Evening star., 1896-04-07
MIR. Baboock Moves to Accept the
Senate Measure.
SPEECHES FOR AND AGAINST IT
Gen. Henderson's Warm Advocacy
OF Sharing the Expense.
7 II OS z IN OSITION

In me House today Chairman Babcock of
the District committee moved that the
House recede from fits amendments 10 the
Senate bill providing free municipal Ii
Irary for the District Of Columbia
Mr.. Pow ers of Vermont opposed the mo.
tion and was recognized to lead the oppo-
siticn.
Bill.
Mr.. Wellington of Maryland then took
the fcor to advocate the adoption CT the
Senate bill. He spoke of the necessity for
the establishment of a public library in
Washington, and OF the prorriety of MAX
ing 1t municipal affair. 1t is Just as nee
ossary TO have a public library as 1t is to
have schools. Congress has devoted its
q ergfes to interposition I'm behalf of Ar
NE mia, OF Venezuela and Cuba and would
now do well to devote some attention to
this crying need Of the people of Washing
ton.
Mr.. Talbcrt fin Opposition.
Mr.. Talbert Of South Carolina opposed
Chairman Baboock's amendment reiterat-
ing the objection urged by him when the
bill was under consderat ton several weeks
ago. He did not think it right for members
of Congress who own property in this city
to be continually asking for legislation of
this kind, taxing the many for the benefit
of the few. 1t would be just as reason
able to furnish bicycles for the people of
Washington as books.
a Colorado Opponent.
Mr.. Shafroth of Colorado said this bill is
an entering wedge for the creation of
library of unknown expense. He said the
finest library I'm the country is situated
here. and why should another one be To-
Gated here for the accommodation of the
people Of the District of Columbia? Why
not pass resolution to give the working
people access TO that library. The Congress
sional Library is ample for all purposes.
and to supply another one would be a use
less expenditure Of money. 1t would not
be an expenditure for the municipality
either.
Mr.. Pftncy Repeats Himself.
Mr.. Pitney of New Jersey opposed the mo-
tion. He admitted the need of a public
library, and acknowledged that the Con-
gressional Library cannot fill that heed.
The question, however, at issue was who
should pay for the public library. The
District revenues are ample to provide for
the library and leave surplus besides.
He repeated the argument made by him
upon this line several weeks ago. He re-
sented what he called the practice of the
press in Sneering at members who oppose
local appropriations and the impu;ation
that new members oppose such legislation
until they become property owners. If
owning property bases the judgment OF
members of Congress, it would be better
to pass d law limiting the right of menu
bers of Congress to hold property.
He resented the imputation that only
members representing the less Intelligent
District. He held that the law of ISIS
was not in question in this bill
Gen. HendersoD's Strong Advocacy.
Il take it that no argument is needed
in the American Congress in favor Of the
establish merit here of free public library"
said Mr.. Henderson of Iowa. "If there IS
IL any one at this day needs this question
discussed, am not going to discuss it with
him.
"The question involved here really, as I
understand it i'm this report, is shall the
government of the United States and the
government of the District of Columbia
pay in equal proportions these expenses,
which it has been proposed that the People
Of the District alone shall pay.
Now there are few thoughts that I
would like 10 submit to the members of
the House in this connection: First, stating
that 1 am without reserve In favor Of the
government and the District of Columbia
paying these expenses equally. In the firs.
place it must not be forgotten that the
general government has donated from the
public domain of this country millions of
acres CT land for educational purposes TO
the various states and territories, while
the other hand the District Of Columbia
has given to the general government nearly
of this District, and has received no aid
for educational purposes in exchange for
1t. Again. when this donation of the soil
Of the District made to the general
government 1t was upon the theory. and
recognized by ali at the time, that this
would be built up as a great city, with all
of the advantages which should belong to
the great capital city of nation like The
United States.
NO advantage in the way of educational
facilities, can be greater-save and except
public library. Again the general govern
melt has spent many thousands of dol
lars in keeping up the libraries in the sew
eral departments of the government, 20
which our force of cierks-somewhorc in
the neighborhood of twenty thousand-have
access. If this provision is carried out as
now proposed i'm the penling report, and a
free public library established in the Dis
trict, that expense in the various depart
ments will be substantially saved.
The Act of 1878.
but now, Mr.. Speaker, / come to the
fundamental question involved in this prop
osition and 1 call your attention to the fact
that the act of 1878 made the District of
Columbia and the general government in a
sense partners, in respect Of the expendi-
lures in the District. Since that time.
within a very few years past, there has
teen manifested from time to time dis
position on the part of various members Of
Congress to destroy this law by indirection,
though not by an effort for its absolute re-
peal One gentleman, my friend from Mis-
soUri (Mr. DE Armond), has attacked it in a
manly way. and has sought to strike out
the law of 1878 in the general appropriation
bills for the District of Columbia. But ]
do not know of any member of Congress
since that law was adopted who ever in
troduced bill to repeal the act of 1875
and change the system of doing business
with reference to the District of Columbia
ard the general government.
Now, like good, square fighter a man
whose position you can always understand,
and il it is the purpose of any gentleman
who represents the people on this floor to
seek to repeal the act Of 1875 and put
the entire burden of the expenditures of
the District, the expenses for schools, OPEN
ing streets, repairs Of streets, the mainten-
ance Of them. police force. the fire depart
nent and all Of the varied mac chinery
necessary for a city of this size entirely
upon the people of the District of Columbia
let get at IT in a manly way by repeal
ing the act of 1878 directly, and put a new