Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-30

trict's right to a library and to the preser-
walton Of the spirit Of the organic act. In
the House, as In the Senate, the members of
the District committee have wrought nobly
for the library. Chairmen Babcock and Nc
MILAN never falterfng in their insistence
upon the proper adjustment of this item.
Practically all the members of these two
pressed themselves in favor OF a properly
maintained public library and voted with
the citizens. Outside of the District COM
mittees in the House much good work was
done in debate and otherwise by Represent
atives Grosvenor Of Ohio, Henderson of
Iowa, Griswold of Pennsylvania, Catchings
of Mississippi, Hulick of Ohio and Hainer
of Nebraska Senator then Representative.
wellington Of Maryland strove for the
measure in its early stages, having had
charge of it when 1t went from the District
committee, and stoutly resisting the effort,
temporarily successful, to put the entire
Circuit of Vermont was from the first
warm supporter of the bill and fought for
the library when the matter was in con-
ference at this session. In the Senate those
library on the basis of the organic act were
Senators Bacon, Hale. Hoar Teller, ALL
son, Stewart, Walcott, Faulkner, Chandler,
Platt of Connecticut Harris of Tennessee
(now dead) and Call of Florida (now re-
tired from the Senate). Senator Allison
chairman of the appropriations committee
has co-operated effectively with Senator
Mcmillan, chairman of the District COM
mittee, In securing favorable outcome of
the controversy and deserves hearty thanks
for his good work. The roll of honor in this
connection is long and contains many
names prominent throughout the nation.
The Districts fight for free library has
brought to Its aid such a host of friends
that the final winning is practically a guar
antee OF continued success along the same
line In the future.
Active steps for the practical establish
ment of the library upon the basis of the
rewly enacted District bill will at once be
taken, and before many weeks the citizens
or the District will begin to enjoy that long
withheld privilege. access to free public
circulating library sustained as an adjunct
of the public schools.
The Library Law.
The law creating the free public library
and reading room In the District Of Co.
lumbia Is as follows:
BE it enacted by the Senate and House
Of Representatives Of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That a
free public library and reading room is
hereby established and shall be maintained
In the District of Columbia, which shall be
the property Of the said District and a sup
plement of the public educational system
of said District. All actions relating to
such library, for the recovery of any
penalties lawfully established in relation
thereto, shall be brought in the name OF
the District Of Columbia and the Commits
sioners of said District are authorized ON
behalf of said District to accept and take
title to all gifts, requests and deyises for
the purpose of aiding in the maintenance
or endowment of said library: and the Com
mlssloners OF said District are further au-
thor1zed to receive as component parts of
said library collections of books and other