The morning times., 1897-02-03
The LIBRARY AN EDUCATOR
A Movement to Have the Congress
sional Opened at Night.
The East Washington Citizens As
suciatiun Adopted d q Memorial for
Presentation to Congress.

The East Washington Citizens Associa-
ton at its meeting held last evening at
Baum's Hall, inaugurated a movement
which the members hope will culIninate
of tie Congressional Library at night The
committee on schools, OF which DR.. A
Patton is chairman, presented report
upon the subject, which was applauded,
discussed and indorsed, and subsequently
adopted unanimously.
The report enumerated briefly the adj
vantages which the library afforded TO
the student, whether in school or out,
referred 10 the magnificence of the struc-
ture which has been constructed for TIE
reception of the vast collection of books,
and after recognizing the fact that the
Library is not intended to be circulating
library, in the ordinary sense, the COM
mittee says:
''If opened to the public, as now, only
during the busy work-day hours from
o'clock TO four, its usefulness as an edu-
Gator will be limited. An army of govern
ment clerks, constituting more intelli-
gent and scholarly body of employees than
can be found in any other community, the
workingmen OF the District, thousands OF
whom are eager for opportunities for self
Improvement, men and women behind the
counters of our mercantile establishments
students in our colleges, high schools and
private schools, and thousands Of public
school children in the higher grades, will
be practically debarred from the use Of
one of the greatest educational plants Of
our age and nation.
''Therefore, the library should be opened
at night.
I'VE believe that not only should the
reading-rooms be opened, but on certain
evenings in the week the splendid halls
and corridors, with their wealth of mural
decoration, under the brilliant electric light
already provided, should be thrown open
freely to the public
The Committee included in its report a
series of resolutions, pettioning that the
library he kept open from 3 "a. III. to 10
p M each week day, and asking for the
cooperation of the civic center, the board
of trade, the school trustees, the univers-
ties and colleges and the press in securing
that result.
The report was signed by Chairman
Patton, A T. Stuart, A. h Thompson and
"A. u NHCOA, anu III WIS w NdIHIS III
| dorsed in remarks by Rev E. o. Eldridge,
| Supervising Principal a T. Stuart of the
| public schools; Gen. S. S. Yoder, Capt. j.
! 4 Travis, and others. Rev. DR.. Edrdge
| said he could think of no greater sarcasm
| than to have the accumulated wisdom OF
the centuries open to the people only IN
| theday, while Mr.. Stuart said thecommlttee
| had recommended the opening OF the H.
| brary precisely as they would ask for
| an addition to educational facilities, and
he read a letter from Librarian A. r
! Spofford, commencing the idea.
| Mr.. A. D Wilcox, of the committee,
! presented q memorial, appealing to Con
| gress for the necessary appropriation foi
| the pay of attendants, provision being
| already made for lighting. This memorial
! was unanimously adopted and signed by
| all present, and President Babson was
authorized to have copy sent 10 Tie
| proper Congressional committee and ais,
to the other associations named, with {
letter requesting their imm ediate indOrse
ment.
The association Endorsed unanimously
the proposition heretofore advanced for tht
| appointment of citizen of East Washing
ton as Commissioner of the District anC
| invited the cooperation of all other similar
organizations in East Washington.
| The uSualroutinc business was transacted