Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-13
THE FREE LIBRARY BILL.
Senators Discuss 1t and Refer 1t to the Il
brary Committee.


brary Committee.
The Senate bill to establish free public and
departmental library and reading room was
taken up in the Senate this morning and
after some discussion was referred to the
Senate committee on the library for their
action. The bill was called up by Mr.. wolcott.
who explained the objects Of the measure and
outlined the benefits to be derived from il by
the citizens of the District. He said there would
be plenty OF room in the building in which
1t was proposed to locate the library and
1t would be happy day for him when in this
way the foundation could be laid for library
which might at some future time be a subject
OF pride to the city and be housed in building
Of its own.
BOOKS NEEDED IN DEPARTMENT..
Mr.. Sherman remarked that he thought tina,
certain books which were daily used
by the heads OF the various depart
ments should be excepted from the
transfer, as many of these books were of the
greatest importance and value. He suggested
that an amendment to the bill be inserted Civ.
ing TO the heads of the departments the dis
erection OF naming the books which should be
transferred to the proposed library.
Mr.. Morrill, concurred il the suggestion oil
Mr.. Sherman and offered the amendment, ..ir
Mr.. Wolcott was unwilling that the discre
tionary power should be so broad and he ffered
an amendment which excluded from the trans
fer such books used and necessary for depart.
mental use.
TEE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.
MIR. Morgan inquired whether the bill hac
been acted on by the joint committee on hbrar,
and said he was not willing that books should
be taken from the Congressional Library with.
~ Ahs.t Il II
that the bill DO referred TO the joint committed
on library.
!lr. Hoar suggested that the difficulty might
be removed by adding to the section relating to
the transfer of certain books from the Con.
gressional Library an amendment which would
only allow the transfer of such books as were
approved by the joint committee.
MIR. Morgan replied that it was his opinion
that the citizens Of the District should have free
access to the Congressional Library and be
would advocate bill which would allow
this privilege. He did not favor the taxing
OF the people Of the District for a library which
they never had any benefits from. II was with
this object in view that he wished the bill re-
ferred.
THE POST OFFICE BUILDING.
Mr. Allison said that he considered the great.
est defect in the bill to be that portion Of i,
which located the proposed library in the new
post Office building, for he knew that every
portion OF that building would be occupied by
the purposes for which it was intended
DIR. Call agreed with Mr. Allison and also ad-
vocated the suggestion made by Mr.. Morgan
that the citizens of the District should
have: free access to the Congressional Ii
brary.
Mr.. Cockrell moved an amendment striking
out the provision which provided for supplying
employees Of the several executive departments
with books through accredited departmental
messengers.
He did not know how many messengers it
would take to supply the wants of all the
clerks in the departments and he thought this
feature was an expensive and ornamental one
that should be removed.
Before any action was taken on any Of the
proposed amendments Mr.. Morgan modified
his motion so that the bill should be referred
to the Senate committee on the library and BY
unanimous consent the bill was referred.