'l'T. 64th Cong., 1st sess. ) provided for the enlargement of the Botanic 

 Garden by attaching thereto two pan-els of land on the west, commonly known 

 as Fast Seaton Park and West Seaton Park. The commission reported ad- 

 versely on the lull on November 28, 1916. 



On January l!7. 1!»17. the chairman of the same committee asked for "a 

 comprehensive report as to what the Commission of Fine Arts regard to be the 

 best solution of the Botanic Garden problem, including a review of the sites 

 available for the Botanic Garden itself: and what area in the vicinity of the 

 Capitol may be had at a minimum or no expense for a Capitol flower garden, 



