Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-30
The SENATE LIBRARY
A COMPLETE CATALOGUE OF ITS
CONTENTS PREPARED.
Journals of Secret Sessions From 1860
Now BefDE Printed-Extent of
Book Collection.


cember it will find a thoroughly equipped
reference library provided with complete
catalogue for its nsc. The catalogue is
row in the hands IF the public printer
and Is a volume of 333 pages. The book
binders at work on the worn volumes
in this library and will rebind many of the
volumes before Congress reassembles. As
1t is now arranged It IS claimed that the
Senate library in some respects is the most
complete collection of he kind that exists
anywhere.
By the time Congress- reassembles an
other important series of historical mat
ter will be prepared ready for publication
which will make a very great addition not
only to the collection there, but for libra
ries throughout the country.
Journals of Secret Sessions.
1t is the journals Of the secret sessions
of the United States Senate from 1863 to
date, the publication CT which has been
ordered. These Journals have been held in
the secret archives of the Senate subject
only to the inspection of senator's and
those confidential employees who have
charge of preparing aud caring for them.
OF course, the ban of secrecy has been re-
moved from many parts of these journals
and 1t is probable that no important acts
of the Senate in executive session has
failed to secure publicity. But for over
thirty years the Journals themselves have
been kept in the greatest secrecy and they
will be extremely valuable in the compila-
ton of historical matters relating to that
class of senatorial acts which are perform
cd behind closed doors, with every one eau
toned against publicity of anything that
takes place.
These journals contain many records of
votes on important questions, so that dur
ing the period they cover the actions of
each senator on matters in which cases
votes were recorded is made clear. The
work of copying these journals in readi-
ness to put them in the hands of the public
printer is now progressing, and by Deem
Der it is expected 1t will have been COM
pleted. The Senate will then have only
to order their publication. When this is
done it is possible that the journals will
not be printed up to date, but that they
will be allowed to remain secret for the
past several years, especially those parts
which cover the Spanish-American war
1t has been the custom of the Senate to
print it's journals of secret sessions after
they have become some years old, and up
to 1869 they have all been published.
Now RearranEed.
The Senate library now rearranged is
located in a couple of big rooms on the
gallery floor of the north wing of the Capt.
toll back of the document ROOM It has
been provided with steel shelving, tables
and reading chairs and only senators are
permitted to use 1t. Rules restricting any
particular privilege to senator usually
are sufficiently elastic to admit the sena-
tors private secretary, but 1t is not with
the senatorial library. Only senator's are
permitted to make use of that retreat.
where they can secure secluson and quiet
at all times. The library, which is run
for their exclusive use, contains a COM
plete legislative history of the United
States, and it is claimed that nowhere on
earth is there another library devoted to
that particular line of books complete
Especially is this true during the first
twenty-five years of the nations history.
The record Of congressional acts for that
period is complete, as it is in fact to the
present date. Every Senate and House OF
Representatives document that has ever
been published is there, and of course, the
Congressional Record is complete, together
with other forms of the records of con-
greSSional doings preceding It,
There are reference books Of various
kinds that are usually called for by iegts-
lators, and among them is a Bible with
flexible back that does not show much evil
dence of undue use. But 1t is used. Ten
years ago there was no Bible In the Senate
library when it was called for, and when
the fact was developed the library authori-
ties went out and bought one forthwith.
Senator Pettus probably reads it more than
any one else. and though he has often
shown his readiness in quoting almost any
thing he wants from 1.-THE good book" as
he always designates it when he refers to
it, he continues to improve his knowledge
Of its contents by carefully reading 1t. He
is a dealer in all kinds of literary treasures,
as are few other senators. Most Of them,
however, usually want specific bit Of in
formation when they go to their library or
send there for book Of reference.
Duplicates in Other Rooms.
Besides the books Of the library there are
stored In nearby rooms ten or fifteen dupli-
Gates Of most of the volumes. and these ore
sent out on frequent occasions, always to
be returned. A strict account is kept of
every book that leaves the library, and II
is said that very rarely is one lost Count
ing the duplicates, there are probably al
most 125 900 volumes in the Senate library
alone. This collection relieves the demand
of senators on the Congressional Library,
which can at all times. of course, be called
on for any book not Of the class preserved
in the Senate collection. Until the cata-
logue Of books lately prepared by Mr. Cliff
ford Warden was made there was no guide
to the contents of the library except the
knowledge Of the books as they stood on
the shelves, but now their accessibility is
greatly increased. In its present complete
form this reading room will probably be
greatly used during the next Congress.
-->>e
Attn Of mr. KETvT