YELLOWSTONE Early History of Yellowstone National Park and Its Relation to National Park Policies

Two important parliamentary rulings were made in the House early in Yellowstone Park history.

March 1, 1875, Mr. Dunnell, of Minnesota, who had reported the original Clagett bill in the House, offered an amendment to the sundry civil bill for the fiscal year 1876, providing an appropriation of $25,000 for the preservation of the park, survey of boundaries, building of roads, etc. Mr. O'Brien, a member of the Committee on Appropriations, made the point of order that the amendment was new legislation. The chairman of the committee, Mr. Hoskins, of New York, overruled the point of order.

June 13, 1878, when the sundry civil bill for the fiscal year 1879 was pending, Representative Williams, of Michigan, offered an amendment to add $10,000 for the Secretary of the Interior to protect, preserve, and improve the Yellowstone National Park in compliance with section 2475 of the Revised Statutes. Mr. Atkins, of Tennessee, made the point of order that there was no law authorizing the appropriation. Mr. Williams argued that there was not only a law authorizing it, but there was a law which compelled the Secretary of the Interior to protect and preserve the park. Mr. Maginnis attempted to argue the merits, which was ruled not to be in order. Mr. Williams had the statute read. The chairman, Mr. John G. Carlisle, of Kentucky, later Speaker of the House of Representatives and Secretary of the Treasury, overruled the point of order.