National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-06-22
THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.
Shall n New building BE ErcetedT-Mr.
TOMnshemd'a SInra-rhc Debate.

TOwnShend's SiurH-Thc Debate.
When the bill for the erection Of new Con-
gressiona Library was before the House yesterday,
Mr. Geddcs OF Ohio, argued that II was absolutely
necessary that suitable accommodation should be
provided for the valuable library in the possession
Of the government, but commended that t. would be
| far more convenient and economical to have the
| building erected in Judiciary Square, govern
ment reservation in the central portion Of the city,
than upon the site proposed by the pending bill.
Mr. Townshend, Of Illinois, said that he be.
lieved from what he saw in the public prints that
seeking to lobby the bill through.
Mr. Rice of Massachusetts, declared that more
persons had been heard in opposition TO the pro.
posed site than III favor OF IT, aud stated his belief
that there was no foundation for the charge that
lobbying had been re'orted to.
Mr.. TOwnshend inquired whether the gentle
man was not aware OF the fact that persons hal
made an assessment of per cent on property
owners east Of the Capitol for the purpose Of de.
| frayng the expenses toward securing the sale Of
their property 10 the government.
Mr. Rice replied that he had never heard Of
such thing until yesterday. He believed that
| the matter should be investigated, but he did not
think that II should operate against the passage
/ Mr.. Reed, of Maine, said that he did not think
thatnny member ought to permit himself to make
suggestions on the tiOor rejecting directly or In
directly on the body TO which he belonged, If
| any scamp had undertaken to levy blNckmail on
| persons who owned this property twas no ground
| ior coming IN here and npngning the honesty OF
members. If the gentleman from Illinois knew
any member of the House to whom money could
| be applied for the purpose of carrying through
| great public measure like the present, let him
come and make his statement, but when he came
| into selfrcspecting BODY like the House with
such an insinuation II ought TO be repealed in
stnntly.
| Mr.. Townshend assorted that he had no charge
| to make Whatever; he had cast no imputaton
| Whatever ON any meml or Of the House. He then
| read from the Chicago tribune an article charging
that q ere was real estate ring q Eastern men
VINO owned the property east OF the Capitol and
who wished tn unload n bad investment upon the
| government. lie wished to call attention to the
circumstance that no man who had chnmpioned
| this bill had come from the South or West, and
| tcro was no charge that Southern or Western men
| owned an Inch of real estate which they sought TO
unOad on the government.
Mr.. Rlcc2The geulleman's last remark shows
i not only Hn nnimns but nm Ignorance that Is as
| tonshing in regard TO the matter upon which he
| has made such serious charges.
| Mr.. TuwnshCnd-I have made no charge.
| Mr.. Rice, in reply to Mr. Townshend's remark
that no Southern or Western man favored the
bill, stated that two of its most earnest advocates
were Senators Voorhees,. ofIndiana and Butler, of
| Sonth Carolina. If Mr.. Gibson, OF Louisiana, were
| present, he would be found chnmpioning the bill
| He desired to repel the intimation that Eastern
| men had been influenced In this mater 10y any
such influence as was alleged by the gentleman
| from Illinois.
Mr.. Humphrey, a member Of the committee
which reported The bill, denied vigorously that
| tie committee had ever heard of any lobbying'
| and he hoped that no member would ever again
| stand on this floor and repeat from any newspaper
| whatever That there was job IN any merltorous
measure, without bringing proof of the statement.
| IL was not worthy of a mau. The time had come
| when Congress should not remain silent on q
| matter of this kind.
| After further and at times acrimonious discus
sion, Mr.. Rice moved tn postpone the fur her con-
sideratiOn of the bill until the 18th of December
| 1882. Pending which, Mr.. Randall, moved to lay
the bill on the table. Lost-ycas, ~; nays, III.
Mr., Rices motion was then agreed to without
| division.