National Republican., 1888-02-14
No PRESS CENSORSHIP,
TIE BILL BURIED IN THE COMMITTEE
ON THE JUDICIARY.
A Powerful Common-sense Argument
by Amos Cummines-Dougher of
Florida, Airs His AGiiction and Makes
a Couple Of Funny Propositions.

MT, huuleDeTBeT'b uRnJ HgulnSb hecIeb
sessions in general, and against the British
extradition treaty in particular, was recog-
nized in the shape Of large and very hand
some floral harp placed on his desk yester-
day morning by the Irish society called the
Clan-na.Gael.
Among the petitions and memorials pre-.
sented and referred were the following:
For international copyright law; for q pro-
hibition amendment TO the constitutions;
for the removal Of import duty on medl-
clnes, medical and surgical appliances, and
everything used In the treatment and dag
nosis Of diseases; for arbitration between
nations; address of the constitutional con-
ventiop Of Dakota for the division OF the
territory and the admission OF the southern
portion as O state.
Mr.. Plumb from the committee on ap-
preparations, reported the bill appropriat-
ing 200 for the relief OF the poor OF the
District Of Columbia-one-half out Of the
treasury and one-half out Of the District
revenues. Passed.
Among the other bills reported from COM
mittees and placed on the calendar were
the following:
To provide for the erection of public
buildings by contract to the lowest bidder.
To enable the Secretary OF the Interior to
utilize the hot water now running to waste
at Hot Springs, Ark.
To prevent the sale OF adulterated food
IN the District Of Columbia.
To authorize the appointment Of q hy-
drographer and assistant photographer Of
the navy.
For commission on the subject of the
alcoholic liquor traffic.
Mr.. Vest, from the committee, on public
buildings and grounds, reported bill ap.
IL. fs1nn fnr ha phaa ~ N
site and the erection OF a building near the
War Department building, in the city Of
Washington, for the safe keeping Of the
records OF the executive, legislative, aud
judicial departments not required for con-
stant reference. Passed.
Among the bills introduced and referred
were the following:
BY Mr.. Palmer For the better protection
OF human life on merchant steam vessels.
BY Mr.. Voorhees, To increase the pen
sions of those WIN have lost limb, or two
limbs, or both eyes.
By Mr.. Plat: To prohibit members OF
territorial legislatures from holding office.
To pay over the passage of Gen. Lafayette
and his family from France to the United
States as the guests Of the nation IN 1924.
BY Mr.. Sawyer: Authorizing the appoint
ment Of eleven railway mail superintend-
ents.
BY Mr.. Vest To fix the number OF docu-
ments printed by Congress, and known as
''the usual number's' at 700, and to specify
the number Of certain documents to be
printed.
In connection with this joint resolution
Mr.. Vest referred ITO the desultory and
unprecedented debate" last Thursday on
that subject. He had then taken occasion
to notice the gross abuse OF the laws and
practice In regard to the printing OF public
documents. The impression seemed to
have been made among those who took the
trouble to read the report Of his remarks In
the Record and In the press that he was
burdened with very large number OF valu-
able public documents which he could not
get rid Of, and the result was that his mail
had, since that debate, been full Of applica.
tions from all portions Of the United States
asking for full copies of the census report,
for all the geological surveys, for the Medi-
cal History Of the War of the Rebellion. for
statistical aliases, for chronological and agri-
cultural and Smithsonian reports. He was
not asked for debates on the Blair bill or
for the documents relating thereto.
He had endeavored to make 1t distinctly
understood that the documents to which he
referred were not such as he had just emu
merated, but were largely reports OF bu.
reaus, with long arrays OF statistical in.
formation which no human being would
ever read, except some man sentenced to
death whose sentence had been commuted
to solitary imprisonment for life. The
clerk of the committee on public buildings
and grounds had told him to-day that he
sent last week to the basement OF the capi.
tol twenty. live bags OF such documents,
for which there was no space In the com
mittee room. There were now in the eel
lars of the capitol over 1000 bags OF these
documents, and there was but one living
man (Mr. Amazi Smith, OF the Senate docu
ment room) who knew what they,were.
He did not object to the publication by
the government OF valuable information
but he objected to the wasting OF money OIL
trash, on refuse matter, on debris that wat
never used by anybody. Senator Sherman
him for his personal use since he had beer
In Congress he had now between six ant
seven thousand volumes, not one OF which
he had ever opened.
Another senator had told him that tht
only use he had found for some Of thu
bookgwas to send them to young lawyer
on fybntier towns, who placed them OF
theK ehelyes, as they looked like law books
1t feGinded him of the parvenu mentioned
In tie Potiphar papers, who determined tt
buy library, but who, under the Instinct
Of economy, simply bought the OUTSIDE
coverings of books, without any contents a
all, arranged them on shelves, and they an
swered all the purposes Of himself ant
family.
Mr.. Paddock said that his colleague, the
chairman OF the committee on public print
ing, was not present to-day to reply to thu
remarks Of the senator from Missouri, bu
for his own part he should be glad to have
documents to distribute among the peopl
on the frontiers Of Nebraska and othe
western states, who were hungry ant
thirsty for knowledge, and would be glat
to receive anything that had been consid
cred by Congress- worthy OF being printed
The joint resolution was referred to thu
committee on printing.
Mr.. Stewart offered resolution, which
was adopted, calling on the Secretary OF th
Treasury for information as to the segrcga
! tion Of public lands capable OF irrigation
from other lands.
Mr.. Voorhees, offered a resolution calling
on the Secretary of the Interior for q cop.
OF the report made to the library BUILDING
on the 1st Of February, 1888. II,
took occasion In connection witt
1t to reply to the remarks Of Sen
ator Plumb last Thursday, on the subjec
Of the library building. That work was II
charge (he saiD OF three officers Of the gov
erpment, the Secretary OF the Interior, the
librarian Of Congress, and the architect o
the Capitol, who could be paid no add
tlonal compensation, and had, therefore, n
personal interest In delaying the work
The new buildings for the State, War, an,
Navy Departments had been II
course OF construction for the last fifteen
years. The new library building would bI
2l,000 square feet larger than tina
building. 1t was to be the larges
library building In the world, and
consequently, every step should be take
with the utmost circumspection and care
The expenditure.of the S3s,000 commente
upon by the senator from Kansas was reE
resented by the cost OF levelpg the ground
removing the water, gas, and sewer pipes
curbstones, &C.; there were twenty seye
draughtsmen and clerks employed, and tn
four women who had been spoken. OF as 81
charge OF horses and carts" were simpi