Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1885-01-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Al, 1873

sional library, to watch the Members
and Senators who come in, and listen
to their questions. There is a sort Of
tradition about the Capitol that the Lii.
brarian, Mr.. Spofford, knows everything,
and can answer any and all questions.
They come to him to know the authsr
OF some saying or expression Of remote
origin, to get apt quotations, to decide
upon authorities, and to tell them just
where they can find all about any mat.
ter they have in mind. He is even ask.
ed for the views of the great men Of
the country, running back to the time
OF Washington, upon certain leading
questions. He has certainly remark
able fund Of information to draw from,
for the collection Of books over which
he presides is the greatest in the count
ry. Though the part Of the Capitol
occupied by the library furnished shelf
room for only 900, 900 volumes, there
are $4,000 slowed away there. A
large number are "colonized" in the
dark and badly ventilated vaults in the
cellar. The shelves along the long
isles 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 con-
tinuous ales British papers, running
back for tive INJURIES, and American
papers for Q century. The file
running furt, est back Of the Ameri-
can publica. ms is the Philadelphia
No,tA Ameyfean, which, under the name
Of the Patkef, was the first daily paper
published imAmerica. 1t appeared as
the Packet I'm I77I. Afterwards the
name was changed to ClaypolPS Ad0ey-
user, then to PonLSon's Daily .4d0ertfser.
And, finally in 1859, to the name it now
bears.
! like to 60 over to the Library when
am at the Capitol, and study the va
rious phases OF congressional life cxhib-
lied there. Congressmen come and go,
and there are 80 macy OF them that
their literary indulgence is diversified.
Thele are always few veteran students
Of finance and political economy in
both houses. Then, The railroad ques.
tion is attracting a great deal of atten.
ton now. There Is a constant demand
for book TO give in concise form the
legislation OF all the States concerning
corporations and the result Of its appli.
cation. There Is no such book, and !
don't know that anybody contemplates
preparing one. AS it is, the Members
or Senators devour all they can tlnd up.
on the subject, and are constantly seek.
ing information. The social question,
SO far as it enters into the question oi
the control Of the body Of the people
through the influence Of corporations, is
an interesting question. | have observ.
ed a group Of Members and Senators
who particularly study these questions,
and they pay daily visits TO the library.
Some of our Legislators evince a decid-
ed preference for light literature, poet
ry and all kinds of fiction, but chiefly
voyages and travels. Stories of the
Arctic regions and narratives Of the ex.
ploralions in Africa, along the Congo
basin, are much read. A peculiar feat.
ure now observable is the popularity OF
poetry in this Congress. All the Brit.
lsh and American poets are read.
A careful observer can tell what the
Nation is talking about by watching
what certain active Congressman read
Aprop0S. everything relating to treaty
questions is now in great demand.
There are about dozen Senators and
eighteen or nineteen Members who
study this question very carefully.
There are from three 10 four thousand
books out Of the library all the time.
might add that this Congress reads
more than any Of its predecessors for
twenty three years. All books are read
in which the question of how far the
House may oppose the Senate in mat
tiers of treaties is discussed. They are
always looking for precedents. There
never was body So eager for precedents
as the American House Of Representa-.
tives, and none so ready to topple all
over.
Mr.. Randall started on his southern
trip Saturday, accompanied by his wife
and Representative McAdoo. He has
received invitations TO extend his tour
through about twenty southern cities,
but owing to lack of time has been
obliged to decline all and conhne his
visit to Louisville, Nashville. Burning.
ham and Chattanooga. Several special
correspondents accompany him on the
trip.
The servants at the White House each
received bright, new hve.dollar piece
from the hand Of their master Christ.
mas morning with the usual Christmas
greeting. In addition the Steward was
directed to present the family of each
servant with big fat turkey.
Samuel ]. Tilden has engaged quart.
ers here for the Inauguration. He is
expected to arrive March Ist.
LENoX.