The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-08-22
THAT ALLEGED SHORTAGE
Mr. Spofford, the Librarian of
Congress, Talks of the Affair.
he Says 1t Is Not the First Time 4
Public Officer Has Been Held Up
to Cdium for OfTenses Not
Committed. Misstatements
and Distortions.

Iian Spofford, which lave been under
Investigation by the Auditor of the
Treasury for the State uud other De.
Eartments, since lust January, are said
10 show shortage of at least S35, COO,
phls ehortage Is said to exist III the
pay roll accounts of the library, and in
aduition to this IL u discrepancy III the
copyright and search fee accounts.
She accounts have been examined by
an expert III the Uilice OF Auditor Hol-
comb and his report is believed to have
oeen carried to President Cleveland.
at Gray Cables by Assistant Seer etaIy
uamlin, OF the Treasury Department,
who went TO Ills cottage ut Mariou.
Mass, few days ago to spend his
vacation. at the Treasury Depart
inent no Information Whatever can be
learned regarding the matter, the OIL
ciais decliug to discuss 1t.
MIR. Spuilutd WAS shown the state.
meuls regarding hisaccouuts and made
the following statements:
In matter involving 30 many par.
Nculars, both Cf mIsstntements and of
distortion OF facts. it can only he said
'nht this Is not the first time, nor Is it
hkely TO be the last, that IL public Off
eial has been held up to odium for Of
lenses not committed.
the whole matter rests upon an admit.
ted confusion oi accounts, growing ont
Of the extreme pressure constantly
upon the Librarian OF Congress aud
Register OF Copyrights to the whole
country. This neglect has been owlug
60 the fact that while the daily aud
ouerous business OF deciding upon, and
is.uipg copyrights. aud the aim ost IN :
cessant demands upon the Llbrariun
for Information by Congress and the
public cannot be postponed. the matter
OF accounts can be aud should be de
Iayed.
The charge OF having received illegal
fees Is baseless. The copyright law
distinctly provides that Tor certifying
copy ot copyright record, there
shhll be collected 5O cents. The appl.
cations Ior such records nre very num-
erous, because OF the constant liiiga.
tion Involving copyright property.
ihe furnishing of certified statements
as to how the record stands Is no part
OF regular correspondence, but
Is TO meet special demands for
evideneo tu defend or institute suits i'll
ToiYing copyright property The
charges Tor this labor, about 90 cents
an hour, fairly represents what the
Government pays IN clerical salaries,
and the search teeB charged uru regu
larry recorded III the cnsh book aud
taid into the Treasury, thus REIN
bursing the Government for it's own
expenditure on these special searches q
AS to the statement that fraudulent
vouchers have been presented, the
facta are TINT two bills, one for SD
and one for about 50, marked duplicate
@ere rendered III The accounts OF the
1ibrary,ih duplication not hayingibeen
determined eliher by myself or by the
clerk having these accounts in charge.
Tie amount overdrnwn was at once
made good Oh attention being called.
Regarding payments of salaries, il
So true TINT The Librarian has for
long time secured larger services for
che library under appropriations for II
larger sum than paih, and this under
the authority Of the law which pro
Sided that whenever the duties OF u
clerk OF higher grade can well be
9etformed by Que OF II lower it shall be
lawful TO employ more than one within
she limits of the appropriation mndo
Acting under this, l have in good faith
emp Dyed, III cases where DO expert of
adequate experience was found Tor
Sachpcy. two persons for the salary of
one person for much longer time
within the limits Of the appropriation
made. THIS has secured for the Gov.
erument much moro service"
Mr.. Spoliord said that instead of
shere being only twenty fonr persons
employed IN ihe library as had been
stated there we're actually thirty eight,
the law requiring thirty.
10 those who know anything OF the
multitarious duties thrust upon the
librarian continued Mr.. Spoilord, "it
viii not appear strange that | have
asked for separation Of the duties of
register of copyrights, which should
be under the charge OF distinct bond
ed Official connected with the library of
Congress from those of librarian, so as
60 secure the full benefit OF the publi
eatlone recorded under tho copyright
law.
1.-The net result OF tie whole matter.
60 far as now seen is: That there will
be due the treasury about So, coo on
adjustment OF copyright and salary ao
counts, although no absolutely final
audit has beeu yet reached. The
amount due, | am of course, ready to
pay Immediately"
Mr.. Spofiord said in conclusion that
he had received no intimatiou hat his
s,Esices were likely to be dispensed
with by the President. He added that
% had received only tho most