Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-27
UNCLE SAM, ESQ.
Fright Hand of the
Senate"
By Oliver Owen Kuhn.

The right hand of the United States
Senate.
This is the title applied to that little
storehouse of knowledge almost hidden
in secluded section of the north wing
of the Capitol. where has been as
sembled one of the greatest collections
of works on legislative history in the
world. 1t is the library.
When a United States senator in de-
Hvering a speech on the floor or in de-
bate has occasion to refer to some
archaic legislative question. some vital
point on international law or precedent
or parliamentary procedure. he hur-
riedly sends a message to the library,
and in a few moments exact informa-
ton is at hand
This is primarily the purpose for
which the Senate library was estab-
liShed. Its extensive collection makes
it possible to comply instantly with al
most any call for information relating
to precedents of Congress, notwith-
standing even the unsystematic methods
which obtained during the first quar-
ter Of century of the republic.
Senate library consists mainly of gov
eminent publications. the range OF
which is almost universal in scope.
but it is primarily a place of reference
| as to American legislative procedure.
More than 100000 volumes, relating
to almost every subject within the
range of con-
ON I'm Velumes stitutional and
legislative his
Owned by Library. tory are stored
| away within easy access in the stacks
and files of the library. One hundred
| thousand of these volumes not SO much
| in general use are housed in the Senate
Office building. just opposite the Cap
itol. The library contains a valuable
collection of the works, memoirs and
writings of men prominently identified
| with our constitutional and legislative
| history. The works. memoirs and writ
| ingS of the AdamSeS, Benton, Blaine,
| Calhoun. Clay, Hamilton. Jackson, JEFF
| ferson, Madison, sumner and Webster
are some of these.
| One former government official aptly
described the library as "a documentary
| history of the origin and progress of the
North American colonies; of the causes
| and accomplishments Of the American
revolution. and of the Constitution of
( the United States.
! Here may be found the secret journals
| of the acts and proceedings of the fed
| Grafton from the first meeting thereof
| to the dissolution of the confederation
| by the adoption of the Constitution of
the United States. from ITS to 1878.
American Congress. 1774-1178; the de-
bates of the constitutional convention:
the diplomatic correspondence of the
American revolution. as well as all the
diplomatic correspondence of the United
States
The American Archives, fourth series,
from the kings message March Z, 1874,
to the Declaration of Independence of
the United States in 1875. and the fifth
fsertes, from the Declaration of indie
valuable historical addition.
A complete set of Great Britain's par
liamentary history and debates. from
A. D. 1866 to the present time. is re-
liable assets Of the library.
So many and varied are the volumes
Of reference here that each senator can
lay his hand, at
Much Data Always almost moments
.4uI notice, on any Of
the back congress
Sional proce edings and reports the opin-
ions and digests of the United States
Supreme Court and of the other federal
courts; the Revised Statutes of the
United States. the annals and debates of
Congress, departmental decisions. con-
stitutional and international law publi-
cations. In fact. there is scarcely
source of information that is not open
To the average layman, 1t is not gen.
orally known that there does not exist
complete collections nor detailed lists
Of the documents Of the First to the
Fourteenth Congresses. inclusive. 17ss-
1917. Nevertheless, it has been possible
to secure a great many of the docu-
ments. and while complete records are
| lacking the collection on hand covering
| this period probably is as nearly COM
| plete as any in existence.
The first suggestion Of a separate
| library for the Senate was coinc;dent
with resolution January 3. 1929 for
the appointment OF postmaster. who
| should also act as librarian of the
Senate"
To Senators Foot and Morrill, of Yer
| mont. more than to any other persons.
Of the early records of the existing
library. Years passed. however. with
out provision being made for the per-
manent establishment Of library until
warren D, 100, "nen the senate pro-
vided for the appointment of the first
librarian. George S. Wagner, and for
rooms in the Senate wing Of the Capitol.
A comfortable reading room is pro-
vided for senators. but the staff usual
ly sends to senator's offices any refer
ence books desired. Duplicates of
reference books in more or less gen
eral use are provided for each senator
and the more important committee
rooms, where they may be kept always
at hand for immediate use.
+ i
1t is a curious coincidence that the
oldest volume in the library relates to
very much
Oldest Volume Treats discussed sub
Of War and Peace.