Evening star., 1896-04-07


I am making no personal reflection upon
any member of this House. IT. does seem
to me, though, that the right way Is TO
take up the subject of recognizing theie
relations in a general way upon bill re
ported for that purpose, and then test tine
Judgment of Congress and see II there is IA
disposition, or il II is deemed proper, to re-
peal the act Of 1878.
Importance of n Library.
And now. Mr.. Speaker, as supplemental
to my discussion of the pending question,
1 submit to any thoughtful man in this age
of civilization and advancement If in the
training of the popular mind. the reaching
into the homes of what Mr.. Lincoln called
common people. by means of educa-
tional facilities, I ask If there is anything
that can do more for the cause of advance
mert and progress than the eSta Bills hment
of free public libraries for the use of the
boys and girls. the men and women. Of this
District. Because / contend sir. that every
law and every appropriation that broadens
the field for the education of the people of
this capital city. every statute that tends
to elevate the people as whole. is bene
fit, and a direct benefit, to the entire re-
public; and If you are going to contribute
toward the sweeping of the streets or the
paving of the streets. will you refuse to
bear your just proportion of the expense of
a free library for this people?
why, my friends. the spirit of the age Is
in the direction of allowing taxation in
each state for the establishment of free
public libraries. In almost every county
of my own state of Iowa there is today
free public library, kept at the public ex-
pense. in pursuance of the statutory law
of that state. and that spirit is spreading
throughout the whole length and breadth
of the land. Let it not be said that one Of
the partners in this city has sneaked out
of sight when 1t comes to the opening of
free public library to the citizens of the
District of Columbia. Our people. the chill
dren of your army of 10000 clerks. the clerks
themselves. your own families, are deeply
interested in this matter.
Now, MIR. Speaker, 1 feel almost as
though it was an insult to this House to
dwell at length upon this thing. l hope
that this body. overwhelmingly republican,
will register its action in favor of standing
by existing law and standing by the great
cause of education.
Some Favorable Speeches.
Mr. Griswold of Pennsylvania favored
the motion. He wanted to make Washing
ton the exponent of progress among all
American cities. In Washington should oe
shown the development of education. the
best street lighting. the finest water sys-
tenn. Nothing more appropriate in the di-
rection of educational development could
be provided than a free public library.
The people of this country are proud of
Washington, and do not encourage St1ngl-
ness with respect to 1T. Washington is GER
tainly far behind all other cities with re-
gard TO public libraries
Mr.. Catchngs of Mississippi favored the
motion. He saw no reason 10 depart from
the custom of bearing half the municipal
expenses of Washington. Congress she uld
promote rather than retard all educational
enterprises. The institution was proposed
as part of the educational system and
should be charged as part of the municipal
expenses of the District.
Mr. Powers to Clinch the Opposition.
Mr. Powers of Vermont then took the
floor to make the clinchins argument
sgainst the motion. He said the opposition
to this bill are not trying to sneak out of
compliance with the law of 1873 On the
contrary, this bill is in violation of that
act.
discussion to revert to the report made OF
the bill establishing the public bathing
reach in the Fifty-frst Congress. That bill
has been a law for several years, and the
bathing beach an established fact, but Mr..
Powers used the report On the bill to make
what was intended to be a sarcastic and
humorous speech on the extravaganza of
tina legislation. He said this is only sam
pie of the kind of legislation that Is going
through Congress under the whip and spur
of the tremendous lobby interest" which.
he said. was at work in behalf of this bill.
Coming back again to the matter under
dis cussion, Mr.. Powers insisted that the
library was not a legitimate public expense.
Some Questions and Answers.
rs not the Congressional Library here
open to all. under certain conditions?" asked
Mr.. McMillin of Tennessee
Certainly" replied Mr.. Powers, but as
several gentlemen sprang to their feet to
correct him, he added, WELL at least, If 1t
Is not. Congress can make 1t so.'
Chairman Babcock explained to Mr.. Nc
Millin the fact that the Congressional Lii
brary is not available at all for the purposes
of u circulating library.
Mr.. Pitney of New Jersey asked IL the
United States government contributes to
great public libraries established in other
cities.
Not cent" triumrhantly replied Mr.
Powers
Are those cities capital cities of the
United States and maintained as Washing
ton fs?" asked Mr.. Grout.
To this question Mr.. Powers deigned no
answer III argument, but passed 1t off with
a
At this point Mr. McRae of Arkansas
asked how the bill got before the House.
and Mr. Powers al swered that while it was
up IN parliamentary form. the fair way to
have handled the n after would have been
to refer 1T to a conference committee and
not to have formed that committee of the
friends of the bill.
Mr. Cannon FavOrs the Bill,
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois, chairman of the
appropria ton committee, said the public
library is an object of municipal expense
But is it necessary. and is it wise to make
the expenditure for it? He had helped to
defeat the proposition for public library
when it " as asked to house the library in
public building, but Re favors the pending
bill If il is thought by the House that a
public library is not necessary, defeat the
bill squarely. although he would hate to
see that done. But il the library is to De
established let 1t be provided for as all
other municipal expenses are. He said
when the bill for a memorial bridge comes
up he intends to make a fight for putting
half of the expense of that bridge aon the
District aS an item of mdr icipal expense
Also Mr.. Hulick.
Mr. Hulick of Ohio favored Mr.. Bab-
cocks motion. and ther diverted to a dis
cussion of the assessment of taxes in
Washington. He said the people OF this
city do not pay their personal tax. Yet a
comparison is madn between the value of
property owned by the government and
that essessed upOr the citizens.
Mr.. Mines of Michigan proposed the mo-
tion- He held 1t would not be burdensome
on the citizens of Washington to support
this library themselves.
Mr.. Connolly of Illinois also opposed the
motion. holding that public library is not
municipal expense under the plans of the
act of 1878. He was followed by Mr.. Nc
Rae of Arkansas, who took exceptions to