Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16
BY WILLIAM RUFUS SCOTT.

BY WILLIAM RUFUS SCOTT.
N YENER before has a presidential
declaration about Washington
VI evoked as much interest among
i leaders in all lines As that pas
sage in President Coolidge s
annual message to Congress in De
cember in which he challenged the
Nation to make this city the greatest
capital in the world.
The most enthusiastic approval, nat
urally, has come from leaders in the
four fields of science, learning, letters
and art specifically mentioned by the
President as activities which he wants
to see pre-eminent in the National
Capital. The fact that the President
would enlist the whole American PEG,
pie in the task of giving Washington
world leadership is accorded especial
emphasis.
IT is conceded that, architecturally,
the new Federal building program
will put Washington far forward III
world competition. the questloho
asked are: What relative position
does Washington hold now as world
capital in the four aspects OF science,
learning. letters and art? What must
be done to attain the leadership PreSl-
dent Coolidge desires and what can
the people and their representatives
do to bring the ideal to reality?
Literary Aspect Surveyed.
The first of the four subjects to be
SURVEYED is Washington as a city OF
letters Three outstanding Washing
tonians were asked the foregoing
questions Herbert Putnam. librarian
of the Library of Congress; Dr. George
= Bowerman. librarian of the Pubic
Library. and Mary Roberts Rinehart,
world famous writer, unite in saying
that Washington not only has mace
en- admirable start, but IS certain
eventually to take the lead. me TWO
librarians describe the literary re-
sources here for writer's. Whiie MRS.
Rinehart tells why she tmnks ASA,
ington is the ideal place Vi
for a writer.
.~The Library of Congress already
bas one of the three largest coliec-
tions in the world, says Mr.. PUTNAM
s.the two others being the British Mu-
scum. in London, and the bioilo'
theaue Rationale, at Paris.
"If the S1.250.000 branch library
nrogram Endorsed by the Gibson SUD
cnn,n,ittee of the House District com
n1ittee lis carried through. says IN
pourarnan. with adequate admlnls
trstiye financing, the Public Library
win advance much closer to the goai
of leadership mentioned.
There is every lnducenenI lol
writing people 10 coliio hSS' -
MFG Rinehart. 1.-THE charm OF en-
yironment. the traditions of hospital,
ity and the stimulating eontacts-ah
nroyide an ideal background.
Two Libraries Distinct.
II is becoming better understood IN
Congress and among the pubilc that
there is no rivalry or oVeriappihs IN
tba functions of the Library OF Con-
-. T11rf 4 ".
an senarate and distinct needs, sup
nIeYnenting each other and together
furnishing with other libraries IN
washington, the finest literary alu
u.,,itars and the public can IND IN
this hemisphere. .,
Representative Ernest w. GIBSON
of Vermont, chairman of the suDcoh-
mittee investigating Distrlct anafs.
in commenting on the magnnceill
p1,hlic buildings soon to go up IN
Washington. said at a hearing at
tended BY DR.. Bowerman and others
that the things of the mind and soul
should not be overlooked by Congress
in identifying the National Capital.
He and his subcommitteemen accord
ingly showed keen interest In the eH-
handing plans of the Public Library.
When the facilities now here and
antfcipated are surveyed, with Mr..
Putnam and DIR. Bowerman as guides,
one wonders how writers and investi-
gators will be able henceforth to live
or work anywhere else than in Wash
ington.
For instance, the Library of Con-
eress has a good start OH plan
whereby it will give super-university
service TO the public through en-
lowed "chairs" on various subjects,
such as American history, music,
Semitics and others. These chairs,
as in universities. would be occupied
nv experts who would lecture on their
subjects. as well as give assistance
10 patrons in utilizing the resources
of the library.
EndOwments Are Sought.
The plan is to encourage wealthy
Americans to endow individual chairs,
with SIS. 1000 on an average, the in
come from which would supplement
the moderate salaries paid by the
Government at the library, and so at.
tract the most capable men. 1t may
seem novel for private citizens TO
helm a governmental institution. but
il is taking on" and will develop the
library service in an unparalleled way
The II branch library buildings
which DIR. Bowerman asks for the
public Library will take directly to
the people the facilities they need,
and Congress is asked for the money
10 build them, because the Carnegie
corporation has discontinued further
lifts. Since Washington is next to
the bottom in the list Of large cities
in the number of its branch libraries.
The distance to be travelled in this re.
xpect to make Washington the center
ofeletters is manifest
Along special lines Of study and
research, it is interesting To note i'm
passing that the National Episcopal
Cathedral has made a start toward
what is expected TO be one of the
largest theological libraries in the
world, with 3000 900 or more volumes
The first wing of the building. now
completed. viii house 20, 900 volumes
Mr.. Putnam's Views.
Celebrating on the idea of super
university service at the Library oi
Congress, Mr.. Putnam says it means
that what New Workers have done
for the Metropolitan Museum and
heir own public library. what Chi
,.agoans have done for the Field
Museum. the American citizen lat
large must be looked TO do for his
national Library.
Gifts of private collections, endow-
ments OF chairs and funds for the &C
uuisftion of material--the sort thai
amt suitably he purchased from the
public funds--alone can develop the
library 10 the fullest breadth and
distinction.
For such endoWments a simple pro
ccdure has been provided in til,
Library of Congress Trust Fund Boar'