New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-05
THE BOOK QUESTION.
To The Editor Of The N. y. TyibunS

To the Editor Of The N. y Tribune
SIR: You have perfect right to hold Members Of
Congress to strict accountability for the they give
will add tina, usually concur 10 your structures
pr.ed fad that the resolution to purchase for the House
library 100 copies Of Debates Of Congress from 1870 to 1896
proves exception to the rule since two occasions in
the Xxxh Congress- the senior editor Of tbs TRIBUNE
prey declared that he approved OF the purchase Of books
these identical debates being among theu provided they
honestly disposed cfas for libraries for instance. He In
cuded Libraries generay provide for only one and that to
facilitate the discharge Of the Official duties Of Congress- You
have condemned this resolution the Committee whose
was and the supporters Of II. and that without publishing
one word uttered by them In Its defense cm hearing
In 1916 the journals reports and documents Of Congress were
destroyed embracing the history and records for the first 2s
years from the adoption Of the Constitution To supply that
deficiency Joseph Gales compiled the annals and debates
containing the latter until the establishment Of The Cong"
Globe and the work printed by and at the
Of Gaes Seaton. Their only reward from Congress was
given in subscriptions for the work from time to time ard
these limited make the price large From 1926
to 1885, Congress supplied each member with set. and in
addition 10 1880 100 sets Deposited Ia the library for the
of the House. BY the act Of 1885, the book distribution
to members very properly sbsndoned and consequently
member. since that time have relied upon he library
Since 1880 csrespes the 100 library sets have
been reduced 49, and 1t evident tha. the will
long materially reduce and ultimately exhaust the supply
On inquiry of Col Seaon found that Gales Sestou had but
300 copies c and prosecuting inquiries in the booistoss
informed that complete set can be had except from
the pubishe Il that the old members Of Coppe
have scattered their books through tho county and probably
is that Of these may be had 70 suggest
at half he 5 per volume paid by this resolve? but you
will nd that the process of gathering thr'e up by general
ssschwssnt will result only ia pile Of second hand and
books in imperfect so and that before you get ono
hundred complete SETS they will have cost altogether more
than the price required for hundred clean and perfect se
pub-hers prices Under these circumstances believe 10
economy purchase the book. nev and al the publisher
price Should Congress fail furnish itself the sup
ply been either scattered destroyed you may look for
Republication Of large edition by Congress- 81 cost to the
Treasury times greater least than the involved in
th. resolution will add that should consider It in the
highest degree d.hoborsbe and unjust should Congress ignore
borus the labor risk Of preparing and
publishing this great and valuable National work and pur
purchasing to give to them snd to them only
the their labor However widely they differ nom
your my party thng do not forget that they still
agree ia many forget ths, they have been almost
iacrrup,sd!y Identified politically with my own State aud my
immediate conHusns snd above all do not forge. that
they are country Ia this hour Of trial that Whist
ever influence they Ia dsH-cted F-gions and shat Il IL
all exeI,sd on tho tide OF the Government
am for economy even the debses Of Congress- and f
be practicable reducing the eIpen'es of The Ca
greasiosaI Globe for which psyss. average
cie than slovcoo per ysG do no. remember that even
the TRIBUNE hss objected to the annual
purchase Of he thousand copies Of that Pcnderous wora
besides Furnishing .bs library AID member OF Conse
A. large a, tho Of IS so for the debates Of 'one
for ~ ysars-o be deposited In the library Of Conge mind
you and be given TO membep-is 10 small compared
with snnusl expenditure Of from $4,000 to +lJn
for the debates rse yesr 1t. e aos to the beam
For the comfort of THr TEIBrsr Will still add the. not
dollar viii be taken by this resolution. until Conges' '.
have IL sae al appropriation for the purPse
Respectfully, T. j. WhLioS
HSasc ~ RIprescHfGJGcs Jnns a. ie5f.