Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-05-14
OUR NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The Congregational Library west
Point I'm the senate-TariT LegisIa-
uon, ete., etc.
Lon our neEuIar corre.pondent.


From Our Regular Correspondent
An extension Of the Congressional Ii
brary seems TO be a necessity, and we may
expect. at no distant day, TO see another
magnificent public edifce in Washington,
designed for the accommodation Of the
vast accumulation Of books that are now
crowded on the shelves and piled upon the
floor Of the halls Of the Capitol There
are in the library 375,OOO volumes, while
there is only shelf room for 2sO,OOO, leav-
ing $4,000 volumes to be piled on the floor
and stuck away in nooks and corners In
addition TO these volumes there are 12O,-
900 pamphlets and over 6,OOO bound vol
umes Of newspapers, besides a large num-
Der Of valuable maps and charts, all Of
which have to be packed away like dry
goods in crowded store. II the library
was not in charge Of an exceptionally able
and efficient librarian, its utility would be
almost wholly destroyed. Such a thing
as a retired corner or desk where anybody
can quietly examine authorities and make
notes is an impossibility. The boxes Of
books which are constantly being received
have 10 be opened under the very feet Of
visitors 10 the library. One-fourth Of the
books are not provided with shelf room,
and when they are called for whole stacks
must be overhauled and dark recesses
ransacked. The want Of proper accommo-
dation for books is causing the destruction
OF great many, aud on the score Of econ
omy, better accommodations are demand
ed
The Senate has been the more active
house Of Congress during the week. Mr..
Allison's amendment 10 the bill authOris-
ing retired list for nOn-commissioned Of
fcers, by which the President Is required
to appoint Two colored cadets annually to
West Point, was debated with some AMI
nation, General Burnside favoring It even
TO the point Of wishing the Academy abol-
ishcd if it could not stand the color test
| Mr.. Hoar objected 10 embodying race dis
examinations in legislation, aud Mr.. Dawes
proposed Ave instead Of two appointments,
| leaving the President free to make them OF
| any color he pleased. Mr.. Conkling seem
| ed inclined TO stop making any more
white appointments until the black mans
past exclusion from West Point had been
amply compensated The Kellogg debate
was renewed, and the Indian Bill passed.
The Ways and Means Committee contin-
ued work on the tariff bill yesterday, near
| ly finishing it. The matter Of salt is still
left in Statu quo but will probably be dis
posed Of on Saturday, when the committee
will hold a meeting to complete its consid-
Grafton and finally act upon the measure.
Members Of the committee now state il as
their positive belief that the bill will be
adopted on Saturday and reported to the
House early next week for early eonsidera.
ton.
Senator Morgan introduced into the Sen
ate yesterday a resolution providing for
the method of counting the electoral vote.
1t is important to embOdy the views agreed
upon at the caucus held recently.
| Greatly increased receipts from customs
continue to be reported. We are buying
foreign goods with old time extravagance
and the usual result will follow. BY tn,
end of the year we shall be shipping gold t.
Europe.
Washington, D. @. May 9Th 1880.