New-York tribune., 1898-01-23

on his wav but from that day to this be remein-
,ors ,.i,b q shudder the Impression those dan
Cling bodies made upon fin
There is an item Of 81 900 in the Urgent De-
G,iancv bill for the contingent expenses OF the
library of Congress until July. an increase OF
500 over that allowed last year. but sum
ridculously inadequate when the many eH-
nanses II must cover are considered. IL Wou'u
seem TO be ! penny-wise policy on the part OF
Congress to handicap Mr.. Young IN the e''""-
| ushment and arrangement Of the Library ny
lack of funds and it is surely inconsistent |"
provide a magnificent building. bulldihs '"i'
cost the American pcopl' >t.ODo~o ior 'he
/ housing Of the Library, AMI then refuse 10 pro-
! vide money sufficient for its expenses
lust now the Library IS reduced to such pow
ertv that if it were not a fit subject Tor ihH'S"a
ton it would be one for amusement. poor ou
yaoon so leakv that its driver has just died
from pneumonia contracted through exposure
drawn by a venerable horse which Is on 'uS
from y A m to p. m. is the only vehicle al the
Librar,'s service FOR The delivery Of BOOKS ana
this antIuuatsd rig drawn up before the maShi"-
cent entrance of what IS generally admitted 10
be tn. handsorest library building in tAc "'''d
presents an incongruJus spectacle
For some time now the Library has been with
out pens ink or propci stationery, ana IN" ilpfa-
rians and other employees have been conpellea %
supply their needs from their own pockets. Inc
furniture arrives slowly, and for these reasons
the work of the Library is delayed and hindered.
The art department. for instance. which IL was
thought would he open by January !. VIII not pe
completed before spring. and the work IN the
other departments has also been unavoidab'y de-
laycd.
-.ri
The temperance people who have raised seri-
Gus objections to the selling Of liquor In the
Library cafe have. it s,er"s been unduiy
alarmed. No such privilege has been given, nor
has the subject come UP in any way before Ii
brarian Young. but he is radically opposed TO
the selling Of liquor and when the subject IS
brought to his attention he will settle the ques-
ton orce for al in the negative.
In his recently published report Mr.. Young de-
votes considerable space to the manuscript dc-
partment, which is one Of the most Interesting
and important Of the Library. and he makes a
strong plea for the removal II the historical
archives from other departments to the Library,
giving as a reason that this is the only branch
Of the Government with a special ireproof de-
uartment for the care Of manuscripts" He says
further:
Access to these priceless treasures which be-
long to the people Of the country. and many Of
which have been dearly purchased with their
money is under present circumstances denied
In no one If the departments or buildings where
they are is there adequate provision for scholars
and students to consult the manuscripts. Where
any privileges at all are accorded. students mus:
do their work at such time and in such manner
as does not interfere with departmental work
. Access to these documents is therefore not OBJ
tanned by right. but by grace of the heads Of de-
partments"
The fact that these manuscripts are practically
inaccessible to the many would seem to be a
potent reason for their removal to the Library
where none cf the restrictions now in vogue at
the State and other departments would be neces-
sary.