The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-19
THE SENATE LIBRARY

Nhen the senate reaSSemblcS next De-
cember IL will find thoroughly equipped
| reference library provided with a com
| plete catalogue for It's use. says the
! Washington Star. The catalogue is now
! in the hands of tho public printer and is
I a volume Of $50 pages The bookbnders
| are at work on the worn volumes I'm this
| library and will rebind many of the vol
lmes before Congress reassembles. As
it Is now arranged I; is claimed that the
Senate library IA some respects Is the
most complete collection of the kind that
exists anywhere.
by the time Congress reassembles an
other important series OF historical mat
ter will be prepared ready for publica-
tion which Will make very great addi-
tion not only 10 the collection there but
for libraries throughout the country
II is the journals of The secret sessions
OF the United States Senate from 1859 10
date the publication or which has been
ordered These journals have been held
IN the secret archives of the Senate sub
Ject only 10 the inspection of senators
and those confidential employees who have
charge of preparing and caring for them.
OF course. the ban of secrecy has been re-
moved from many parts OF these journals
and 1t IL probable that no important acts
of the senate In executive session have
failed 20 secure publicity. But for over
thirty years the journals themselves have
been kept in the greatest secrecy and they
will be extremely valuable I'm the compiia-
tion OF historical matters relating TO that
class Of senatorial acts which arc per-
formed behind closed doors, with every
one cautioned against publicity OF any
thing 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 10 put them In the hands OF the pub
lie printer is now progressing and by
December IL is expected it win have been
completed. The Senate will then have
onlyto order their publication. When this
Is done II IL possible that the iuornals
Will mot 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. IL has been the custom of the Sen
ate TO print its Journals OF. secret sessions
after they have become some years old.
and mp to 1869 they have all been pub
lshed
The Senate library as now rearranged
is located in a couple OF biz rooms on the
gallery floor of the north wing Of the
Capitol back OF the document room II
has been provided with steel shelving,
tables and reading chairs, and only sena-
tors are permitted 10 use IT, Rules re-
stricing any particular privilege to a
senator usually are sufficiently elastic To
admit the senator's private secretary. hut
II Is not with the senatorial library Only
senators are permitted ia make use OF
that retreat where taey can secure Sc
clusion and quiet at All times. The IL
hrary, which is run Tor their exclusive
use contains complete legislative his
tory of the United States. and IL is
claimed that nowhere on earth is there
another library devoted 90 that particular
line OF books so complete Especially Is
ihus true during the first Is years OF the
nations history. The record OF Congress
sionah acts for thar period is complete, AZ
Il Is ia TACT 10 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 Congressional
ioipgs preceding Il. s
There are reference books OF various
kinds that are usually called for by legis-
lators. ana among them is Bible with
flexible back that does not show much
evidence of undue use. But II Is used
Ten years ago there was no Bible in the
Senate library when u was called for. and
when the fact was developed the library
authorities went ont and bought one
forthwith. Senator Pettus probably reads
u more than any one else. and though
he has often shown his readiness IN
quoting almost anything he wants from
the good book, as he always deslgnates
it when he refers To Il. he continues To
Improve his knowledge OF it's contents by
IHTpfnllN rsaaIfns IN L.. ie a ip oil
KINDS uf literary treasures. as are a
lew other senator's Most of them. how
rver. usually want specific hit of In
formation when they go to their library
pr send there Tor book OF reference.
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