FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS, 1895-1897. 1773 
to the attention of the President for transmission to Congress, as was 
done on a previous occasion when the Institution was requested to 
assume the care of the international exchange of publications in behalf 
of the Government. 
I have, ete., ; 
S. P. Lanenry, Secretary. 
Hon. RicHArRD OLNEY, 
. Secretary of State. 
Referred to Committee on Appropriations. 
January 5, 1897—Senate. 
The Vicr-PrestpEnt, (Mr. A. E. Stevenson), presented letter from 
the Secretary of State relative to a Catalogue of Scientific Literature; 
same as presented on the 18th of December, 1896, in the House. 
Referred to Committee on Foreign Relations. 
GOVERNMENT OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
January 20, 1897—Senate. 
Mr. G. F. Hoar. I wish to say for myself that I have not been dis- 
posed to interfere with what the Senate as in Committee of the Whole 
has concluded to be best in regard to dealing with the National Library, 
which is to be removed from the Capitol and to assume very much 
larger proportions as a public institution. But I am satisfied that 
very soon the National Library must be governed in some such way 
as the Smithsonian Institution is now governed, and that the present 
method of government will be found inadequate and unsatisfactory to 
the people and to Congress. 
The great experience and ability of the present Librarian make it 
pretty sure that any method of dealing with that institution will be 
reasonably satisfactory so long as his services are spared; but I expect 
that very soon it will be found necessary for the two Houses of Con- 
gress to provide for a permanent rearrangement for the future, which 
will involve the imitation and expansion of the scheme now in opera- 
tion in regard to the Smithsonian Institution. 
* * * * * * * 
Mr. Wixxrnson Catt. By this bill, when enacted into law, Congress 
forever puts it out of their power to control the Library. It now loses 
its name and function of a Congressional Library and becomes a 
National or Presidential Library, beyond the control of Congress, 
except by the President’s consent. It completely separates the Library 
from the control of Congress. ; 
Then, again, how many distinguished men in every State of this 
Union would be glad to be associated in some shape with this great 
institution, the Library? Why not, according to the example of 
England in her great library associations, have the distinguished — 
scholars, the great literary men of this country be named as regents 
