The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-04-03
CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.
ITS EARLY HISTORY IND ITS
 GROJVIH
First Step Taken In I7s9-JefferSOn's
 Gift and It's Distraction.

Gift and It's Distraction.
 How the library of Congress has grown from it's inception in 1900 to it's present perfect stature-embracing over 100000 books and housed in the most magnificent building in the nation--is a tale which has been presented in Chronological order in the supplemental section of Librarian Herbert Putnams latest annual report. The historical sketch was prepared by David Hutcheson, in the absence of AinsWorth R. Spofford in Europe. MT, Hutcheson is superintendent of the reading room, and has been connected with the libra ny for the past 22 years
 In reality, the Congress of the Unit ed States has never been without a li- brary. Even before the first meeting of the Continental Congress in Phila- delphia the library company of that city, through the action of the direct ors, adopted resolution, dated August 3l, 1774, reciting that the librarian fur nish the gentlemen who are to meet in Congress with the use of such books as they may have occasion for taking a receipt for them." This resolution was placed before Congress September 6, 1774 and it was ordered that the thanks of Congress be returned to the directors of the Library company of Philadelphia for the obiging order During the occupancy of the New York city hall by the federal Congress, from tn OptOhpr pl 1ISS, members were granted the use of the books belonging to the New York socl- ety library then located in the city hall and numbering about 5000 volumes.
 The first step in Congress in the di- rection of procuring a library for the use of it's members was taken ln the House of Representatives August b, 17S9, when MT. Gerry moved that committee be appointed to report catalog of books necessary for the use of Congress, with an estimate of the expense, and the best mode of procur- ing them The motion was ordered to lie on the table. This same action was repeated two years later, but this tune the matter progressed a little further, in that the committee was appointed and made a report. The report how ever was laid on the table,
 Congress continued to use borrowed books until it's removal to Washington. In the act which provided for the es- tablishment of the seat of government in this city section was inserted which is really the cornerstone of the present magnificent institution. By this act $5, 900 was appropriated for the purchase of books and for fitting' up suitable apartment in the capitol to contan them, the purchase to be made by the secretary of the Senate and the clerk ot the House of Representatives, under ssuch directions as shall be given, and sucb catalogs as shall be furnished by q ioj t committee of both houses or Congress, to be appointed for that pur- pose
 The next act dealing with the library was passed January 26 1902, and pro vided for placing in one room ot the | canitol the books which had been pur- chased by the first appropriation, to- 'gether with the books or libraries which | had been kept separately by each , House It authorized the making of | suitable rules and regulations by the | president of the Senate and the speaker
  the appointment by the president of librarian at salary not to exceed $z ,e,. diem of necessary attendance. The unexpended balance of the sum or $5,ooo or,nronriated by the act of April 24 1900, and all sums later appropriated, to De expended under the direction or Jolnt consisting of three members from each House.
 John Beckley of Virginia, clerk o1 the House of Representatives was appoint cd librarian by President Jefferson, January 29, 1902 In April, lS02, less than three months after the appoint ment of MT Beckley, the first cataloS was issued It filled 1o octave pages and contained the titles of 964 volumes and nine maps. The books were classl- fled bv size. folos coming first then o,artos octavos and duodecimos, fol- lowed by the maps.
 If is interesting to note the charac- fer of the books whose titles are given in the first cataIog of the library is sued in April, 1902 Senator Mitchell, in a report from the Senate library com mittee, January 20, 1S06 states that the aim in purchasing books should be to Furnish the library with such ma terials as will enable statesmen to be correct in their investigations, and by becoming display of erudition and re- search give a higher dignity and brighter luster to truth The wide range of subjects covered by the small collection of less than 100 volumes shows that a we'll directed effort was made to place in the library the best standard works on law archaeology, his tory, geography, politics, political economy, theology and transations of the Greek and Roman classics. Light reading is represented by set of the British essayists. Fiction is entirely ab- sent, and the only poet admitted is Burns.
 Four other catalogs were issued be- tween this date and 1912, the last cata- log printed prior to the destruction of the library in 1874. The cataloS pub lished in 1872 filled 101 octave pages, and cont aimed the titles of 3,076 volumes and 53 maps. charts and plans. As this catalog was printed toward the end of the year, it gives approximately the of the library when it was de- streyed IS months later. An additional appropriation of $1 900 yearly for five years was made February 2l, 1906, and