New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-19
ALL ISDIANIANS TOGETHER
SUSPICIOUS DELAY IN INVESTIGATING THE LIBRARY

BUILDING MATTER.
WASHINGTON, April Is Especially .-a What is the
matter with Holman ?n. This Is q question which
one hears asked every day by members of tho
House, although the great ex-objector seems
to be in good health and spirits. 1t appears how
svcr, that the question does not refer to MIR.
Holman's physical condition, but to his lack Of
interest in his public duties For years he has
posed as the foe of extravagance and Jobs,' and
proudly has he worn the title of Watch Dog OF
the Treasury For years he fought with success
the bill to provide new building for the Library
Bf Congress, but at last IL became law despite
his opposition.
: Within the past few months charges have been
made that the progress of work on the new build
Ing has been unreasoRably slow and that tlie
expenditures have been unreasonably large. On
February 0 the House took official ccgnizanee OF
the charges BY referring resolution on the subject
to the Appro priati0ns COMMITTEES. SIX Gays later
Chairman Randall reported resolution to raise
a special committee to Investigate the matter and
giving it authority TO send for persons and papers
Randall said that the subject was one OF great
Importance, and should be thoroughly investi-
gated before granting the further appropriation OF
100000 asked to continue the work during the
next fiscal year but that the Appropriations Com
mittee oould not do justice to itself nor to the
subject, ON account Of the pressure OF other
tuties The resolution was Adopted, and on Feb
ruary 90, nearly FIVE weeks ago. the committee
mas appointed with Judge Holman as chairman.
The committee has never been called together,
md, Of course, the Investigation ordered by the
House has not been made The appointment of
Holman to the craftsmanship of the special com.
mittee caused general surprise, because he Ind
opposed the creation Of a special committee to
conduct the Investigation. Parliamentary usage
was clearly violated, and ii could not have been
done by inadvertence, for the committee was not
appointed until nearly week after the adoption of
the resolution. The selection of Holmhn provokes
comment for another reason. In the Senate Mr.
VOORHEES, Of Indiana, is charged with like in
yestigation. The person whose acts are the sub
feet Of criticism is Architect Smithmyer, another
Indiana man, and an intimate personal friend OF
Senator Voorhees,, who is his stanch defender
against all criticism in the Senate. II is whispered
that the influence Of Mr.. Voorhees, WIS exerted in
behalf Of Judge Holmans appointment TO con-
duct the House investigation, or rather, as 1t
would appear, not 10 conduct 10
Il cannot be learned that Chairman Holman
has appointed the clerk at s6 per day. II may
be that it is to save this money 70 the Treasury
that be rcfrains from making an appointnent The
Republican rsembers Of the committee are Messrs
Stewart, Of Vermont. and Caswef, Of Wisconsin.
Probably they feel that that they will be subject
to criticism as well as the Democratic members nm
less thu committee shall carry out Tie instructions
pf the House That ought not to be, however,
for IL is understood that both Of them have re-
auested the chairman 10 call the committee to.
gether and pursue the Investigation. '>A