The evening times., 1896-11-26
JOBS IN THE NEW t|bRARY |
Continued from First Page.
COMMITTEE MEETS AGAIN

l. iSebhS itttS lOE thc puifoot VI S"dtAhE
Congress to legislnte wisely in the re
organization OF the Library Of Congress
| and Its installation i'll the new building
resumed its sessions u little after IL o'clocl
| this morning.
Senator Wetmore was in the chair, with
Messrs. Harmer, Cummings and Quigg
| around the. table. and Librarian Spof-
| ford ready to answer questions. Mr.
| Quigg again took the lead In the examina
| ton.
| The first question was whether a closer
| relationship by law between the libra
| rian and the library committee in the
| management OF the books, The employ
| ment of assistance etc, would not be fol-
the best. Mr. Spofford decidedly though,
so. The only reason it had not been SC
| before. he surpassed, was the preoccupation
| of Congressinen with graver duties. Mr..
Quigg suggested that the lack OF legisla-
ton calling for this relationship was the
cause Of the condition, and Mr.. spofford
agreed. s.l-.4a
AS TO the selection OF assistants Mr..
Quigg called especial attention to the
assistant librarian. who is to have S3 900
a year. This man. he said, would meet
public men and have much TO do with
the administration OF the library. He
would be an executive officer. Mr.. Spot
ford said this was substantially true.
This assistant would have a place at
quen,iy would he the executive officer in
charge.
SELECTING ASSISTANTS.
You stated yesterday said Mr.. Quigg.
THAT the man who held this place should
be an expert photographer. with the wild
est acquaintance with books, whose service
III a library of the first class should have
been continued many years You, doubt
less. consider this selection important
Certainly | do"
''Do you think IL should he left to your
Judgment without the advice and super
VISION or This committee or anybody clse?"
Il do not. / think the chief executive OF
the library, who will he held responsible for
results. should have control OF the means
by which these results are to be attained;
but think lie would welcome all the help
and light he could get. Practically, the ap-
pOintments Of assista ms In the library has
been burden to me, and full Of difficulties
and annoyances The whole question is
an important and delicate one. The rules
OF the Civil Service Commission should be
had in mind The choice, from an indis-
criminate list of applicants is attended with
added difficulties and dangers.
THE sENATE's ACTION.
You remember that the manner OF ap.
pointment OF a register of copyright wasthe
question which proved an obstacle TO the
NEtillOH Dl tidt department dt tHt iaSI
session OF Congress. The great lawyers
in the Senate got into disagreement oyer
the problem. AS II was near the close Of
the session the bill was allowed to go over,
although itwa : agrcedthat the great burden
OF the copyright department ought to bc
removed from my shoulders at the earliest
possible moment
DO you think the plan 20 have the as
sistant executive made by the committee
ON recommendation and approval OF the
librarian-in-chief, the registrar Of copy
right and the custodian Of the building
would work weIl?'
"On the prima facic statement. | am
inclined to think 1t would. but it might
not. Only practical triai Of it, think.
Would derterminc. The similar officer in
the British Museum IS nsMod 10y three trus-
tees upon III IninatioRhy the librarian.
After some further discussion OF appoint
inents, Mr.. Spcfford gave place to Supt
Bernard X. Green, who is in charge of the
completion Of TIE building. He was asked
as to the estimates for the care OF the
building and the appointment OF the en-
ployes for that purpose. He said the Gus
todian should lie a man of high class, who
would watch carefully every po.nt-by a
stitch in time save the building from de
terioration ann, prevent the necessity OF
extensive repairs.
WOULD SAVE MONEY
lie would save many times the Sala ry that
would he paid him. although that should
he generous. lie thought Custodians or
dinarily employed Were not up to the
mark he would set. but it would hc wise to
pay more ana secure a fully competent man
He thought public buildings in Washington
were ordinarily not wei! cared for, and
there was good deal OF loss and waste in
consequence.
In answer 10 a suggestion by Mr. Quigg
he said he thought the plan of appointing
the subordinate employees by the Gus
todian under the supervision of the com
mittee or some other authority would be
most satisfactory.
1T has been the policy of Congress-
said Mr. Quigg, to retain the control of
its own servants and not hand them ever
to a Civil Service Commission or any other
body. But we want some sort of control
of the natter without handing the whole
thing over to barter between several
hundred Congressman. We do not, on the
other hand, want to leave to one man, the
custodian or anybody else the power 10
make these appointments ut his own sweet
will. Now, do you think that the appoint
ment OF these employers under the super
vision of this committee would give the
best results?'
The answer was favorable to that plan,
but was qualified at considerable length
by statements based upon Mr.. Green's ex-
pericnce in his present work.
Mr.. Green was also asked at considerable
length in regard TO the use to be made OF
watchn.en, ,laborcrs, etc. He said he thought |
lie could secure messengers for less money |
than was usually paid by the government,
but he supposed $50 a month might be al |
lowed To go. There would ne messenger |
in addition to the list given by Mr.. Spot |
ford.
The questions of lights, fuel, etc, was |
then taken up, and Mr.. Green said the |
estimates Of $50 900 for the year was |
ba sed upon figures from the State, War and |
Navy building. The building had Il big |
coal cellar SO that enough fuel could be put |
N at once. There would be no need of |
putting in coal frequently and making a lit |
ter about the place, as Is often the case at |
the Capitol itself,
NOT FIT FOR INAUGURATION.
Mr.. Green further gave his opinion in |
regard TO cost and character of furniture. |
He said there would be about $50 600 left |
Of the appropriation for constructing the |
library after everything was completed |
and all bills paid. This might be used for |
furnishing and for expense OF removal.
He reminded the committee in concluding |
hat they had three floors above the cellar |
for use The basement rooms were well |
lighted and ur.long the most seryiceable in |
he building.
Upon Il question from Mr.. Wetmore as to
he use of the reading room for the inaugural
,all he said he hoped no such use would be
attempted. In the center the floor is raised
above the level in the remain
ier: also, il would be very considerable
labor to remove the fixtures now in the
i