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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION   656
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A discussion ensued in which it appeared to be the sense of the Board that it would be inexpedient to bring this matter before Congress at present, and on motion, action upon the resolutions was deferred.

ZOO APPROPRIATIONS UNDER D. C. ESTIMATES.

The matter of including the National Zoological Park appropriations in the estimates for the District of Columbia was brought up at a Special Meeting of the Board held June 3, 1924, and a resolution was adopted declaring it to be the sense of the Board that the Zoo estimates should be carried in the Independent Offices Bill.

This was communicated to the General Lord in the following letter, a copy of which was sent to the District Commissioners, whose reply is appended:

July 17, 1924.

Dear General Lord:

I have the honor to submit herewith a statement in relation to the estimates and appropriations for the National Zoological Park.

At a special meeting of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution held June 3, 1924, the following resolution was adopted:

RESOLVED: That it is the sense of this meeting of the Board of Regents that the appropriation for the National Zoological Park should be carried in the Independent Offices bill as are the items for the other Government bureaus administered under the direction of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

Estimates are at present submitted by the Smithsonian Institution to the District Commissioners (a copy is forwarded direct to the Bureau of the Budget) for inclusion in the District of Columbia estimates.  The Commissioners forward these to the Bureau of the Budget with all other estimates intended for the District of Columbia Appropriation bill.  The Director of the Budget returns the complete estimates to the District Commissioners with a statement as to the maximum figure that will be allowed the District for the whole bill.  It is the duty of the Commissioners to reduce the estimates to this figure and return to the Bureau of the Budget.

The District Commissioners have their own troubles and urgent requirements, and, since the allotment made is far under their own estimates, it is only natural that they would give first consideration to items for which they are directly responsible -- streets, sewers, fire and police protection, schools, etc.  In the three years since the Zoological Park has been included in the District bill, no hearings of any kind have been
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