New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-22
Mr.. SPOFFORD'S ACCOUNTS.
A SHORTAGE OF $4,000 SAID TO EXIST.

THE VETERAN LIBRARIAN sASs THE CONFUSION
AROSE FROM THE ENORMOUS PRESSURE
OF WORK on HIM
Washington. Aug. 2l.-The accounts Of Congress
slona Librarian Spofford which have been under in
xesteation by the Auditor OF the Treasury for the
State and other departments since last January, are
said TO show a shortage OF at least $4,000. This
shortage is said exist in the payroll accounts of
the library and In addition to this is the discrep
ancy in the copyright and search fee accounts. men,
tion OF which has already been made. The accounts
have been examined by an expert in the office or
Auditor Holcomb and his report is believed to have
boon carried TO President Cleveland at Gray Gables
nv Assistant Secretary HamlIn Of the Treasury De-
nartment who went to his cottage at Marion. Mass
a few DAYS ago spend his vacation.
Al the Treasury Department no information what
over can be learned regarding the matter. the off,
Gals declining discuss it or to reveal the results
of the investigation
Mr. Sponord said to-day:
In matter involving so many particulars. both Of
miss;aiements and of distortion OF facts II can only
DC san be last that public official has been held up
to odum for offences not committed stripped OF an
an admitted confusion OF accounts srowng Out TO, o,
the bis double office as Librarian Of Congress and
REGISTER of Copyrishts to the whole country ms
SSefiv and onerous business of deciding upon and
issuing copyrights, and the almost lncessan' ue-
ness and the public cannot be POSTPONED the mat,
srs' ~ accounts can be and has been delayed The
Sars copSrent law distinctly provides that for eerti
tying copy Of for sueh records
ere very numerous. because Of the constant nuga,
ion IyUyss as o bow the record
Is no part OF the regular correspondehGe nd or n NJ
atn,e suits involving copyright property ,a Inc
charge for this labor. about 30 cents an hour dar
o,nars1sents what the Government pays In cierical
reps and the search fees charged are regularly
Secorded in the cashbook and paid into me lrsasuly
.nuStre on these special searches As TO the state
mcn that Fraudulent v9HSners or s ana one for
bout &C. both bearing receipts but neither ts
he duplication not having been detected
either by myself or by the CLERK yerdrawn Was at
Gun made good on attention being caiiea 10 'his
'Bseardng payments OF salaries II Is true ,n nr
~, Librarian mas long time secured Larger a ser
wees for the library under APP nad and this I'M
sa me authority Of the law which provides tnas
me Ne d naTsrS St by S'e ons Of
Gan a az TO employ more than one within the INNS n
Of the }oS employed in cases where no expert OF
aieouate experience was FOUND lot d 20 much
person., m or Within the limits OF the appropriation
made This has secured Tor me rever occurred
more service for the amounts, ana IL hv N "
20 me as a thing improper. much less iiies"i'
Mr. spofford said that instead OF there being oh'y
,usn,vfour persons employed In the library as hao
becn stated there were actually thrS-eis"' ''9
law recurring thirty. lie continued: -
~, ,hose who know anything OF the multiiailous
antics thrust upon the Librarian IL VIII no. pPpns
s,,,nrs that | have asked for separation o, we
Suii~s of Register Of Copyrights when rnon Nc
ou aus he charge of distinct bonded of'csr con-
"ceted with The library OF Congress- rom o the
y,Erorien so as 10 secure the full benent Oh INV
nmbcttions recorded under the Coryrss ar ma Now
P1,e. n.t result OF the whole matter SO lai q" -,
en is That there viii he due The Treasnts xoo oe
500 on nnJus me- absolutely hna audi, has yet
S2H Gun srosSchra The amount due / am. Oh eou's''
ready 20 pay Immediately \, ,o, -.
Mr. snofford said In conclusion. that ne hau re-
.n,yoa no ,ntmstion that his services were hkey
n be dispensed with by the President, ne 49, ,
,hs, no had received only the most courteous "e"'
no,, NJ tho hands Of the executive oillSaiS, 1900
"rhe library of Congress Was estaDHshcuu Il" Il. %
,,, n remained for Mr. Spoford TO MAKE MAXI, IL w.,de
r,nus His reputation librarian Is Won. h ,hnw
MA his arouaintance with the contents OF ,ne N.Y. ~
anas Of volumes under his care Is pnenomenhat' he
s-arnbers Of Congress he is weinigh hVaiu
me able TO supply them with nforaaupSn Ir hrarv in
l.s 80 ceivable subject He entered the Io ~
SCI and three years later was appointed -! ri.
ddsn; lincoln to the position he now occupies, ,hat
s,,on ~ librarian is probably the only one OF ' S
innortance which the President may IA We ahso
lin nna and consent of the Senate-it is MS aoso
lutey.