The morning times., 1897-02-28

the designs of the architectural character
istics and features of the building for
the Library of Congress, both exterior and
interior, have to state that your services
will no longer be required
The object of the sons employment was
in connection with the painting and other
surface decoration of an allied character.
Many men have such occupation and are
called decorators
These little circumstances show how
completely Mr.. Green's desi gnation of the
generals son as the architect, as well
as the fatherly act of the general in plac-
ing him on the tablet as such, was ex
gratia and not de Jure.
Uncharitable people might say that Mr..
Green was deeply imbued with the truth
in, and advantages from adherence to, the
proverb: Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis
iuily to he wise calling to mind that
when he was asked on November 20, 1896,
by Mr.. Quigg; Have you got in your pos
session the original papers submitted to
Congress by Mr.. Smithmeyer?' he replied;
The records are meager. / do not know
what drawings were submitted, only that
the law refers to a plan submitted to a
committee, and I do not think it is in my
Office
Uncharitable people would base their
unjust suspicious on the vast difference
between the limited knowledge Of its
architectural history had by Mr.. Green,
WHO was connected with the erection of
the building under Gen. Casey, and the
fun knowledge had by others not so blest
with opportunity.
One Of the expert architects, on the
witness stand in the Court of Claims tIiaf
in 1889 in response to the question, Have
you seen any plans or rdrawngspreparedb by
this firm for the construction of what
ig l-,,n, hn Con iTyto I lrHr
building?" said: "Yes, sir; l saw a lot
of drawings yesterday, some in the Capitol
building and some in an office upon the
grounds OF the Library building" An
other expert, in answer to the question,
"State whether or not your attention has
been called TO the plans and drawings
prepared by MeSSrs. Smithmeyer and Pelz
for the construction of the Congressional
Library building in Washington" said:
Il have been shown very large lot OF
drawings for that building"
Question. Prepared by Messrs. Smith
meyer and Pelz?'
Answer. Prepared by Messrs. Smith
meyer and PelZ.'
Question. Where We're they?''
Answer. Those thatI saw were at the
office OF the Library, on Capitol Hill, and
l saw some in the Committee room of the
| Library at the Capitol"
| Still another witness, referring to the
| Snithmeyer and PelZ plans, said: Il saw
| the plans in the office of the architect OF
| the library building"
Question. When"
Answer This morning."
Question. The plans for the differ
| ent designs of the building?'
| Answer. Yes, SIR
Question. do you remember about how
many designs there were?"
| Answer. About a dozen, think"
Question. do you remember about
| how many drawings there were?"
| Answer. Il was told there were about
| hundred or a little over
| Question. do you judge that was cor
| rect?'
Answer "I judge so, from the ap-
| pearance of the pIans. L could not ex-
actly say without counting them."
And, further, this witness said in-regard
to the same plans:
II consider that the number of designs
| prepared for that building would far moIS
| than overbalance any omission in the way
! Of specification. 1t is very unusual to
/ prepare SO many different designs for one
| building and to prepare them in such a
| complete manner as those were prepared. -
| And, finally, Mr.. Ainsworth r. Spofford
| Librarian, closely associated with thela bors
| since 1878, which have resulted in tins
| building, was examined before the joint
! Committee on Library, on November 2
| 1896, the day after Mr. Green made his
/ statement. Representative QUigg, re.
| ferring to the act of 1896, directing the
| erection of the building by the plans OF
| Messrs. Smithmeyer and Pelz, said:
Now. before that was adopted, the
| Smithmeyer plans were in the hands ol
| the Committee2"