Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-29
In Interest Of Education.

Representative Sulzer urged the pas
sage of the bill on the ground that 1t was
| in the interest Of education.
This is good bill in the interest of
education. and, in my opinion, there
should be no opposition to IT, he re-
| marked. Let US see for a moment just
what the bill does. Mr.. Andrew Car
| negie. a public-spirited and philanthropic
citizen of our country-and l say all
honor to him-is willing to give $4,000 to
build a library in Takoma Park. one Of
the suburbs Of the District of Columbia
The citizens living in that place are WILL
ing to donate the site, and all that the
Congress is asked Is to allow it to be
done. Why should We refuse?
THE necessity for public libraries is
everywhere acknowledged. They supple
ment the school system and are an inte-
grail factor in public education. When
1t Is considered that only a small per-
centage Of the population continues in
school after the compulsory period has
| been reached. 1t is easy to see what a
good public library may do in helping a
man to continue his education by himself
to study along the lines of his trade or
business. to improve his mind and in
crease his earning capacity by reading
| and study.
AS an effective educational institu-
| ton the public library of the District
Of Columbia is ranked among the very
first in the country. During the last
| fiscal year 1t had circulation of
| 100000 volumes and estimated at
tendance of $4,000: 1t serves well the
| people of the District. 1t cannot, how
ever, reach those who live long dis
| tances from the building. IL man
| needs book he can. OF course. get on
| a car and travel back and forth for
| it. But the work which the central
library does in helping school children
| with their class work, debates and so
! forth, all the literature 1t puts al the
disposal of mechanics. business men,
government employees. and it's wide va
riety of patrons Is largely restricted
| to the population living in a radius of
| two miles from the library.
Six Miles From Library.
THE people who live in Takoma
Park are six miles from this central
| library. They can use the library, at
| best, with great difficulty. These chill
dren are now practically without Ii
brary service The people out there are
anxious for library privileges. They
| have taken active steps to obtain a
branch library and have united in Sc
curing a very well located and excel
lent site When citizens actually take
practical steps like this 1t indicates
| that they feel the need and are doing
| their best to have 1t supplied. We
should help them. To do otherwise
/ Will De DIS as ~ WIN UO
contrary to sound public policy.
| IT am in favor of these public libraries.
They do a great deal of good. They
| should be encouraged. They help the
parents and the children. This library
will help the boys and girls. 1t will aid
| the men and the women who want to i'm
prove themselves by reading and studying
| along the various lines of their endeav-
ors. Outside of our public schools know
| Of no agency In America that is doing so
much good for our citizenship. for the
public veal and for the perpetuity OF our
\ free institutions as the public libraries.
| The facilities for free education are the
greatest blessing vouchsafed to man and
| the greatest guaranty for the safety OF
| our freedom.
Opposition Is Unwise.
1--WE ought to favor whenever and wher-
i auar wa can the hlYildinH and the MAIN