The morning times., 1896-03-10
DISTRICT MUST ply ALL
House Gives a Free Library On
That Condition.
CAUSED SPIRITED DEBATE
Mr.. Wellington Denied the Insinua-
tiunss of Members That 1t Was II
Real Estate Schene-Talbert Was
the Chief Opponent of the Measure.
Other District Bills Passed.

BY a vote OF 20 To "a the House yesterday
adopted an amendment TO the free public
library bill providing that all the expense
OF establishment ana maintenance shall he
paid from the District revenues.
ThiSaction lyamonnts to thegranting
of authority 10 the District for the institu-
ton OF library. but Withholding any as
sislance and support from the general gov
ernment.
The debate upon the library bill was pro-
longed. spirited ana at tunes inclined to be
acrimonious. II was apparent almost from
the outset that the same Influences which
antagonlzed the appropriation of govern
ment money 10 aid private charitable in
stitutionS in tiiscity woulddefeataid for the
library.
In the course OF thediScusson Mr.. Talbert
made an attack on the bill and said the
esta blishment of a public library would beof
purely local benefit.
He considered the Congressional and de
partmental libraries sufficient. He believed
local measures of a similar character were
advocated solely i'll the interest of land
owners and real estate spectators.
WELLINGTON ITS CHAMPION.
Mr.. Wellington made Il strong argument
for the bill ana severely criticised McsSrs.
| Powers and Talbert. In beginning his re-
marks he said:
II want to say a word or Two in answer
to the charge twice IiiItic on the floor OF
this House By Mr.. Powers and Mr. Tabert
that the demand fer this library Goes not
come from the cit iZcnS CT The District OF
Columbia, hut that il seems TO Cmanate
/ from members OF Congress who are mem
bers Of this committee ard have interests
in the District in tho way of zeal estate"
Mr.. Talbcrt-I said hat these demands
scemto lie from that direction, butsI made
no charge.
MIR. Ncaington-If il was rot stated it
was inSinuaicd.
Mi. TaIbcrt-iT the shoe fits you or any
I body else, wear it.
Mr.. McliingtOn-Thc statement was not
as manly as If it Lad taken the form Of a
direct charge. Insinuation or inucndo of
that kind is no more Gefcnsible than a
direct statement. | want 10 say for my
self that own no property in the District
OF Columbia.
'As a mCIfter of this committee" said
Mr.. Wellington, Il wish TO state TO him
that there is 10 :c.fishness in connection
with the proposition pending here. | am
I member or this committee and | voice the
sentiment OF tie committee and people of
the District and Of Washington when |
| say that this proposition Is one that meets
| the hearty approval OF al of The people
Of the District, and that there is no such
| speculation in il as tie gentleman seems
TO imply. | hold in my hand document
signed by $4,000 organized laborcrS OF
the city asking for This thing. l hold here
| the recommendations of the Commissioners
OF the District OF Columbia in favor CT it.
All recommend it and all of them apply
for this privilege
SHOULD NOT BEAR ALL.
NOW, a word in reference TO another
matter which is rot personal. 1t has been
said that this bill should pass, if al all,
| with the amendment suggested here that
| the expense shall lie paid exclusively from
! the revenues of the District of Columbia.
! / do not believe IN doing il in that way.
! If Congress enters into d contract, as has
| been said with the people OF the District
of Columbia, and become liable for one
halfof the expense oftbe District, Congress
ought to carry out its agreement in good
faith, and l think the library is just as
| much necessity for the people of this
| District as the public school system. 1t
! is an educational matter"
The library is established, as / under
stand it, for all the working people of
| this city. The great Capital OF the nation
should not be without a circulating library,
| and further l believe that such library
| should be established here and conducted
at the puhlic expense"
Mr.. Pitney moved to strike out the last
word. and continued his technical argument
| in favor of the amendment, saying the
| District revenues have a yearly surplus of
| at least half a million dollars.
MeSsrs. Tolbert and Grout also spoke
| in eXempification of their previous utter
| ances.
Air. Grout said il is a scandal upon the
general government that there is i'll this
| great city no free circulating library,
where the common people can have the
| privilege of obtaining books.
ANOTHER OPPONENT.
Mr. Connolly said that while it is doubt
| less desirable that the District should have
| a library, it did not seem right that the
people of his district and those of every
other district should be taxed for the main
tenance of institutions which they them
selves support at home.
He said that after investigating the law
Of 1878, he had become satisfied that no
greater fraud is perpetrated upon the
people Of the country than that which exists
under the District of Columbia laws.
Mr.. Hardy opposed the amendment and
said it would be absurd TO open up the
Congressional library, with its rare books
which could not be reproduced, as circu-
lating library. 1t is not now, and will
not be, conveniently located. Congress
il'lS dS iliuCu TlSil 10 appropriate IDF Il
public library as for the care and preser-
walton Of the public parks, which afford
breathing space for the common people.
Mr.. Powers again spoke for his amend
ment, which was adopted by vote of
ID yeas; Al nays.
A subsequent vote in the House confirmed
the action of the committee by a vote Of
79 yeas; 81 nays.
The bill as amended was then passed.
OTHER DISTRICT MEASURES.
The bill to provide for the care of
inebriates in the District was taken up
and explained by Mr.. 0'DelI.
Mr.. Little of Arkansas offered an amend
n1ent prohibiting the sale of liquors in
the Capitol building or on the Capitol
grounds.
Mr.. Odell raised the point Of order that
1T was not general, but Mr. Little said
ii is public disgrace TO have open saloons
in the Capitol He is not prohibtionist
and when he can get good drink takes
it, but he believes the Capitol should not
be turned into a barroom.
he regarded ii as eminently proper
that a bill providing a remedy for the
effect of intcmperance should be subject
to an amendment removing the cause of
such intemperance.
Mr.. Dinghy, chairman, ruled the amend
ment out of order.
The bill then passed concluding the business
ready for presentation from the District
Committee.