The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1885-01-20


When bill Of no particular Importance
Is introduced In Congress and referred to a
committed tho exnress;op 1Thot 4, tho
-, r. a.. L,,,,, - ~ -,
,"'s y. 'u"v Dni Vo'S "oquon'iy hoaiu.
IL Is true that the Dill may never DO heard
of again, but tho prediction that IL is the
last of 1t is not true. The bill has a course
to run. 1t is not generally known that
every bill, every report, evory executive
communication-in short, everything that
comes before Congress--is preserved In the
original. But such is the fact.
There 10 place devoted to the preserva-
tion of these relics and man specially
charged with preserving thom. The room
is succession of iron corridors, one above
the other, lined with receptacles for hold.
ing largo volumes.
The room is freproof, and narrow iron
atairways lead from one corridor to an.
other. The entrance to this catacomb is
through the office of the flo and journal
clerk ofthe House.
Tho corridors extend up level with tho
glass roof of the House, and shelves run
around one side of that roofand half around
another These shelves are used for the
same purpose as those in the narrow iron
corridors.
Commencing on the roof of the house the
records run downward in chronological Or
hOAs ho bOVho oAo VI oil biNOo uOWh w
about forty years ago, when they assume
uniformity. They are all leather-covered
and are strongly bound. Inside of them
are thick leaves upon which bills, reports
and other Congressional documents are
pasted in the original. Every kind of pa.
per is there. The history of the improve
ment in paper manufacture can be traced
in these volumes from the first session Of
the Continental Congress down to the pres
ant oxv
1t is noted, too, in dolving among these
old tones that the later ones are better pre-
pared than those preceding them. For in
stance, there is evident slovenliness in the
volumes OF the First Congress. Improve
ment goes on as the dates become more re-
cent. But very little is missing in this
vast collection. The First and Second Con-
crosses arc not complete, and there is a
somewhat bad break In the continuity of
the records in the years just before the
British burned the Capitol.
The break was caused by tire and by the
British taking away some of the volumes.
There are number OF volumes on hand
which show the effects of British depreda-
lions. Jhey are charred and their con-
tents smoked and covered with dirt. But
not word is there In them that cannot
be read. Thus from tho date OF the first
meeting OF congress there is an almost I'M
broken collection in the original of all mat
tiers that came before that body. In later
years a great deal OF ingenuity has been
shown in making the edges of the contents
OF the leather.backed volumes as smooth as
those OF any hrst.class publication.
The ingenuity is the more apparent
when 1t is remembered that all sizes AMI
kinds OF paper are used in preparing bills
for Introduction, and In writing reports and
other matters pertaining to Congressional
business. The originals when ordered to
be printed 60 TO the Government Printing
Office, but strict care Is always taken that
they are returned. The printers marks
are to be seen on many OF the papers.
For the past thirty years these volumes
have been prepared by an old gentleman
who is now nearly seventy years of age
He has room in the basement Of the Capt.
tol set apart for his own use. There he
locks himself up and gives receipt for the
documents which arc sent to him. He then
aIIanges them in his books in regular order.
When he has finished a volume he turns it
over to the proper officials and gets re-
ceipt. The volume then goes to the place
set apart for such records.
: One would not think that there would
be much inquiry for what is contained In
the dust-covered old books but there is.
There is hardly day but that somebody
wants to get copy OF an original dOcu-
meht OF years ana years ago. Ihey are al
ways accommodated. il the inquirer but
Knows IN wnat session Oh Congress the
uocunent that ne - lhteresteo IN nrsb saw
inc lgnt Oh Gay, IL Is an easy matter 10 ac.
commouate MN, DuV no. oiten ID that
h =. anu fO ,ten sho aoatn iot Mnse
40 , ssheo ioI runs Snioufn 'wen'y or Sulr.y
voiuines. ~ surPiis;ns, Sne nunioer VI
Peopie VINO wan. COPIES oi pIlvaIe pills
Whlcu wete lht s quarter NAH Ut
'nTee'quaiseFs oL century agG. A..
l11pis inoe ,n IN oiu S SIa1 'hae que
Woulu nave Shousno hau uicu a-porntng
are cohoinuaily coming 10 look over the
afcnlves WIN tne eVluent INTENTION OF
IeVlylng snOse Oongiessional noss-Dacks'
feopie VINO are writing hlstorlcal matter
constitute tne largest class OF people VINO
WISH Tue IRON coriiuorS "nere legislative
lote ID storeu'
Inc uescenaahes Oh army ana naval ON
GERS whose nalnes nave peeh uenCloneu IN
ohclaI REPORTS also 20 Ihete 70 learn OF
t9elr ancestors, as ao aiSo ene uescenuants
Oh men VINO nave peen promineht IN the
c,vll nlstIry ol .ne country me olu gem
sleman VINO prepares ehe Original matter
I1I PIeseiVation 10 pue seluSin seen. ono Oh
1ne gentlemen III cnarge OF tne IRON corrl'
| uOfS says LDaU ne uOcS 0OU sec inc ola man