Each autumn, the palms and other tropical plants had 

 to be moved back inside the conservatories. As the Garden's 

 collections continued to grow, the problem of providing 

 adequate space became a serious concern. Although the 

 planning for the Grant Memorial was the primary motiva- 

 tion for proceeding with the plans for relocation of the 

 Garden, the realities of limited space proved to be an equally 

 persuasive argument. 



DEBATE OVER RELOCATION 



In 1916, Representative James L. Slayden, chairman of the 

 Joint Committee on the Library, proposed that the Garden 

 be relocated to Rock Creek Park and control of the facility 

 be transferred to the Department of Agriculture. He felt that 

 in a restricted urban setting the Garden could not possibly 

 develop into a practical national organization. A spacious 

 site such as Rock Creek Park, however, would allow for the 

 development of an arboretum and the evolution of an insti- 

 tution befitting the name United States Botanic Garden. 46 

 Those opposed to Representative Slayden's bill argued 

 that the expense of a large site in Rock Creek Park would 

 be too great and that it would be far less accessible to the 

 public. Instead, they argued that the Garden should stay 

 exactly where it was even though such a proposal would 

 thwart the plans of the Park Commission. Conceding that 

 space was a problem, they proposed adding 18.3 acres to 

 the west. 47 



As it turned out, neither side was to have its way. An 

 acceptable alternative, however, did ultimately result. In 1920, 

 the Joint Committee on the Library, through a hearing, was 

 able to make a careful examination of the condition of the 



46 See also U.S. Congress, House, Joint Committee on the Library, 

 Botanic Garden, Report to Accompany H.R. 15313, House Report No. 641, 

 64th Cong., 1st Sess., Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1916, 4 pp. 

 (Serial No. 6904); and U.S. Congress, House, Joint Committee on the 

 Library, Removal of the Botanic Garden: Minority Views, Report to Ac- 

 company H.R. 15313, House Report No. 642, Part 2, 64th Cong., 1st Sess., 

 Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1916, 3 pp. (Serial No. 6904). 



47 See also US. Congress, Joint Committee on the Library, Botanic 

 Garden, Report to Accompany S. 6227, Senate Report No. 671, 64th Cong., 

 1st Sess., Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1916, 2 pp. (Serial No. 6899). 



46 



