Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-15
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.
Action Taken by the senate Committee On
Several Important Measures.

PROVISIONS OF Tnx BIZ foA FREE LIsRARy,
WHICH WAS rAvoRAhLr ACTED oS-rENr or
THE MEASURE rRovIDIS6 roR A HALF HoLI-
DAY on SATURDAY.
The Senate District committee held its rcgu-
lar meeting today and cleared number Of bills
from its calendar. The committee ordered .
favorable report on the bill which THE sraR
has chanpioned providing for n free public and
departmental library and reading room.
The bill provides that there be. and is hereby.
established a free public and departmental
library and reading room for the use Of tho
citizens OF the District Of Columbia and Of tho
employees Of the several departments and Offices
OF the government in Washington.
Sec. 2. That said library shall be located in
the new post Office building, and the architect
of the same Is hereby directed TO provide in his
plans and specifications room. ia the second
story Of the building suitable Tor aud adapted
20 library and reading room purposes. adequate
to the accommodation OF not less than 50. 600
volumes.
BOOKS TO RE TURNED OVER.
Sec. 8. That whenever provisions Cor ne
library are completed such books. periodicals
and papers as npw belong TO ard are included
In the circulating libraries of the several ex-
SCutiNc UeptFtuelb ana OflCer az tl0
government In the CITY of Washington shall
be transferred 70 the free public and
departmental library and reading room. for its
use, and j; is hereby made the duty of the head
OF each department. bureau or office in which
| circulating library is maintained for the uso Of
employees Of the government TO deliver
! all such books, periodicals and papers.
/ without delay. 20 the free public
and departmental library and reading room,
/ and thereafter no circulating library hut only
Ernah flawaw
use shall be established or maintained by any
| department, bureau Office OF the government
| in the District OF Columbia
Sec. 4. That the librarian Of Congress a.
hereby authorized TO turn over TO the FREQ pub
lie and departmental library and reading room
such duplicate copies OF books In his charge a.
are not required for the use of the library of
Congress.
THE LIBRARIAN.
Sec. 5. That upon the completion OF rooms
for the library herein provided for there shall
be appointed by the President. by and with the
| advice and consent of the Senate ono librarian.
who shall be entitled 20 receive a fal-
airy Of $500 per annums and said librarian
is hereby authorized to appoint two assistant
| Librarians, who shall receive each n salary OF
| Sl.5OO per annum. two assistants who shall
| receive each q salary OF $500 per Rnnum, and
one janitor at a salary of 600 per annum.
Sec. 6. That all citizens Of the District of Co
1
ployes of tho government on duty in the city Of
| Washington, shall be entitled TO the privileges
| OF the free public and departmental library and
reading room free of all charge, under such
rules and regulations rs shall be prescribed by
4 the librarian: Provided, That the library and
reading room shall be kept open from 90 clock an
| te meridian TO O'Clock post meridian each day,
| excepting Sundays and holidays: And pro-
vided further, that tho regulations adopted
shall include provisions for supplying en-
pioyes of the several executive departments
with books through accredited departmental
\ messengers.
Sec. Z. That Of the ypenses incurred in tho
maintenance Of the free public and depart
mental library and reading room, including all
| salaries Of employees, one-hals shall be paid by
| the United States and one-half by the District
| of Columbia. and it is hereby made the duty Of
| the Commissioners Of the District to inclndo
i these expenses in their annual estimates sub
mitted to Congress.
| GALLERY or ARTS.
Favorable reports were ordered on the bill 70
authorize the establishment Of an Academy and
Gallery Of Arts. the bill to incorporate the
Protestant Episcopal Foundation. and making
| Saturday a legal holiday when banks and
bankers so elect. This bill only intro
y drced yesterday.
| THE SATURDAY HALF HOLIDAY.
Il It provides that it shall be lawful for trust
tcompanies, banks and bankers in the city Of
Washington to close their doors for business
at IL O'Clock noon on each and every Sat-
urday in the year, and every Saturday
in the year after II O'Clock noon
shall be legal half holiday so far regards
the presenting for the payment or acceptance
and protesting and giving notice OF the dis
honor of bills Of exchange. bank checks. drafts,
! promissory notes and other negotiable paper,
and for these purposes shall be
treated and considered as the first dav
of the week. commonly called Sunday; and all
such bills, checks, drafts aud notes presentsbls
II for acceptance or payment on saturdays shall
be deemed TO be presentable for acceptance
or payment on the secular or business day
next succeeding: Provided, however, That all
bills of exchange, drafts and promissory notes
made after the passage OF this act. except
those PAYABLE az sight or on demand.
which shall be otherwise payable on any
half-holiday Saturday, shall be deemed 20 be,
and shall be. payable on the next succeeding
secular or business day: And provided further.
That for the purpose Of protesting or other
wise holding. liable any party to nnv
bill of exchange. bank check, draft
or promissory note which shall not
have been paid before IL O'Clock at noon On
any half holiday Saturday. n demand OF accept
ance payment thereof may be made, and
notice of protest dishonor thereof may he
given on the next succeeding secular or busi-
ness day.
And provided further. That when any per-
son shall receive for collection in said city u
Washington any bill OF exchange, bank
check or promissory note due and pre-
sentable for acceptance or payment ON
any half holiday Saturday, such per-
son shall not be deemed guilty Of neglect or
omission of duty, nor occur any liability in not
presenting for payment or acceptance or col
lecting such bill Of exchange, bank
check, draft or promlssory note
On that day; And. provided further: That in
constituting this section every half-holiday Saur-
day shall, until II O'Clock noon, be deemed q
secular business day. Nothing IN this section
shall affect any legislation applicable 10 any
Saturday whenever the same, under the provis-
ion of said section, shall be a legal holiday.
u Section 2 That this act shall take eject from
THE date of its passage.
Il ADVERSE REpoRrs.'
u Adverse reports were rendered on the bill TO
amend the act entitled "An act for the further
protection of property from fire;" also the bill
for q bridge across the Anacostia branch; also
the bill in relation 20 ways OF egress
and means Of escape from fire in certain build
tings. Also the bill for the protection Of the
rights of owners of lots in Columbian Harmony