The morning times., 1897-02-28

Mr. Green is an engineer and has been
connected with the erection of the build
ing, and both publicly and privately, it S
frequently said, has appropriated TO hinl-
self the architectural authorship of the
plans upon which il was erected. 1t seems,
however that in his lecture his baShfulGeSs,
heretofore mentioned as one OF his at
tributes, prevented him from declaring
again his artistic achievement in this par
ticuIar
1t is true that recently Mr. Smithmeyer
and Mr.. PelZ, architects, presented 10 the
world some CoSent suggestions on this sub
jeCt, to the effect that the plans were
theirs, and some evilTninGed person might
think that this had something TO do with
Mr.. Green's recent silence as to himself
in that connection and that it was the
cause OF his abdiCation in favor OF his
young friend, the son of the late Gen.
Casey, Of whom only he spoke in his
lecture as tie architect. This view seems
erroneous. Modesty, 1t would appear. or
generosity, actuated him, and it seems
but right that his full merits. as hereto
fore Known TO himself. should not he
lost sight of by his admiring fellow-Citi-
Zens and, therefore, he is now paraded with
all his decorations on.
Mr Green was lifted to the control OF
the building, near its completion, by the
sudden death of Gen. Casey, on March %,
1896, who had heretofore been in charge,
succeeding Mr Smithmeyer October 2,
1883.
In statement made by Mr.. Green be-
fore the Joint Committee on the Library,
November 20, 1896, in answer to the
question, "were Smithmeyer' plans used?''
he said:
Only in general way Their plans
were used as a basis for the new plans
which we made"
Representative Quigg You made
tbem?"
Mr.. Green They were made in the
office, under Gen. Caseys and my own
direction, in the first two months. be-
tween October 2 and November 23, 1898 ~
Subsequently, evidently feeling that the
committee had done him an injustice in
compelling him, by cross examination to
even mention the plans of Messrs. Smith
meyer and PeIz, in his annual report to
Congress, dated December Z, 1896, he
says:
None OF the plans, drawings or de-
signs, made prior TO Gen. Casey's charge
Of the work, have been used, all being
new and different
Now, that every atom OF Justice due
Mr. Green may be insured, it must not be
overlooked that these statements Were
made after the hand of death bad sealed
the mouth of Gen. Casey. But to proceed
The inscription on the tablet now in the
building, stating who are it's archit ects,
was prepared by Gen. Casey himself; the
manuscript from which it was carved was
written by his own hand.
He there declares the architects to be
John L. Smithmeyer, Paul j. Pelz'' and
his own young son.
1t would unmistakably appear from this
that, through MIR. Green's uuobtrusive-
ness, no doubt, even Gen. Casey was un-
aware OF Mr.. Green's authorship of the
plans by Which the building was erected,
and It seems equally clear that Nj. Green
did not call this interesting fact TO the
Generals attention. nor was official
proclamation made OF it until after Gen
Casey'S death.
The general was clearly also unaware
that he shared Mr.. Green's nonors as
architect Of the building. The tablet, it
is suggested, prepared by the general,
would indicate this. But if it were OBJ
scure on this point, the generals frank
confession before the Senate committee
to Senator Allison-''I ar not a bit more
of an architect than yos are''-tends
strongly, even cOnclusiyely it is diff