Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-04
MIR. CASEY AND THE NEW LIBRARY.
Sm1thmcyer and Pelz Again Protest
Against the Use of His Name.

rAAss S-ASHA ANU Jew T..
Smithmcyer and pelz Again Protest
Against the Use of His Name.
Wash. Cor. n. Y. Tribune.
Reference has already been made in these
dispatches to certain efforts to foist Ed
Ward +. Casey, son of Gen. 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 In
stitute of Architects. the editor Of Harp
ers Weekly and Mr.. Casey himself left
the claim OF Mr.. Casey to be considered
one OF the architects of the new building
In rather enfeebled and damaged condi-
ton. 1t seems, however. that notwith-
standing the embarrassing exposures 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
Pelz, the original architects, protested Wig
orousiy against having Mr.. Casey's name
associated with theirs, and have made ali
appear TO the Washington chapter of the
American Institute to prevent this injus-
tice. After citing the recent correspon-
dence published in Harper's Weekly, they
say:
ended Edward P. Casey's endeavor as a
pretender to the ho1 or OF being the archi-
tect of the Congressional Library building;
but not &c. for there has since been dis
covered In the catalogue of the Architec-
tural League of New York another pre-
tense to that honor. On page 81 of that
catalogue appears drawing signed by
him as architect" of the dome and CEN
made by us. with the single exception that
the decorative part of the ceiling is
changed In view of the general plan and
construction of this portion of the edifIce
the question whether this is such a cred
liable change as to entitle Mr.. Casey to
the credit of the design is one which we
are content to leave to the Judgment Of
the public and to our professional brethren
The building commission created bv the
act OF Congress in 1886 selected Mr. Smith
meyer as the architect of the Congress
sional Library building and Mr. Pelz as his
assistant. In 1888 fictitious charges of the
dissruntled contractors were preferred
against the architect, and resulted in the
abolition of the building commission. the
ahrogation Of all existing contracts and the
elevation Of Gen. Thomas l.. Casey, chief
of engineers of the army, to the head of
the enterprise restricting him, however
to the execution of the plans of Smith
meyer and Pelz as adopted in 1886 and re-
vised in 1883. The records show that M
Smithmeyer. the architect in charge, was
brusquely relieved of his connection with
the library, and Mr.. Pelz was retained by
Gen. Casey as his successor. Mr.. Peiz ex-
ecuted the plans Of 1885 and 1888 accord
ing to law until March 49, 1852, when ne
was also dismissed by Gen. Casey in the
following terms: "As you have now en-
tirely completed the designs of the archi-
tectural characteristics and features of
the building for the Library of Congress-
both OF the exterior and interior, :
! have to state that your services will no
This proves that the work of the archI-
tect was virtually done. The building was
built up to the loof and partially covered :.
It therefore permitted of no material
of the construction Edward P. Casey (son
of the generaD made his appearance on the
premises, but there is no public record or
pay roll to show that he was there in any
sumo that he had anything to do even
with the decoration of the interior of the
building, until his name appeared in Har-
pers Weekly as 1.-The architect of the
statuary and other decorative art work in
the interior We're. of course, not fully de-
term1ned upon under the original plans as
submitted and adopted, and it would be
tinguished artists who contributed the
many beautiful designs as they exist to-
day to merge their joint work and the
credit they so well deserve therefor under
architect" %
Inc work alleged to have been done by
MIN In the Harpers Weekly article is OBJ
v1ousiy more that Of a manager of decora-
tons than that Of a bona fide architect
In view of these facts, Edward Pearce
casey Is left In the unenviable position of
having imposed upon the Architectural
League, to say nothing of the graver Of
Tense Of professional piracy. of which he
has been guilty toward u.s. Nevertheless.
1t Is now proposed to add the name of Ed
ward Pearce Casey to our own and In
scnpe all three on the memorial tablet in
the library as the architects of the CON
gressional Library building. Against an
action so unjust. so thoroughly vfolative
OF every canon Of architectural ethics and
con,non oecency. We solemnly protest to
our brethren Of the profession, in the hone
that they will take such action as the sit
uation demands