New-York tribune., 1896-04-03
MIR. CASEY AND THE NEW LIBRARY.

MIR CASEY AND THE NEW LlbtAit1.
sMIruMEYER AND PEIz AGAIN PROTEST AGAINST
ASSOCIATION OF HIS NAME WITH THEIRS.
Washington April 2 (SpecaD.-Reference has al
ready been made in these dispatches TO certain et-
forts 10 folst Edward J.. Casey. son OF General T.
L. Casey on Congress and the country as one OF the
architects OF the new Library Of Congress Some
recent correspondence between the Washington
Chapter Of the American Institute OF Architects the
Editor OF "Harper's Weekly and Mr.. Casey HIM
self left the claim Of Mr.. Casey TO be considered
one OF the architects OF the new building In rather
enfecbed and damaged condition. II seems, how
ever. that notwithstanding the embarrassing ex-
posures Of this correspondence Mr. Casey Is still
seeking to have his name Inscribed on the memorial
tablet which Is TO be erected In the new Library
as one OF the architects of the building Messrs.
Smithmeyer and Pez. the original architects. pro-
test vigorously against having Mr.. Caseys name
associated with theirs. and have made an appeal
TO the Washington Chapter OF the American lnst-
tute TO prevent this Injustice After citing the re-
cent correspondence published in "Harpers Week.
ly." they say:
This correspondence should certainly have ended
Edward T. Caseys endeavor as a pretender 10 the
honor OF being the architect OF the Congressional
Library Building. but not So for there mas since
been discovered In the catalogue OF the Architectural
League OF New York another pretehce 10 that
honor; on i,pe5 hy him as .architect OF he dome
and central reading room. which IL the design made
by us. with the single exception that tne % ~
erai plan and construction OF this portion of the ed
fee, the question whether this Is such credltaple
change as to .ntite Mr. Casey 10 the credit OF the
design is one which We are content 10 leave 70 tae
Judgment OF the public and to our professional breth-
rem 49,, -.-, L.. ,he no, -,
Congress In 1850 selected Mr. Smithmeyer as the
architect OF the Congressional Library building ana
Mr.. Ielz az his assistant In 1883 hcttious charges
of the dsgruntled contractors were prelerreu
against the architect and resulted In the abolition
OF the Building Commission the abrogatIon OF al
existing contracts and the elevation OF General
Thomas l.. Casey, chief OF Engineers or the army
To the head OF the enterprise. restricting hiin now
and Pelz as adopted In 1886 and revised in lssS The
records show that Mr.. Smithmeyer, the archltect III
with the Library and Mr.. Pelz was retained by Cen
eral Casey as his successor. Mr.. Pcz executed the
plans of 1855 and 1883 according 10 law untl March
20 1892 when he also dismissed by Gehtfa
Casey in the following terms: AS you have now
entirely completed the designs OF the architectura
characteristics and features OF the Dudins TOT inc
Library of Congress both OF the exterior and IN
terror | have to state that your services
viii no longer be required.
This proves that the work OF the architect was vir-
tualy done The building was built up TO the rooi
and partially covered: II therefore permitted OF no
teral changes In the plans ABOUT lnn Una, tSe
GeneraD made his appearance on tne Pren'.steS.
but there Is no public record or payroll to snow tha
he WAS there In any official capacity nor uid any
body presume that he had anything 10 do even
with the decoration Of the Interior oi tne puiuihs,
until his name appeared in "Harpers Weekly as aS
.the architect OF the whole structure Inc lui
details OF the siatuary and other decorative ART
work in the interior were OF course not fuly deter
mined upon under the original plans a. iuistice
TO the numerous distinguished artists VINO contrpu-
ted the many beautiful designs AS they ehis, & m &
10 merge their Joint work and the credit they so wei,
deserve therefor under the general claim OF EDWARD
y Casey as architect" a.,
The work alleged to have been done by him IN the
"tiarper's Weekly" article is obviously more that OF
n manager OF decorations than that OF pona hue
architect In view OF these facts Edward fearce