Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-13

PUBLIC LIBRARY BILL
Discussion of a Local Need in the
House.
SOME REMARKABLE OBJECTIONS
The Bill Goes Over Without Def
mite Action.
T. A X n Z S T A PPEA AIS
8 REMARKABLE OBJECTIONS
L A r \ E S T APPEA AIS

This was District day In the House and
the first measure called UP by Chairman
Heard was the bill 10 establish a free pub
| lie and departmental library and reading
room In the District The bill was consid-
cred In committee of the whole with Mr.
Hatch i'm the chair. After the bill was
read Mr.. Heard proceeded to explain IT.
He said the object OF the bill is to estab-
lish free library. II would probably sur
prise members of the House TO be told that
there is no free library here, although such
state of affairs does not exist in any
other large city. There are several de-
| psrtmental libraries in Washington, and IN
| them there are many books which could be
| withdrawn from them and placed in a pub
lie library.
Mr.. Kilgore asked IL the people could
| not get access to the departmental IL
| braries.
| Mr.. Heard replied that the mass of the
| people could not and IL they could the
hours for closing the departments would
| prevent them. He explained to Mr.. Kill
gore that this bin will lessen the expense
! of the government In keeping up the sepa-
| rate department libraries as all the books
| would be collected in this place.
| Mr.. Kilgore was afraid that the library
| might crowd the new post office building
| to the exclusion of other offices now occu-
pying rented quarters. but Mr.. Heard con-
| and the library would not occupy much
room.
Mr. Hermann of Oregon was apprehensive
| that the federal government might be
| called upon to purchase books for the
| library. but Mr.. Heard assured him that
| existing government libraries would be
drawn upon to furnish from their surplus
Moreover, there are many wealthy people
| in the city who would be glad TO contribute
| to the library. that the government
| would be at no expense.
1 aanr iS n n q
| farthing for the purchase OF the books, ne
| SAID.
Mr.. Talbot of South Carolina was So
| licitous lest the government should De at
| expense, and asked why the city could not
get up the library itself Mr. Heard then
had to explain to him that the city cannot
| appropriate one dollar OF its own money for
| it's own use without the aid Of Congress.
For and Against.
In further reply to Mr.. Talbot Mr..
Heard said that In all OF the states the
government has aided the cause of edu-
cation by donating land for school purposes.
but the District has not received any aid.
| In reply to Mr. Henderson OF Iowa, Mr..
Heard said that the occupation of space in
| the post Office building would be Offset by
| the space vacated In the departments occa-
stoned by the removal of the surplus books
TO the new library.
| Mr.. Cannon of Illinois said IL this is TO be
"a library for the District of Columbia, he is
willing to supply room in the new Congress
sional Library building for the accommo-
| dation of this library. II would probably be
| a lorg time before the new city post Office
| would be ready for occupancy. He said the
object OF the city post Office building
is to relieve the government of paying rent
for quarters occupied by its outlying Offices,
and he would oppose any proposition TO
cucumber a foot OF space In the new struc-
ture by a library or anything else than the
! Va
Mr.. Cannon said he was willing that the
government should pay one-half of the ex-
pense OF separate structure for the city
library.
Mr.. Henderson of Iowa said that when
education or labor knocks at the door of
Congress he will always be found willing
to open the door. MIR. Henderson quoted
the expression Of Carlyle that there is a
matesty's jail and gsllows in every town
and why not a majesty's library" There
are gallows and Jail In this city, yet there
is no library. He made short but elo-
quent appeal for favorable action on this
bill.
Queer Objections.
Mr.. Bartlett Of New York opposed the
bill, but started out with the mistaken
premise that the new library proposes to re-
move the technical and scientific books
from the departments, which is not the
case. He advocated the establishment OF
the library by the city, in lieu of that
the city should wait until the new Con-
gressional Library is open. He found fault
with the section Of the bill directing the
librarian of Congress TO contribute dupli-
cate copies in his possession. He thought
IL would be better TO give those surplus
books to the city OF Beaufort, s. e., whose
library was burned during the war by the
federal troops.
Mr. Cannon of Illinois said he indorsed
Carlyle's statement quoted 10y Mr.. Hen
derson. and he felt sure every member
would do the same and stand ready to
give the District all the educational ad-
vantages IL deserves. He then reverted to
his argument that no space should be used
| in the new library for this purpose. Mr..
is here and that every man. woman and
child can have access to IL by making an
Insignificant deposit.
of Iowa
This seemed 10 stagger Mr. Cannon for
moment but he attempted TO get around
II by saying that Congress can lessen the
deposit.
Mr.. Dockery Of Missouri claimed that this
bill proposes a partnership between the
government and the District to establish
free circulating library. He said the
government. I'm the first place, is TO pro-
vide the building
Mr.. Cooper interrupted him with the sug-
gestion that the government is to furnish
but a very small portion OF the building,
an Insignificant portion.
Mr.. Dockery then claimed that IL there
is necessity for library I'm this city
IL should be furnished out of the revenues
of the District. At any rate. a majority
OF the trustees should be appointed from
people outside of the District.
He objected also 10 the provision author
izing the appointment Of assistant libra
rians. and concluiei by declaiming against
spending one dollar ior the purpose propos-
e1 by the bill.
Mr. Smith OF Illinois said the House
should have in view the interests of the
whole people well as the interests Of the
citizens of the District. He then dilated
upon the privileges. he conceived them,
which furnished by the Congressional
Library and at the department libraries. He
thought they afforded all the privileges
which can be asked by any one. He also
feared there might b. a great deal Of eT-
pense Connected with the carrying out OF
this plan, although he confessed that IL is
not now apparent He advocated giving the
city authority to establish the library in
its own way. =
From the Shoulder.
Gen. Grosvenor Of Ohio regretted to see
the disposition Of members to assume an
antayonistic position against the District.
He was afraid some people In Congress
fail to appreciate the posftfon of the goy-