The Van Buren press., 1894-05-26

,een mayor OF ST. Clair and member OF the
four consecutive terms.
upon International, national and state
laws. Inasmuch as the librarian OF this
department is the custodian Of the
laws of congress and superintcnds
their publication, and that Of all state
papers, there are tens of thousands OF
volumes under his direction which are
not regarded as q part Of the depart
ment library. Here also are the records
OF the revolutionary war, and many
manuscripts from the pens OF WASH
ington, Adams, Jefferson, Franklin
and Monroe. including an original
draft of the celebrated message OF
President Monroe stating the attitude
of this government concerning its re-
lations with other American govern
mcnts and foreign nations, known to
our people and to the world as ''the
Monroe doctrine"
There are about $4,000 books In the
library of the interior department,
containing many standard works, but
as in the case with all libraries intend
ed for general use, fiction is largely
represented. Under the efficient man
agement of the librarian this collection
of books has grown in interest. and
each year additions are made which
tend to increase its usefulness. The
works of the leading novelists are
found upon its shelves This feature
of the library has not been developed
at the expense Of the other depart
ments of literature, for here may b.
found the writings and speeches OF
nearly all American statesmen, trans
lations Of the classics poetry. philoso-
ply. books of travel and works relat
ing to American history. There are
many books which are valuable, and
even rare. and which during the forty
years that the library has been in ex-
istence have collected by degrees on
the shelves. This Is . circulating
library. and is intended mainly for the
use of the clerks, very many of whom
are ladies. There are upwards of 200
books taken out each day, 50 you see
1t is quite a popular collection. The
various bureaus Of the interior depart
meDt have separate libraries Of their
own. intended for consultation on pub
]ic matters. The general land Office,
the pension Office, the patent Office, the
Indian office have books on land laws,
pension laws, patent laws and Indian
affairs. These great Offices are parts
Of the interior department, but their
libraries are specialties, wholly seps,
rate from the department library.
The post office department is grad
ually getting library, in spite Of tbs
fact that congress has never made Ii
appropriation. Various clerks In tils
department have, from time to time
contributed books which form The
nucleus for q library. Postmaster
General Wanamaker repeatedly re-
quested congressional recognition
without avail He, however, sc,
apart three rooms on the top floor OF
the department building and detailed
a clerk to act as librarian; so that the
books on hand are now catalogued and
the library is gradually assuming such
proportions that congress will soon be
obliged to recognize it and make ade-
quate appropriations for its main
tenance.
| There are similar libraries in the
navy, treasury and agricultural de.
partments, and also in the geological
survey, labor bureau and minor execu
tive offices, aggrcgating in all nearly 9
quarter Of million volumes. All Of
these books are accessible to the gov
ernment employees, SO you will under
stand that the department clerks who
have literary appetites do not need t.
go hungering and thirsting while the
mama of letters and the living water
Of scholarship are thus within the
reach of all.
For official use, the department II
braries are exceptionally valuable, be
cause they contain past decisions, prec
edents and historical memories, al
properly indexed SO as to be ready fol
use when official opinions are 70 b.
promulgated by heads Of bureaus OF
cabinet ministers. In the treasury de
partment, for example, the volumes O.
opinions of Comptroller Lawrence ar,
in constant use by the successors O.
that eminent official, and by the Law
clerks in the various branches Of tn,
financial department.. The same may b.
said to be true concerning the pub
lished decisions Of commissioners o
the general land Office, Of patents, o
Indian affairs, although In q less de
gree thar concerning the importan
opinions Of Lawrence. In other words
when the government by one of its &C
credited agents, decides a matter OF
fcially; it is important for the sue
cessors OF that public officer for al
time to know what the past decision
and precedenps have been, SO that Their
shall be less likelihood of executive
officers contradicting or overrulin,
each other. Hence, these official Ii
{ braries are aptly termed memories,
for they contain and retain facts upo,
5 their printed pages which ought neve
to be forgotten, but which man unaide,
$ could not faithfully remember.
|. SMITH d. Fry.