The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-27

sents, and There Is Likely to BE
Trouble Ahead For the New Lii
brarian Unless He Has Lots of Pa
thence and Tact-New Duties VIII
Keep Him Busy.
If Mr.. Putnam. the newly appointed IL
h arian OF congress. had realized the
troubles that are ahead OF him. 1t is likely
that he would have persisted In his re-
fusal to accept the place He has been
pushed into 1t, against his own tnclina-
ton. by the National Library association
which is anxious TO control the manage
ment of Uncle Sans book collection
This association consists of librarians llt-
erary folks and reformers, who hold pc
riodical conventions and arrive at conclu-
sIons as to how libraries should be run
Congress. on the other hand. Is emphat-
ically opposed to any such Interference
from outside. and hence a very vigorous
fight has been going on for some time.
Congress as body looks upon the IL
brary as peculiarly its own and for Its
particular use. 1t refuses to regard the
collection as belonging to the public, or as
a national library In the ordinary sense
This may be wrong or right. but 1t is the
fact. Congress is Jealous of the library
and 1t resents the efforts of the associa-
ton to put its finger into that pie, con-
siderins the attempt gross impertinence.
1t carries this feleing so far, indeed, that
many members think the president ought
not TO have the right to nominate the
librarian. and that this prerogatve
should belong to congress alone.
Nevertheless, the organization referred
to is represented In congress by few
very influential members, such as Aoar,
Lodge and Reed. and it is they who have
secured the appointment of Mr.. Putnam.
He comes in as the library association S
man, and the situation seems pregnant
with mischief; To begin with, his confir-
partly because his hesitation to accept
the place has not been relished by many
representatives and senators, who enter
tam high estimate of the honor at
taching 10 the librarianship. Next, there
Will be fight over the question of rails
Ing his salary $1,000, to equal the Sc, 900 he
received In Boston-an advance which is
understood to be promised him by Sena-
tors Lodge and Hoar.
II Mr. Putnam tmagines that he Is COM
ing to Washington to take care of books
ne Is largely mistaken, for that will be
minor branch of his work His chief bus
mess will be to attend to applications for
employment. 1t is no exaggerauon to
say that nearly one-half of his time will
be taken up in receiving visits from sena-
tors and representatives who want jobs
for their friends, and in answering let
tiers containing similar appeals. The IL
brary is considered by the members gen
orally to be as much a part of congress
as the committee rooms In the capitol,
and they choose to take an active part
in Its management. There Is not one of
them who will not consider that he has
a right to question the librarians small
est executive act. How different from
Boston, where the trustees of the public
library have never thought OF approach
ing Mr.. Putnam otherwise than with
Difference.
The library of congress is the only big
government institution outside of the civ
II service. In 1t are 1873 salaried places,
more or less. we'll paid, and for these,
now on the file 5000 applications. Per-
haps there are some incompetents among
the 1873, and Mr.. Putnam may wish to get
rid Of them. Let him try to do SO at
is backed by. a senator or an influential
member, and Mr.. Putnam will have a
row on his hands at once. The senator
or representative, Of course, considers
lishment and will be quick to resent any
attempt to bounce his protege.
Meanwhile, Mr., Putnam will devote
much Of his attention to the applications
and Endorsements Of scrubwomen. What
ever he does he cannot get away from
the patronage problem. At his home, as
well as at his office. he will be heset con-
women will weep for Jobs. and there will
be no rest for him. This was the sort
Of thing that broke John Russell Young
down. Vacancies can only be made by
dismissed viii Immediately proceed to
make trouble. The ex-employe is sure
to know enough about the inside work
ings Of the library to bring plausible
charges Of maladministration. and his
representative or senator Is very likely to
back them up.
Mr.. Putnam's success as librarian Of
congress will depend not upon his abil-
ity to manage the book collection, but
upon the tact he uses IN dealing With
congressman. On no account must he Of
fend them, for to do SO would be ruinous
and If he will not do what they wish,
they will want to know the reason why.
Especially must. he be agreeable to sena-
tors. for the upper house has more con-
has the lower, and is more interested In
It. Though all money bills originate In
the house of representatives. the appro-
s4s a0nss by fSr tbs the a6as 0ay Fs really sener
but take offense at anything, and he Will
coolly proceed to apply the torture to Mr.
Putnam-the peine forte .dure, as un-
derstood In legislative procedure.
The offended senator will start the per.
formance by introducing a resolution Of
inquiry respecting some matter having to
It may be merely a question as to what
disposition was made of $4,000 appropri-
ated for the purchase of books, with a
demand for list Of the volumes bought
a lot OF trouble, the books In question
numbering 20, 0,00o perhaps. Or perhaps the
resolution will demand a statement of
apportionment of appointments under the
librarian among the states. Whatever 1t
may be. 1t signifies annoyance. A resolu-
ton Of inquiry is something that senate
and house never fail to pass, because
members feel that measures Of the sort
magnify the Importance OF congress and
emphasize It's control over affairs. In
such ways. unless he is very much on his
guard, Mr., Putnam will be kept continu-
ally on q. hot griddle.
The ordinary routine duties OF the IL
brarian OF congress are sufficiently la
borious:. Under the direct charge are
reading room. the catalogue division, the
section Of maps and charts, the art de-
partment, the section of manuscripts, the
division. OF periodicals, and the depart
suits the chiefs of ell these departments
In regard to their respective lines of work.
and in the intervals Of letter-writting he
signs all kinds of papers. All applica-
expenditures come to him for indorse-
examine all new books before they are re
absorbed into the collection. In this way
makeup Of the immense assemblage OF
volumes in his charge.
Very. little will Mr.. Putnam have to do
with the actual management of the book
collection; he will have small time for
that. 1t will be part Of his work to look
over such recommendations for books to
be purchased as ere offered by Mr. Spot
dividuals. Meanwhile he will exercise a
general supervision over the preparation
OF the great catalogue of the library,
which cannot be completed within less
than twenty years, owing to the gigantic
character of the task 1t will comnriS a