Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-09
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY BUILD.
ING.
Improved Prospects for its Construc-
ti0ms
CoNCkRNING fHR LIBRARY CoNMTTTHE-NOT Be
KAY" OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF IT'S DUTIES.

KAY" OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF IT'S DUTIES.
Friends Of the Congressional Library, who feel
regret to see its many valuable books being injured
ior lack OF space to properly accommodate them,
never felt so hopeful OF the success OF bill to erect
building especially for this large collection being
passed by Congress at no distant date, as they do
now. The difficulty as TO nnding suitable rooms
senate end OF the Capitol also for more space for
the transaction OF legitimate business out OF the
senate chamber by Senators, has caused leading
democratic members OF the two Houses hitherto
opposed to any plan involving the appropriation Of
large enough sum to erect new library building,
that the rooms now filled with books can be used
for other purposes The present library will prob
aoy ne divided up into committee rooms as soon as
therein.
At meeting of the House committee on the
erecting suitable building for the vast collection
OF BOOKS now so crowded within the walls of the
Capitol was most favorably considered. 1t was con-
ceue0 tnat building must soon be erected, since
any attempt to accommodate the books within the
walls of the CAPITOL even II an addition could be
contain all the books for Which, there is now no
room on the shelves of the present library I'm ad-
ton to those which will certainly accumulate under
tne action OF the copyright law, II not from any
other source, before such an addition could be
completed, would only AFFORD temporary accommo-
occupied by books is actually needed by both
Houses OF Congress for committee rooms
SPEAKER cARLIsLB's VIEWS
Speaker Carlisle is known to be favorable to the
erection Of building specially for the library,
suitable site is selected and 1t is proved that there
furthered by such selection.
Many other prominent Representatives have also
expressed themselves In a like manner on this sub
At the time Speaker Carlisle announced the COM
mttees OF the House, there was no little talk as to
present chairman having formerly been both before
the war ana since whenever the democrats have
CO 1h the House OF chairman
Oh tne House committee on printing, and 1t being
understood at the time it was announced
that he had been assigned to the library commit
change. Some said then that he had been put on a
colnmttee OF lower grade. This Speaker Carlisle
and Others Wen informed as to the rank Of the
library committee is higher on the list and has a
better standing before the country than that on
printing for the latter involves great deal Of la
POROUS routine work which few except those hav-
Ing business with the chairman Of that committee
ever fully appreciate.
NOT "BOKAY" COMMITTEE
Some have quoted Representative Coxs sneering
remark, oft reiterated, when made chairman OF the
library committee, several years ago, In styling it
"the bOEdv committee" as II only existing for the
distribution OF flowers from the Congressional con-
servacOr1es This latter function the Chairman Of
that committee does not now exercise since for the
past Two years, perhaps longer it has been the rule
10 have the flowers distributed In rotation to each
them.
on the other hand the real functions OF the Joint
m committee are IN fact of very high order,
ny permanent statute, the joint committee on
me library have charge OF all works OF art In the
matters are referred to them.
Inere mas been for some years an annual or b.
ena a appropriation FOR the purchase OF paintings
ana statuary, which has been in charge Of the
library committee. Under their auspices have been
secured many OF our best specimens OF sculpture
abs ane g ST 1Ss rats,
fhe chaa Of she Colorado and he Canon Of the he
Henry Clay; stones statues OF John Hancock and
Alexander Hamilton; the full-length portrait of
h MARINA 4 washington h by E. A. Andrews which
the now nearly finished statue Of Chief Justice
Marshall, by VIM. w. Story.
national, and ali 6s for amending the copyri sSs
laws are referred to them.
dor inc interest OF the largest library III America,
ana place upon this committee is looked upon as
Representative Singleton, the present chairman
OF the committee, thoroughly understands now the
high character Of the duties assigned him, and es
pec1ally the Importance OF holding his position at
time when the very important question of pro
yldlng suitable accommodations for the large COL
IL
brary" must be decided. It was In order not to in
terfere with the natural functions Of the committee
on tne library that the committee rules early in
the session decided not to continue the special COM
lnttee existing only In the last Congress "On ad-
ditlonal accommodations for the library" This is
t HOla On the authority OF prominent member Of
Few are aware how long ago it was decided by
congress to appoint library committee 1t really
tin seniority Of existence The following annears in
ne ANNALS OF Congress" for May, i796 {this is
found IN the proceedings Of the House Of Repre-
pointed TO report catalogue OF books necessary
1Or the use OF Congress, with an estimate of the
Obtaining them and that Messrs Gerry
done by the First Congress
As early as 1902 the special supervision of the
eys appropriated for book purchase. was placed IN
charge OF Joint committee Of both houses OF Con-
sr Tss on e6 tine library y.s a,r. oon.,a
senators and three Representatives, appointed at
the commencement OF each successive Congress-
Many men OF distinction In our political history
have been members Of the Library committee and
qel / Mitchill ": {. Preston, John Quincy Adams
Cuban C. verplanck, Levi Woodbury., Caleb Cush-
ing, John M. Clayton, John G. Palfrey, Thomas H.
Benton, Horace Mann, James A. Bayard, George P.
Marsh, Henry c. Murphy, w. p. Fessenden VIM G.
Rives, Reverdy johnson, Charles Francis Adams. ~
b. Washburne, Edward Mcpherson, E. d. Morgan
John Sherman, L. NJ. Morrill,, T. o. Howe, s. S. Cox
Wheeler. W. 49,
Few are perhaps aware how small a sum (com-
parativelyl has been actually expended by Con
gresS for the purchase of books. A most accurate
stat1Stlclan says: 1.-The expenditure upon the gov
eminent library, II compared with its extent and
value, mas not been great. The sum total of the
appropriations OF Congress fer books from 1900 to
1873 has not exceeded $640 0OO and this is inclusive
OF the cost OF all the volumes destroyed In two con-
hagrat1OnS.
THE WESTERN sTATEsNAN WHO DKsPIsEs BOOKS
1t Is astonishing to hear some members OF both
houses of Congress, who are presumably well
Informed on other subjects, speak contemptuously
of the collection OF books In the Congressional
Library, largely constituted of trash which ought
10 be burned, and add that ST all the srorthfess
DOCKS Id the present library were destroyed there
would De space enough within the rooms now used
Tor all OF which would remain worth preventing
certain western Senator, who prfdes himself
speaking Gas he claims to dO) several modern
languages, actually said to the writer that ssno
sensible man, after attaining his majority needed
many books" He pointed to small stand near
by as he spoke, and insisted that that would con-
tain all the books any man properly instructed tn
youth would need. The stand In question would
not hold one hundred volumes QuOth the writer
"Then you admit that the young need books while
under instruction; SO that II you do not now con-
slder them necessity for yourself you must have
reaped the benefit OF them at one time directly or
through your teacher, or you would not have at
tanned your present position" ssNo" he answered
tr1umphantly, "those who taught me tcere ue,y To-
,aOrdat people," He used exactly these words and
In tone as II the astounding information he gave
redOunded greatly to his own credit as proving his
power to rise superior to the ordinary means OF