The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-22
SPOFFORD'S ACCOUNTS.
HE Is ALLEGED TO RE S3s, 900 BE-
HIND WIN THE TREASURY.
Tho Librarian Makes n Statement and
Says He Is Ready to Settle With
the Government.

WASHINGTON. ID. c., Aug. n.-The
accounts OF Congressional Librarian spof-
FORD, which have been under inv, stiga-
ton by the Auditor Of the Treasury for
the State and other departments since
last January. are said to show short
age of at least $500 This shortage is
said to exist il the payroll accounts OF
the Librarian, and, Ia addition to this.
there IL "A discrepancy IN the copyright
and search-fee accounts.
The accounts have been examined by an
expert In the office OF Auditor Holcomb.
ana his report is believed To have been
carried TO President Cleveland at Gray
Gables by Assistant Secretary Hamiin.
OF the Treasury Department, who went
10 his cottage at Marion. Mass, a few
days ago TO spend his vacation.
At the Treasury Department no infor-
nation whatever can be- learned regarding
the matter. the officials declining TO dis
cuss II or TO reveal the results Of the
investigation.
MR.. sroFFonDs STATEMENT.
Mr.. Spoford was shown the statements
regarding his accounts. and made the fol-
lowing statement:
In a matter involving 80 many par
ticulars, both OF misstatements ana OF
distortion OF facts. IL can only be SAID
that this is not the first time, nor Is
1t likely to be the last that a public
official has been held up To odium Tor
offences not committed.
stripped OF all sensational statements.
the whole matter rests upon an admit
ted confusion OF accounts, growing out
OF the extreme pressure constantly upon
the Librarian OF Congress and register
of copyrights to the whole country.
This neglect has been owing TO the
fact that while the daily and onerous
business OF deciding upon and issuing
copyrights. and the almost incessant de-
mandS upon the librarian by Congress
and the public cannot be postponed. the
matter of accounts can he and has been
delayed.
THE charge OF having received Illegal
fees is baseless. The copyright law dis
tlncty provides that for certifying a
copy OF a copyright record there shall
be collected fifty cents. The applications
for such records are very numerous, be-
cause or the constant litigation involving
copyright property. The furnishing OF
certified statements as TO now the rec
ord stands i3 no part OF the regular cor
respondence, but IL TO me a special de-
mand for evidence 10 defend or institute
suits involving copyright property. The
charges for this labor are about ~ cents
per hour fairly represents what the Cow
ernment pays i'm clerical salaries. and the
search fees charged are regularly recorded
in the cash-boOk. and paid into the Treas
ury, thus reimbursing the Government
for its own expenditure on the special
searches.
IN BEGARD TO youoHJgs
"As to the statement that fraudulent
vouchers have been presented the facts
are that two bills-One for >2J and one for
about s.. both bearing receipts. but nei-
ther marked duphcate-were rendered in
the accounts from the library, the dupl-
cation not having been detected either
by myself or the clerk having those ac-
counts in charge. The amount over,irawn
was at once made good. on attention
being called TO these errors.
Regarding Payments OF salaries, II is
true that the librarian has for "A long
time secured larger services for the libra
ry, under appropriations specifically for
larger sum than that paid, and this under
the authority OF the law, which provides
that whenever the duties OF clerk OF
a higher grade can well be performed by
one Of a lower, IL shall be lawful 10
employ more than one. within the limits
of the appropriation made. Acting under
this | have. i'm good faith. employed. in
ence was found for a vacancy two per-
sons for the salary OF one person for
a much longer time. within the limits OF
the appropriation made. This has Sc
cured for the Government much more
service for the amount and II never
occurred to me as thing improper. much
less Illegal"
THE SUMBFB or EMPLOYEES.
Mr.. Spoffori said that instead OF there
being only twenty-four persons employed
in the library. had Dcen stated. there
were actually thirty-cght. the law re-
quiring thirty.
'To those who know anything Of the
multifariOus duties thrust Upon the libra
ran" continued Mr.. sponord. I'll viii not
appear strange that ! have asked FOR
separation of the duties OF register OF
copyrights which should be under the
charge OF a distinct bonded officer con-
nected with the Library Of Congress from
those OF librarian so as 70 fecure the full
benefit OF the publications recorded under
the copyright law.
1.-The net result OF the whole matter. so
far as now seen. Is: That there VIII be
due the Treasury about sZ2.o11 on ADJUST
ment of copyright. and salary accounts,
although no absolutely final. debit has
yet been reached. The amount due
am. OF course, ready 10 pay in"
Mr.. Sporord said, In conclusion. that
ne had received no intimation that hts
services were likely to be dispensed with
by the President. lie al led that he had
received only the most courteous treat
ment at the hands OF the executive Of
fcidls.
Mr. Spofford was appointed to his pres
ent office by Abraham Lincoln. In 1854