The times., 1899-03-14
MR.. PUTNAM FOR LIBRARIAN.
The second appointment of n Suc-
cessor to John II. Young.

cc>sOr to John II. Young.
Prof. Herbert Putnam. of Boston. was
appointed Librarian of the Congress yes
terday afternoon by President Mckinley
to succeed the late John Russell Young
This appointment, coming as it does af-
ter the appointment OF Samuel June Bar
rows who failed to secure the confirma-
tion of the Senate and subsequently de-
clined a recess appointment is regarded as
being a very happy conclusion to what
was getting to be a somewhat unpleas-
ant situation.
Mr.. Putnam stands at the head of his
profession. He is a young man OF pro-
gressiye ideas and practical experience.
He Is the secretary of the American Libra
ry Association has been for nearly three
years the librarian of the Boston Public
Library, and served in a IKE capacity for
seven. years in the Minneapolis Public Lii
brary, and his administration in both
places attracted wide attention.
Mr.. Putnam, it is said, Will accept the
position to which he was appointed yes
terday although he refused to allow his
name to be considered when the appoint
ment of Mr.. Youngs successor was fiji st
under consideration. He was led to de-
cline, it is understood. on question of
| salary. his present position as the head of
the Boston Library paying him Sc 900 a
! year. while the salary of the Librarian OF
Congress is but $1,000.
The name of Mr.. Putnam was one of the
first TO be laid before the President, and
his peculiar fitness for the place was urged
by both the Massachusetts Senators and
by many others, who were anxious to sse
meritorious appointment. The activity
OF Mr.. Barrows in urging his own appoint
| ment is understood to have caused tie
| trouble. He addressed communication
| to MIR. Putnam. asking his opinion in re-
| gard to the salary of the position. To this
Mr.. Putnam replied that in his opinion it
was too small. This statement was made
! kLHvn to the President, after which Mr.
| Putnam felt that he could not consistently
accept the place. Just before the name OF
! Mr. BarroYs was sent in, however, the
combined Efforts of the Massachusetts del
| eeation had prevailed on Mr.. Putnam TO
reverse his decision, but this was done too
late. as a definite promise had been given
to Mr.. Barrows.
! II is generally understood by those who
know the inside history of the Barrow.
controversy. after his name went to the
Senate. that this final decision OF Mr.. Put
nam was what caused his nomination to
be hung up in the Library Committee and
his final failure of confirmation.
| In an executive session of the Senate
held just one hour before the final adjourn
ment of Congress the whole matter was
discussed. both Senators Hoar and Lodge
| making speeches in which they said that
while there was no personal feeling against
Mr.. BarrOws, much better man for the
place could be secured if his appointment
were not confirmed
The appointment is secured by Mr.. Put
nam without his solicitation and from
NE HI fbpl. ~ aEaI-
ure an entirely new regime is in store for
the Congressional Library
Mr.. Putnam was born in New York about
fOrty-two years ago. He Is connected with
the family of the wellknown publishers,
c. Z. Putnam's Sons. After his gradua-
tion from Harvard in 1888 he studied law
in New York and then went to Minneapolis
and Immediately became connected with
the public library in that city, and soon
became its head. He proved remarkably
successful as library manager, and the
size of the library was increased under
his administration from 1000 TO nearly
$4,000 volumes.
For social and family reasons Mr.. Put
nam left Minneapolis after service of
seven years in library work in that place
He went to Boston and for. three years
practiced law in that city. when he was
besought by the trustees of the Boston
library to become its head He has been
entirely successful in that position, and
the EaHLa Public Library is now consid
cred the best in the country. having nearly
700. 900 volumes. AS the manager OF this
library. Mr. Putnam has been fearless and
independent. He has succeeded through
his method OF appointing employees in Sc
curing experts in all departments. To ac-
complish this he has taken the matter in
his own hands and made the appointments
solely on demonstrated ability without re-
gard to political influence. In speaking
not long since on what should be the
qualifications OF the administrator of the
Congressional Library, Mr. Putnam said:
He should be predominantly the man
of affairs of the Library rather than the
man of books. At the same time it is
quite Indispensable that he should know
enough of the literary side of the Library,
of photography, etc. to appreciate inteiii-
gently the needs of the several depart
ments of specialized work.
While Mr., PutEam may meet some oppo-
stion in carrying out a fearless admins
tration. and especially in making appoint
ments it Is believed that he will succeed
in the end in securing a corps of assistants
who by their work will fully justify his
course and greatly enlarge the usefulness
of the Library.