Evening star., 1949-03-13
Fifty. Years Ago

Half century back Congress had its
troubles about unlimited discussion very
much as it does now. The
100 Much ok Star for March S, 1899
In Congress said: "As dawn broke over
the Capitol this morning
large majority Of the members Of the Senate
still was in or about the chamber wherein
the last legislative day Of the Fifty-f1fth
Congress was drawing rapidly to a close. All
night long the Senators had been laboring
under a terrific nervous strain, laboring to
complete the necessary legislation in order
that Congress might adjourn at noon today
=. Few, if any, of the members had
had a wink of sleep, and the drawn faces
and heavy eyes of many of the older Sen
ators indicated the stress under which they
were working" The main difficulty was that
4 group of Western members had determined
to obtain reconsideration of conference
report on the river and harbor bill, Senator
Francis E. Warren of Wyoming occupied the
floor for five hours When he had given up
the sundry civil bill was debated. Finally,
Senator Joseph r. Hawley of Connecticut
appealed to his colleagues: I'm the name of
mercy. justice and Righteousness, let this
everlasting talk cease and let us have vote. -
brief bulletin on the front page of The
Putnam, librarian of the
Mr.. Putnom Boston Public Library. has
ToAccept said that he will accept the
post of Librarian of Con-
gress previously rendered to him by
President Mckinley. in case the offer is re-
newed" 1t was added that: Mr.. Putnam
is spoken of as entirely satisfactory to every
member of the Senate. as he is regarded as
one of the best equipped librarians of his
day." The position referred to had been
sought by a long list of candidates, none
Of whom was professional librarian, espe-
cially trained for the work. Mr.. Putnams
original declination was based on the fact
that the salary then paid to the Librarian
of Congress was smaller than that which
he had been receiving in Boston. He believed
that the head of the national photographic
establishment was entitled to a salary more
nearly equal to the responsibility involved.
Congress having agreed with him in that
detail, he came to Washington and assumed
his new duties on April S. Forty years later
he was made librarian emeritus-a title he
still holds.
A large crowd which gathered at Pennsyl-
vania avenue and Eleventh street NV. at
approximately 9 o'clock
FIRE at Eleventh on the evening of March
And tho Avenus 8, 1899, was disappointed
when blaze in build
ing occupied by Brentano's bookstore and
Princes Photographic gallery failed to de-
velop into "a big conhagration." Efficient
work by the fire and police forces prevented
disaster. and The Star Of the following
day gave them credit for their achievement.
Justice Walter Cox owned the building, and
both Brentano's and Princes were insured.
Damage did not exceed $1,000. Under diff
ferent conditions the flames might have
moved clear across the city, destroying hun
dreds of structures. That they did not spread
was news of the first importance, but 1t
rated nothing better than a small space
on page T.
The Rev. DR.. S. Parkes Cadman, then bet
ter known as the Rev. DR.. Samuel P. Cad
man, pastor of the Met
controyersy' ropolitan Temple In New
Ahou+ Tho R;hle York, had disturbed re-
ligiops circles generally
and Methodist circles PARTICULARLY by declar-
Ing that "the absolute tnerrancy and 1nfalll-