The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-07

great deal OF daia-historical. Statistical.
eel ard documentary-whi In the
rush or their many duties, tney dld not
have tfuo themselves 20 prepare me
bureau proposed IN systematic, busi-
nees-llke way 10 do this routine work Tor
them Accordingly, men skhieo ii speci@A
lines v-ere employed 10 do special work.
ro- instance. "A senator who wished 10 IN
troduoe an important resolution asking
the authority under which the Secretary
OF the Treasury used revenue cutters 10
atom Glibusterinc expeditions, got the
bureau 10 examine the supreme Court oe-
civions on the neutrality laws IN order 20
see how FAR he could 80 I'm his resoiu-
tion Another senator who wished 20
have n pubifc document printed giving
the history OF the recognition or new re-
public by established government. Eot
the bureau 10 prepare the document re
knew exactly what he wanted and Wnen
II was brought him he only had 10 look
70 over and satisfy himself OF It's correct
moss Another congressman wished q
statement showing the ownership OF the
worlds surface at five different PERIODS
ITS. 1870 1870 1850 and 1895. Il was
very tedious. though not difficult fob. ana
~ course he had tho bureau get IL Up
for him A member of the House. an
authority on appropriations had the bu-
resu prepare for him tables showing the
amounts Of appropriations by adminstfa-
lions and by sections from George WASH
ington 20 William Mckinley. Numerous
cOrgres smen had various kinds or in-
formation prepared much OF 30 statist-
cal. 20 use IN speeches. IN public docn-
mcnts and En- campaigns
Very soon people outside OF Congress
begun 20 send IN orders FOR tho invo5ti-
cation OF various matters and tho bu-
reau quickly got the idea that there was
as good field outside OF Congress as I'm
Congress It's managers discovered that
the Bureau OF General Information. Csc
tabiishcd by Joseph y Marvin in 1856.
was doing a pretty good business I'm FUR
nishing governmental and miscellaneous
information 90 the general public. The
Marvin Bureau was promptly bought ont
and consolidated with tho Congressional
Information Bureau. and the combination
began TO greatly extend Cos benelcent inc
nuences.
They have the idea that somebody
knows or some books contain all that
they don't know and that by going 90
work In an intelligent. systematic fash
ion they can find out any information
that can Doe reasonably desired. They
viii undertake anything fron nn c1cv-
c|op7ofio definition of tho singing sands
OF Australia 20 the preparation OK a
genealogical tree or family history
from the answering OF a simple question
about the civil service 90 furnishing Tho
material for n book on diplomacy. from
telling a man what n marriage licenses
costs 20 giving him the status OF ali the
bills IN Congress
A very good story is told on Mr. Claude
Bennett tho manager OF tho bureau.
When tho National Educational Ass0cia-
tion was recently I'm Washington be
started out 20 work uD some business
with the teachers-such as looking mp
library references, genealogical data, ma
teral for essays magazine stuff. or
what not Tie went down 20 tho big
convention hall whore they were holding
a grand session and mOdestly accepted
seat on the grand stand. where me exc
peoted 20 come In contact with tho big
guns OF the association. He got in cone
versauon pretty soon with o. distinguish
"a looking gentleman whom he t00k to
be ono OF the archllghts of pedagos ism.
AS ne was about 90 spring his bureau
on the supposed great teacher and nail
him with a. pamphlet telling him OFT about
fl. that functi0nary handed him bis card.
which had on 30. o.. solicitor for -.
Pension Attorneys" And tho solicitor
promptly asked: "What is your lne2
Mr.. Bennett answered: OF am selling
leather" and turned away with chat tired
look. After that he never said inlorml-
ton bureau 90 O. teacher