Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-13
Mr.. SPOFFORD'S ACCOUNTS
The Librarian Thinks There Should Be a
Separate Bureau Of Copyrights.
What He Said to n Treasury Official
The Matter of Dividing
Salaries.

When the Treasury Department took up
the question of the delayed accounts Of the
librarian of Congress an expert was sent
to the Capitol to see Mr.. Spofford's books
and to make a cursory examination of the
accounts pending an official report from
Librarian Spofford. This official, 1t was
stated at the Treasury Department, dis
covered that Mr.. Spofford had divided
salaries SO that he might employ two
clerks on one salary. For instance, where
Congress had appropriated money to pay
500 per month to a clerk Mr.. Spofford had
employed two clerks at $50 per month.
When this was discovered the official ask
ed Mr.. Spofford what authority he had to
divide the salary.
The provision of law under which the
librarian acted is to the effect that when
the duties of a clerk of a higher grade
can be performed by one of lower the
employment may be given to two or more
and the salary thus divided. Said the
librarian:
You at least cannot accuse me of ex-
travagance. 1 have made the salary go
long ways and the government has re-
ceived double benefit from it"
The treasury accountant replied that the
law. provided especially against dividing
salaries, and that when Congress approori-
ated 500 month for clerk it intended
that the clerk. should receive that amount
and not that it should be paid to Two
clerks. Mr.. Spofford claimed that he had
acted according to the law as he Hnder-
stood it, and 1t is said he believed himself
to be fortified by the law in these acts.
The present investigation into the ac-
counts of Librarian Spofford Is giving rise
to suggestions which may he enacted into
a law by the next Congress for the govern
ment of the library when it is installed in
it's handsome new building on Capitol Hill.
1t Is said that an entire organization Of
the library force will then be made. and
that Congress will be asked to provide
superintendent of the library, whose duty
it shall be to take charge Of all financial
affairs and shall look after the govern
ment of the building generally. This offi-
Ger. it is said, should act Independently of
the librarian, whose duties will be confined
strictly to the care of the books.
1t is thought that Mr.. Spoffcrd will send
his accounts to the auditor of the treasury
for the state and other departments within
the coming weak. While the treasury ofi-
cials have made a cursory~ examination or
the books in the librarians office, the main
brarisn's accounts will be deferred until
the official accounts have been rendered in
due form.
Mr.. SpORord's Recommendations.
In conversation this afternoon with
Star reporter, who called his attention to
the foregoing statements, Mr.. Spofford said:
1T is true that I have made the sugges-
ton referred to looking to a reorganization
of the library. also made another to the
officials of the treasury, which shall also
make to Congress next winter. 1t Is for the
establishment of separate bureau or divi-
sion for the registering of copyrights. As
1t Is I ow the librarian has about four times
as much work as one man can get through
with. 1t is no small task to manage the
largest library In the United States to
oversee all the work of cataloguing and the
receipt OF new books, as we'll as to keep in
formed so as to supply Congress, officials
of the government and the public with such
information as the librarian is constantly
being called upon to furnish. In addition
to this there is the supervision Of the mat
ter of copyrights. This latter involves
great deal Of labor and an immense
amount Of details. There is no inherent
reason why this should te in the charge of
the librarian, and I shall recommend to
Congress that a special officer be provided
for this department Of the work of the
library. He should be bonded officer, but
he should not be detached from the library,
for the reason that the library depends for
Its growth largely upon the books which
are received for copyright"
Mr. Spofford declines to discuss the mat
ter of his accounts, beyond saying that the
examination is now being made, and that
results would probably soon be reached.