National Republican., 1882-12-13
THE HOUSE AND SENATE.
Tho Library Building Bill Discussed at Length
and Amended,
And Then Referred Back to the Com
Imittee With Instructions.
A Long Speech From Mr.. PendletOn on His Civil
Service Bill
Mr.. Vance Objects TO Reducing the "Prny-
ing Force" OF the country.
THE HOUSE.

nlOH VI bu6 nOubc WIS 0tNOuOu w ulpOuooiOh VI
the library building BILL which was amended
and then referred back to the committee, with
instructions to report bill for building to
be located on ground already owned by the
government.
APPROPRIATION BILLS.
The post-office, the military academy, and
agricultural appropriation bills were reported
and referred to the committee of the whole.
GENERAL BUSINESS.
Mr.. Page, of California, presented a petition
of citizens of California recommending an in
crease of duty on chicory. Referred.
Mr.. Henderson, of Illinois, chairman of the
committee on military affairs, reported back
the resolution calling on the secretary of war
for information as to what action has been
taken under the act of August z, 1882 to re-
lieve certain soldiers from the charge of deser-
tion. Adopted
The speaker laid before the house letter
from the attorney general relative to the erec-
tion of suitable buildings for the reform school
of the district. Referred.
RIVER AND HARBoR INFORMATION.
Mr. Randall, of Pennsylvania, offered res
olution requesting the President TO transmit
to the house a statement showing the aggre-
gate amount which has been expended in the
improvement of rivers and harbors from the
beginning of the government to the present
time the amount annually expended, and
the aggregate and annual expenditure in the
improvement of each river and harbor, ac-
compauied by reference to the laws authoriz-
ing each of such expenditures; and also n
statement showing what benefit to commerce,
If any, has resulted from each of said expen-
ditures, and stating the navigable capacity of
each of said rivers and harbors before and
after Improvement; and also to inform the
hOnqa Iybathar mOnavs have benn
priated or expended in the improvement of
rivers or harbors not navigable, within the
legal definition of the word "navigable" as
defined by the United States supreme court
and also to state whether any money has been
appropriated or expended for the improve
ment of any river or harbor not within the
United States. Referred.
SOLDIERS HOME.
Mr.. McCook, of New York, from the COM
mittee on military affairs, reported back bill
authorizing the board of commissioners of the
Soldiers Home to sell certain property at
Harrodsburg, Ky. Referred to committee of
the whole
THE NEW LIBRARY BUILDING.
The house then proceeded to the oonsidera-
tion of the congressional library bill.
Mr.. Rice, of Massachusetts, chairman of the
committee having the matter in charge, exc
planned the statute of the bill He reviewed
the necessity which existed for the erection of
new building to accommodate the books
which now crowded the congressional library,
and stated that at last session the only differ
ence in the committee was in reference to the
site for the new building. The majority of
the committee was in favor of q site east of the
capitol, the minority was in favor of placing
the structure in Judiciary square. Since that
time the latter site had been selected for the
pension building and was no longer practi-
cable.
The bill reported last session contemplated
the taking of two squares east OF the capitol
the bill now proposed recommended the TAX
ing of one square only, bounded by street
north, East Capitol street. and First and Sec
ond streets east. The maximum price at
which the commission might purchase that
square was $500,000. The building recon-
mended last year was of the gothic" style,
and would have cost from six to eight mil
lions. The one now proposed was of the
Italian renaissance" style, and would cost
from three to six millions. The inside ar
rangements were similar.
Mr.. Geddes, of Ohio, who at the last session
favored Judiciary square as a site for the
building, stated that in consideration of the
fact that the pension office was to be erected
there he had abandoned it for the next best
location-that east of the capitol.
In reply to q question by Mr.. Cannon, of
Illinois, he said that though there was plenty
of room left in judiciary square he was op-
posed to destroying one of the public parks of
the city.
Mr.. Humphrey, of Wisconsin, advocated the
bill and explained the necessity for its pas
sage.
Mr. Holman, of Indiana, offered an amend
ment providing that the building shall not
cost when completed q sum exceeding 2,000,-
600, and charging the supervising architect of
the treasury with the duty of preparing plan
for such a building.
Mr.. Haskell, of Kansas, opposed the amend
ment, explaining that large sum of money
was necessary to render building fire proof
and declared his desire to appropriate for a
suitable library or to leave the matter alone
Mr. Cannon, of Illinois, favored the amend
ment intimating that the present library was
large enough to accommodate all books of sub
stantal merit. He did not want to expend
multiplied millions of dollars for mere orna-
mentation to a city of which he was proud,
but which he thought could rest a little while
SO far as ornamentation was concerned. His
belief was that with $2,000,000 a magnificent
fire-proof building could be erected which
would be altogether suitable for the purpose.
He warned the house against appropriating
$4,000,000 for library which might swell to
s., 900 before it was completed.
Mr.. Wilson, of West Virginia, opposed the
amendment, contending that the house should
be governed by the judgment of persons who
had made II study ofarchitecture; and they had
stated that suitable building could not be
erected at cost less than $4,000.000. If the
champion policy of the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr Holman) and the log-cabin
policy of the gentleman from Illinois (Mr
Cannon), were followed in a quarter of cen
tury the government would be called upon to
make further appropriation of millions to
provide for the accumulation of books.
Mr.. McLane, ofMaryland, said that he was
opposed to any bill for national library,
though he recognized the necessity for con-
gressional library. He regarded the pending
bill as a proposition for national library
the place where sueA an institution should be
gressional library he woSld cheerfully vote.
present library might with advantage be de-
stroyed. Five hundred thousand volumes
were enough to embrace all the books neces-
sary for congressional library. Congress
did not want old romances and tons of yellow
covered novels in its library.
. Mr.. Rice, of Massachusetts,, in reply COM
mented on the fact that the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. McLane) was in favor of pre-
serving his own speeches at the expense of the
government, and destroying the intellectual
productions of his constituents. There had
been those in former generations who had
undertaken to burn and destroy the library
of the world, and these names had not come
down in history with any particular degree of
honor. He was in favor of a national library,
and tho place for that library was the national
capitol.
Mr.. Dunnell also advocated national Ii
brary, to be located in Washington. The
building should be commensurate with the