New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-21
Az ABSURD AND CRUEL CHARGE.
CONGRESS- AND NOT Mr. sPoFFoRD. REsPoN-
sIBLE FOR THE DEPIoRABLE STATE OF
TILE NATIONS Library.

THE NATIONS LIBRARY.
known for years how riggardy and utterly In
adequate have been the yearly appropriations ior
the Library Of Congress. how faithfully Librarian
Spofford has set forth the resulting conditions
from year 10 year, and how actively ana persist
emily he has urged In official reports and by per-
sonal appeals that adequate appropriations oe
made to remedy a state OF affairs which every
Intelligent legislator In Congress has recognized
and which none deplored deeply as Librarian
Spofrord himself will not be likely to sympathize
with tho attacks made upon him In the House oi
Representatives yesterday.
More than thirty years ago President ihhooh
appointed him to the place which he now occu-
pies and Congress before him the task OF
making bricks without either straw or sufficient
and proper tools and has since continued 10 re-
fuse TO provide either. For the existing conditions
OF the Library which could not be more deplorape'
let It again be said Congress Is solely responsioe'
No fraction of that responsibility rests upon the
shoulders of Mr.. Spofford. who Is everywhere rec
ognized az one OF the most faithful and accom-
plishcd librarians and intelligent and capaoie
library administrators In the United States.
For more than thirty years additional accom-
modations had been provided for the rapidly grow
Ing collection Of books. pamphlets. maps charts' e'c'
which had outgrown the quarters now occupied az
least twenty years ago. and Il was only atter more
than dozen years or the most 1iitnlu pate"t' P''
ssten, and energetic effort the part OF Senator
Morrill, General Garfield. Mr. Reed and a few other
broadmnded and farseeng statesmen in Congress
OF whom did not live to see the fruion OF their
desires and enor;s-that Congress reluctantly con-
scented TO authorize the construction Of the new ana
magnificent building which has just BEEN competed.
In the mean lime Congress. content with Its re-
fusal TO make adequate appropriations for the proper
care and administration OF the library. piled new
and heavy burden upon Its head by requiring nm
to register all copyrights and collect ana receipt
for copyright fees account OF all new books maps
charts, musical compositions pictures. ETC. published
issued In the United States. whenever copyrigh;
was demanded. This was burden that grew with
startling rapidly and in few years literally
swampel the Librarian and his small corps OF as
10 do but also the task Of caaogung and caring for
two copies OF each copyrighted publication. which the
law requires 10 be deposited in the Library OF Con-
gress
Among the complaints made in the course Of the de-
bate yesterday were that nobody knows to-day what
the Library actually contains and that no she'll lists
or inventory have been prepared. Why? Owing 70
lack OF space II has been physically mpossble-aside
from lack Of socent force for which Congress alone
arrange shelves otherwise a; leas; one-seventh
and probably two-sevenths OF this magnificent coiec
ton OF books. pamphlets. manuscripts. newspapers
maps charts. etc. few years ago the late DR..
Toner Of Washington presented to the Government
valuable and Interesting collection comprising thou
sands Of hooks pamphlets. e;c.-;he collection o,
long fetime-and the best and only place that could
be found 10 bestow ii room In the crypt or the
Capitol. into which daylight never penetrate.
obtain and many other dark roms for the storage
OF other portions of the collection In his charge. and
In the .ibrary-rooms themselves he has been
compelled to pile thousands OF volumes on the floors
ard the ratings OF the galleries. To charge him
with ''ncompetency' under such circumst ances
no, only cruel but absurd. The wonde- is
he has succeeded In doing no, LITTLE but SO
much and we'll with the inadequate space and in
sufficient force placed at his disposal by Congress.