Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22
HOUSE WILL GET
LIBRARY BILL SOON
Measure Passed by Senate
Goes to Be Acted Upon
Next District Day.


the needs of the rapidly growing city,
the public library act, which has beer.
in operation for 80 years has been
rewritten and will be favorably re-
ported to the House from the Dis
trict committee next Wednesday to
he ready for passage in the House
on the next District day, two weeks
hence.
The Senate passed this measure
| last Wednesday, and an identical bill
introduced by Chairman Zihlman of
the House District committee was
considered yesterday by the subcom-
mlttee on elective franchise of which
Representative Reid. Republican, of
! Illinois, is chairman.
The subcommittee ordered fav-
. orable report To the full committee,
where the bill that has passed the
Senate will he subs ituted for the
House bill to expedite enactment of
his legislation.
Makes Program Explicit
The Capper-Zihlman measure puts
into law what the Public Library or.
Canization is now doing. and makes
more explicit the program of the lib
rary for the future 1t provides for
central library and such number of
branch libraries. SO located and so
supported as will furnish books and
other printed matter and iAforma ton
service to all residents of the District
of Columbia
1t gives basic law for branch lib
raries in the schools for which DR..
George +. Bowerman. the librarian
has been working for the last Is
years. and authorizes the renting OF
a store building where there is not
room available in school building
So that. as rapidly as Congress ad-
NanceS the money all the residents OF
the city can be given library service.
where now only small fraction of
the people can conveniently use the
library facilities.
Provisions for Establishment of Bill
The CapperZihlman bill provides
free public library. maintained in the
District of Columbia. which shall he
a supplement of its public educational
system.
The library, according to the bill.
shall consist of a central library and
such number of branch libraries so
LOCATED and SO supported as to fur
nish books and other printed matter
ana information service convenient
To the homes and offices of all resi-
dents of the said District
All actions relating to the library
or for the recovery of any penalties
lawfully established in relation to
the library. shall he brought in the
name of the District of Columbia
the bill states, and the commissions
ers of the District are authorized to
accept and take title to all gifts to
aid IN the maintenance or endow-
nent of the library. The commits
Sl"hers OF the District are further au-
thorIZed to receive, as component
parts of the library. collections Of
books and other publications that
may he transferred to them.
In order to make the library an eff
fectIve supplement of the public edrI.
cational system of the District and
furnish the system of branch libra ries
the board Of library trustees is author.
lied by the bill To enter into agree.
ments with the Board of Educa ton to
establish and maintain branch libra.
RES in suitable rooms in such public
school buildings as will supplement
the central library and branch libra.
RES in separate buildings. The board
of library trustees is authorized by the
bill to rent suitable buildings or parts
OF buildings for use as branch libra
rieS and distributing stations
All persons who are permanent or
temporary residents of the District
are entitled to the privileges of the
library under the provisions of the
Dill, including the use of the books, as
a lending or. circulating library.
Persons living outside of the Dis
trict, but having regular business or
employment or attending school here
are deemed temporary residents
Other persons living in counties OF
Maryland and Virginia adjacent to
theN District may gain the privilege
of Withdrawing books from the
library by the payment of fees fixed
by the board of trustees. The fees
twill be expended by the board of
library trustees for the support of the
| library.
Board of Trustees.
The library shall be in charge Of
q board Of library trustees. who will
purchase the books. magazines and
newspapers and procure the neces-
"ary appendages. The board will be
composed of nine members. each of
whom shall be a taxpayer in the Dis
trict of Columbia. and shall serve
without compensation. They will be
| appointed by the Commissioners of
the District of Columbia and hold Of
| flee for six years.
At the FIRST meeting of the board the
members will he divided by lot into
! three classes. The first class. COM
| posed of three members, to serve for
| wears. ana the third for six Years.
! Any vacancy occurring in the board
Will be flied by the District Commits.
! Si0nerS.
The board will have power to PRO.
! vide for the proper care and preserva-
ton of the library, to prescribe rules
! for taking and returning books, 10 fix,
assess. and collect fines and penalties
! for the loss of or injury to books, and
! for the retention of books beyond the
period fixed by library regulations, and
| to esta blish all other needful rules and
! regulations for the management OF the
| library as the said board shall deem
! proper. All fines and penalties so col
! lected will be expended by the board
| for the support of the said library.
! The board will appoint a librarian to
have the care and superintendent of
| the library, who will be responsible to
| the board of trustees for the impartial
| enforceme mt of all rules. The said
! librarian will appoint such assistants
as the board deems necessary. The