The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-01-24
The LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
The Bill to BE Reported Mondsy-Mr. Curtis's Sug
RestionA CrlticIsed by Sanafnrs and 0fhars

The Bill to BE Reported Mondsy-Mr. Curtiss Sug-
gestions Criticised by Senators and Others.
On Fridly last one of The SUNDAY HERALD stan
interviewed Gen. Singleton, chairman of the House
Library Committee, who stated that he had been d.
rected by his committee to report to the House on
Monday next, under the cali of committees, the
pending Library BILL This bill, he said was similar to
enc passed by tho Senate in the Forty-eighth Con-
gress,and which approprates money for the purchase
Of site east Of the Capitol Gen. Singleton said that
he believed the House wonld pass the bill: that the
site recommended was the only one fitted for the
purpose BY its proplnquity TO the Capitol and that
the chief dfaculty which had been heretofore in
the way OF passing q Library bill In the Hoase
would be disposed of under the new rules. Gen.
Singleton had read Mr.. George T. Curts's letter to
the Senate Library Committee, recommending
law appointing six gentlemen, neither
residents nor propertyowners in the District of Co.
lumbia, and who would bind themselves not to be-
come suoh during certain specified term Of years.
to select site for the Library and ask proposals for
the same from all the architects on the civilized
world. Mr.. Singleton thought Mr.. Curtis's PROPOSE
items neither expedient nor practicable. An inter.
view was then had with Senator Morrill,, Of Vermont
chairman Of the Senate Committee of Public Build
ings and Grounds, and who has been the steadfast
and discreet friend OF District improvements during
his long service In Congress. The Senator, whe is
not often deceived thought the bill that passed the
eenae during tne last congress, or something very
much like 1t, would become law this year. He
favors now, always the site adjoining the Capitc
and smiled at Mr. Curtls's suggestions visionary
and impracticable. Mr.. j. L. Smithmeyer, the 90
compllshed architect who has put n plans and draw
ings for Congressional Library, and who has
visited the Continent for the purpose Of inspecting
the library architecture of Europe, was next seem
Mr. Smithmeyer attacked MIR. Curtis's propositions,
where indeed they had not been borrowed from
suggestions heretofore made by Mr.. Snithmeyer
himself In elaborate pamphlets died with the Sem
ate Library Committee. He thought 1t absurd to
have the site selected by commission of non.resi-
dents and non-propsrty holders, and said that
as to the proposition to leave the plan of the build
ing open to the competition to all foreign we'll as
domestic architects ridiculous, since with the
exception OF ono library, built some eighty years
ago, and two Ia the course OF construction, the
library buildings in Europe had grown by accrs-
tien and were not homogeneous structures.
He said that the proposal to build a cheap brick
structure Of the Meigs Barn architectural type like
the Pension Building, would be peculiarly inappro-
PIRATE for National Library, since 1t is well known
that bricks are too porous material to be used On
the outside Of building where 1t was desired to
keep ont dampness; that the interior walls Of the
building might most properly be Of brick, bat that
the exterior walls should be Of stone. Mr.. Smith
meyer thought the Library bill would pass this year.