St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-05-15

1t. is hoped that the narration will at
the same time prove to be somewhat in
steresting. fEs f%
~ The United States is benefcent gov
ernment, particularly so in the matter
of literature. THE glory of n country
is it's authors" and, IN the matter of
authors, America bids fair to rival the
world if she continues Us she has be-
gun. Irving, Cooper, Bancroft, Pres
colt, Longfellow, Whittier, Bryant, Poe.
Lowell and hosts of others have placed
our literature high in the rank of the
worlds productions. If we have not as
yet produced an author whose works
equal those of Homer. Shakespeare or
Milton, we have at least our Longfel-
low, the quality of whose works will
fall not far behind that of the masters.
In the year 1900 the United States
government was as yet in its infancy.
Congress then convened in PkiIadel-
phia, but the corner stone of the new
capitol at Washington had been laid,
the north wing finished; and at its first
session the propriety of holding the
next session there was decided upon
OJ IuS ulGl1lOClA OI tIiE GJlAtl sCOtlS IGSS.
AT this session a provisionary ap-
preparation of $5001was made, which
appropriation was to be used in the
purchase Of books to form the nucleus
OF library at Washington, which
should perhaps one day not only be the
first in our country, but be second TO
none in the world. The collection thus
formed was placed iR a room assigned
for the purpose in he capitol build
ing at Washington. &E
The establishment of the library was
notably due to Thomas Jefferson; and,
having been SO favorably started, con-
sress made appropriations from time
to time for it's increase and mainte-
nance until the British entered Wash
ington in 1914 and DESTROYED the whole
To make good this loss congress in the
year 1915 appropriated $25,ooo for the
purchase of the Jefferson collection of
6,TG0 volumes. George Watterson was
appointed librarian at a salary of 81 900
and the library again begun.
Qn.the Sd day OF December, 1915, con-
gress made an appropriation of SO 600
for the purchase of books for the new
library, and from 1920 to 1923 $4,000
were appropriated.
Again, on the 26th day of May, 1891,
congress made similar appropriation
of $4,000. and an additional one of s1,545
for furniture to be used in the library
room. -
On the 18th of February, 1925, con-
gress passed an act directing that the
secretary of the treasury should remit
all duties on such books, maps aad
charts "as have been during the present
year or may hereafter be imported in
to the United States by the authority
of the joint committee of congress for
the use of the library of congress"
On the 25th of February, 1925, anoth-
er act was passed appropriating $1,000
for books for the congressional library,
and from that time until the fire of 1851
congress made annual appropriations
for the increase of the library, as fol-
lows:
On March 3, 1925, $4,000 for the pur-
chase of books and 1925 for coal and
stoves.
On March 2, 1927, So 600 for books and
$4oo for the employment of an assist
HyaT @@
On May "a, 1sas, SIS ooowere added for
the purchase of booksan the librarian
authorized to employ an assistant at
salary of $500 per annum.
4 resolution passed May "a, 1928, pro-
vided that 'sduplicates es, i'm perfect dams
aged or. other works not wanted may
be removed from the library ss.@
On the .2sth Of May, 1s29,s Andrew
sentatiyes, and q few other privileged
characters; but on the 3oth day Of jan
nary, 1880, congress passed d resolution
granting the privileges of the .libraryfol
the following officials:
The secretary of-state, the secretary
of the treasury. the secretary of war;,
the secretary of the navy, the postmas-I
tei..general, the secretary Of the senate
theelerk the house ofrepresentatives,{
the chaplain of congress and any indi-E
vidaal in the district who may have
been president of the United States.
The usual anaual appropriations for
many years after the accession of jack /
son We're $1,000, exclusive of expendi- I
lures for the law library and contingent +
cSpenses-for law library had grown T
IN connection with the regular one,
k;Ecl! which time, having received an an
nIal appropriation Of about $1,000, it