Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-27
PUTS OUT MANY DOCUMENTS
Congressional Library Complies Many
Valuable Works Each Year.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NEWSPAPERS READY
slow Progress In work of Preparing
the white House for Occupancy
of President and His
Family.
From a Stan Correspondent

NEEumi n oNd SONIthpOHNtnA /
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26.-(specfal. 1.-THE
library OF congress in the past two years
has issued many valuable bibliosraphical
publications. consisting mainly OF annotated
lists Of maps and books relating to sub
1ects which are Of interest to congress.
For instance, the photographed depart
ment has put forth a number Of lists OF
books bearing upon the subject OF trusts,
OF the history, geography. photography.
etc, Of Porto Rico. Cuba. the Philippines
aud others relating 10 various subjects
considered in the general debates before
congress-. All Of these books have been
issued BY the heads of the departments in
the library.
There las been prepared in addition to
all Of these a large book OF about 1000
pages In the form Of an annotated list OF
the newspapers Of the United States, ex-
tinct and current. going quite fully into
the individual history of each according to
its relative Importance. The main points
usually covered in the instance of each
newspaper are the founders, date of founda-
tion, the politics, the general policy, the
principal editors and prOprtetors and maiu
events In it's history, with dates; it's rela-
tive Importance and any editorial action
which might be considered unique or in
structlve in journalism.
Thls Work was performed by a well
known newspaper man who worked in a
subordinate capacity In the periodical d.
vision, Ralph NJ. Mckenzie, who ives an
employe OF the department for Ave years.
The work occupied much extra time
over and above what was required in the
government service and was turned over
TO the librarian a year and a half ago on
promise Of publication as a library docu-
ment. Owing to stress of work and the
fact that 1t was a large production. 1t has
never been published nor reduced to type
written form for publication.
Interest to Newspaper Men.
The book would be Of great interest to
newspaper men throughout the country, as
was evidenced when first brought to the
attention of the librarian. Many newspa
pers urged its issue from the press and
gave II large space in their Washington
dispatches as well as In their editorial
columns. The book also includes a cata,
logue Of the newspapers In the library of
congress, which has been published as a
separate library document. emitting all the
individual newspaper history. 1t was is
sued as 9 document by the head Of the
periodical department and the real author
was given no credit for his production.
Congress will be asked this winter to have
the work issued from the press as a public
document, provided the author, Mckenzie,
who has recently been dropped from the
library force, can be retained in Washing
ton and induced to take the responsibility
of preparing and editing the work for pub
location. 1t will be Of encyclopedia size
and will have large indexes and a biblios
graphy Of about 10, 1000 references to books
from which the sewspaper history was Sc
cured.
1t is considered too valuable a production
to be consigned to the waste heap or other
wise lost, because the average librarian
does not consider modern newspapers worth
preserving In a modern library or their
photography or history Of suficient value
TO be printed. when old maps and prints and
other brle-a -brac of a more or less worth.
less character as far as the public 10
concerned, have been catalogued by the
library in thousands OF printed pages.
Executive Omces About Ready.
The new executive building where the
president and the White House Sree will
have quarters will be ready for occupancy
about November /. 1t is doubtful when
the White House will be ready for the
presidents family. The first installment
OF the new furniture for the private part
OF the house arrived several days ago. but
II has been stored in the upper corridors
until Mrs. Roosevelt returns to Washing
ton and is ready to direct its disposal In
the rooms. II the presidents family move
into the White House within the next few
weeks they will have to depend upon the
elevator or the small spiral stairway, start
ing from the pantry and running to the
second floor. for means Of reaching the
private rooms, because the main stairways
are far from completed. For this reason
It is probable that the presidents family
will remain for some weeks yet at the
Lafayette Square house.
The slow work on the Improvement OF
the White House has caused some doubt
as to the possibility OF the completion Of
the state apartments in time for wintor
receptions and levees. Every effort will be
made to have the East Room and the Red.
Blue and Green parlors ready for the New
Year reception and the regular state card
receptions always held in January and
February. But Mrs. Roosevelt will not be
able To hold many social functions outside
OF the oficial ones this winter on account
of the inoompleted state u tae lower part
Of the White House,
The shadow pictures OF President Roose-
welt aud the late President Mckinley.
painted Ia the imitation marble walls OF
s~tatuary hall in the capitol by Artist Sam
usl Allison, after creating a ripple OF ex-
element among the guardians OF the build
ing, have been ordered to be painted out.
Artist Samuel Allison, who decorated the
famous brick columns in the pension once,
was very proud of his latest feat with the
brush. He wanted the two portraits to
remain, but the capitol authorities said no.
He was told that as samples OF art the
pictures were entitled TO high rank, but As
curiositles their drawing power was toe