Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-20

| BOOKS ON PUBLIC QuESTIoNS-THIs CONGRESS
MORE sTUDIOUs THAN ITS PREDECESSORS
| CHAT WITH LIBRARIAN sPoFFORD
"What do Congressman read? Well. that's a
hard question" said Librarian Spofford, leading
the way to an alcove. and sitting down for a
chat with The STAR man. ''You see there are
so many Of them, and their reading is dversi-
fled. But an active Congressman don't get
much time for reading. They are attorneys
special agents and general business men for
their constituents. They are called upon to do
all sorts of private service. They go from de-
partment<to department., looking after this ones
claim and that ones patent, an account here to
be settled and an appointment there to ask for;
an0 not being allowed a secretary. as the Sena-
tors are, they have just as much as they can do
If they pretend to keep up their correspond
ence. Yet there are some who are pretty close
students, and they are hard-working men,
| too.
| Now, here's point: you can tell what the PEG
Pile are talking about by watching what certain
active men read. Everything relating to treaty
questions Is in great demand. There are about
| dozen Senators and eighteen or nineteen MEM
1 Oers who study this question very carefully.
| Every scrap of literature-every word that has
any reference to treaties and our commercial
| relations with foreign nations, and books upon
| the revenue-are being read more than ever be-
| ioic. huu uiSut duu CidC Cnl5 congress READS
| more than any OF its predecessors for twenty
three years. There are from three to four thou
sand books out of the library all the time
] Everything with relation to the Jay treaty with
| England In 1875. about which there was SO much
discussion and the House came near refusing
an appropriation for, is being extensively read
by members All books are read in which the
question ofhOw tar the House may oppose the Sem
ate in matters Of treaties is discussed. They are
always looking orprecedents. There never was
a body so eager for precedents as the American
| House OF Representatives, and none so ready to
topple them all over. Papers relating to the
| Clay treaty of 1916 are much read now
Then there are always few veteran students
OF finance and political economy in both houses
The railroad question is attracting great deal
of attention now. That Is becoming q very i'm
portant question, and it is a new one. There
| are no presidents to follow. and the stock of
books on the subject is very limited. There is
constant demand for a book to give in a con-
else form the legislation Of all the states con-
corning corporations and the result of it's appli-
cation. This is one of the greatest necessities
OF the hour. There is no such book, and don't
know that anybody contemplates preparing one.
1t would be an immense task. AS it Is. the
members and Senators devour all they can find
upon the subject, and are constantly seeking in
formation. The social question, SO far as it en-
tiers into the question Of the control of the BODY
OF the people through the influence of corpora
| lions. Is an interesting question. There is
questions. and, as have before said, there has
been greater demand upon the library this
Congress than ever before since have been in
charge here"
Are any Of the members fond OF light read
ing?" asked The STAR.
Yes there is great deal Of light reading
novels, poetry and all kinds OF fiction, but
chiefly voyages and travels. Stories of the
Arctic regions and narratives of the explorations
in Africa. along the Congo basin, are much read.
But peculiar feature is the popularity of
poetry in this Congress. ALI the British and
American poets are read"
care the families of Congressman generally
fond Of reading?"
Yes notwithstanding the social demands
made upon them during their stay in this CITY,
they read large number of books. Some of
the wives OF Senators and members are close
students of history. and even OF theology in
| some cases Then there Is large amount of
fiction read by some. Many. also, are fond of
| books on art and household decoration. Many
wives study history and politics for their hus-
bands always keeping right up to the times on
all important questions, SO as to help their hus-
bands in their public labors. Even young ladies
| thus help their fathers sometimes"
THE LIBRARY AND THE LIBRARIAN.
It is interesting to sit in the congressional
library, to watch the members and Senators who
come in and listen to their questions. There is
sort of tradition about the Capitol that Libra
riar spoford knows everything, and can answer
any and all questions. They come to him to
know the author of some saying or expression
of remote origin, to get apt quotations to de-
eide upon authorities and to tell them lust
where they can find all about any matter they
have in mind He is even asked for the views
OF the great men Of the country, running back
to the time of Washington upon certain leading
questions. he Is said to have the most remark
able fund of information concerning such SUBJ
iects, and upon all matters relating TO- books, Of
any man in America; and the collection of books
over which he presdes is the greatest in the
country. Though the part Of the Capitol occu-
pied by the library furnishes shelf-room for only
3OO, GOO volumes there are sos 600 slowed away
| there. large number are ''colonized" In the
dark and badly ventilated vaults In the cellar
The shelves along the long aisles of the library
are piled one above another with valuable books
until they reach the roof, two stories high.
There are stored the best collection Of news
papers in the world. There are continuous hles
OF British papers. running back for two
centuries, and American papers for over q
century. The file running farthest back of the
American publications Is the Philadelphia North
American, which, under the name Of the Packet
was the first daily paper published In America
1t appeared as the Packet In It'll. Afterwards
the name was changed to CloypoTs Advertiser.
then to Pouason's Daily Advertiser. And, finally,
In 1889. to the name 1t now pears. The flies are
unbroken up to the first issue.
Sixteen Gloucester, Mass, fishing vessels were
t0sI curing the past year, and 131 fishermen lOat