Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-22
OFFICIAL SHORTAGE.
Alleged Deficit In Accounts Of Librarian
Of Congress.
WHAT MIR. sPOFFORD SAYS.
There Are Irregularities. But lie In
sists That They Involve No Wrong
Dofnr on His Patchwork of His
Once.


WASHINGTON. d. c.. August 1.-THE
accounts Of Congressional-Llbrari spot
ford which have been under investigation
by the Auditor Of the Treasury for the
State and other departments since last
January. are said to show shortage or
at least $500. This shortage Is said
10 exist In the payroll accounts OF the
Librarian. and in addition TO this thsre
ia a discrepancy in the copyright and
search-fee accounts.
The accounts have been examined by an
expert In the Office Of Auditor Holcombe,
and his report is believed TO have been
carried 70 President Cleveland, at Gray
Gables. BIZ notwithstanding Haml.n.
OF the Treasury Department. who went 10
his cottage at Marion, Mass. few days
ago to spend his vacation.
At the Treasury Department no infor-
nation whatever can be obtained regard
ing the matter. the officials declining To
discuss II or 10 reveal the results OF the
Investigation.
WHAT SPOFFORD SAYS.
Dir. Spoiford was shown the statements
REGARDING his accounts, ana made the
following statement:
In a matter involving so many par
ticulars. both of misstatement and OF
distortion Of facts. IL can only be SAID
that this Is not the first time. nor Is IL
likely the last. that a public oi1ciai mas
been held up 10 odium for offences not
committed Stripped OF all sensational
statements. the whole matter rests upon
an admitted confusion OF accounts grow
ing out Of the extreme pressure con-
stantly upon the Librarian Of Congress
and Register Of Copyrights 10 the Whoie
country. This neglect has been OWING 10
the fact that while the daily and onerous
business OF deciding upon and issuing
copyrights and the almost incessant de-
rnands upon the Librarian by ConsT, sS
and the public cannot be postponed, the
matter Of accounts can be ana has beeh
delayed,
The charge OF having received Illegal
fees IS baseless. The copyTght-law us
finCtly provides that for certifying q
copv - a copyright record there shaH
ba collected ~ cents. The applications ior
such records are very numerous. because
Of the constant litigation involving copy
right property. The furnishing ot ceru-
fed statements rs 20 how the RECORD sthhiH
IL no part of the regular correspondence
but IS 10 me a special demand for evidence
to defend or institute suits involving
COPYRIGHT property. The charge Tor thlS
,,ffr- obou, ~ cents uer h0ur-fairiy re-
presents what the government pays IN
clerical salaries, and the search-iets
charged are regularly recorded In the
cesh-booE and paid into the Treasury
thus reimbursing the governm NJ Tor It's
own expenditure on the special searches
AS to the statement that fraudulent
vouchers have been presented. the iactS
ere that two bills. one for 50 and one
for about g. both bearing receipts, hut
neither marked duplicate. were render
I'm the accounts from the library the
duplication not having been detected
either by myself or h. the clerk hav'r"
these accounts In charge. The amount
overdrawn was at once made good on
attention being called to these errors.
SALARIES.
"Regarlng payment OF salaries. II IS
true that the Librarian has for long
time secured larrer service for the libra
~ under appropriations specifically for
II larger sum than that paid, and this
under the authority of the law which
provides that whenever the duties OF n
clerk Of a higher grade can be performed
hy one Of q lower. IL shall be lawful 10
employ more than one within the limits
~ the appropriation made Acting under
this. / have in good faith employed in
cases where no expert Of adequate ex-
r.rionce was found for a vacancy two
persons for the galary % one person
for a much longer time. within the limits
Of the appropriation made. This has
secured for the govern ment much more
service for the amount. and II never oc-
CURED 10 me as thing improper, much
less Illegal"
Mr.. Spofford said that instead Of there
being only twenty-four persons employed
in the library. as had been stated. there
were actually thirty-eight. the law re-
quiring thirty.
ITO those who know anything Of the
mutifarious duties thrust upon the Ii
brarlan." continued Mr. Spofford. at will
not appear strange that have asked for
separation OF the duties Of register Of
copyrights. which should be under tho
charge Of n distinct. bonded officer con-
nected with the Library OF Congress.
from those Of Librarian, so as 70 secure
the full benefit Of the publications re-
corded under the copyright law.
THE net result Of the whole matter So
far as now seen is. that there will be
due the treasury about SZ-.ep on adjust
ment Of copyright and salary accounts,
although no absolutely final debit has
yet been reached. The amount due.
am. Of course. ready TO pay in"
Mr.. SpoffOrd said in conclusion that he
had received no intimation that his ser
vices were likely to be dispensed with
by the President. He added that he had
received only the most courteous treat
ment at the hands Of the Executive Off
cials.
Mr.. Spofford was appointed TO his pres
ent Office by Abraham Lincoln. in 1864.