The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-25

Is no library in the world that, In my judgment
furnishes such facilities, such proTptness and such
convenience as the Congressional Library of the
United stnseS2
Mr.. PERKINS added that the Congress
spends on worthless seed and the sending
of it to folks who don't want 1t more than
half what it expends on the Library; and
that it spends much more than the $780,
600 given to that Library-spends "be-
tween one and two millions of dollars in
printing worthless documents which no
nan will take off our hands,"
The Iowa regulator ~reproached Mr..
PERKINS with being a scholar and an
author:
can see why gentlemen OF his llk. the scholars
Of the land. the men who are engaged In literary
work. who are year after year making It necessary
to have a large library building to hold the volumes
that they thrust upon an unsuspecting public
tlaughterl-why that class OF gentry should desire
this library to be maintained. ! nnd that the gen.
tleman regards II as a matter much TO his credit.
because II Is inserted In his biography. which he
himself, I suppose. kindly edited. that he is the
author OF a largo number OF publications. Laugh
teri OF course he is In favor OF libraries. He wants
some depository for them, and he wants the assist
ance OF these trained men. who know Just where to
put their hands on q volume, to help him prepare
these books. I take II that many an employee Of
this building helps literary gentlemen to original
articles by knowing Just where TO put their hands
on them in the shelves. lLaughter.l That class
OF men are especially In favor of the library"
The regulator protested that he was
not hostile to the library, but he did not
want an entire regiment Of the friends
and proteges Of this man PUTNAM to be
foisted upon the roll"
The Hon. CHARLES EDGAR LITTLE
FIELD, an industrious reader, who uses the
library to quite a large extent, agreed
with Mr.. PERKINS as to its excellent
management under this man PUTNAM:
am not an expert on the matter as to what a
librarian should be, but so far as my personal ex-
perlence goes ! want to say that the of1cial force
In the library has treated every member OF this
House with all consideration, and that we have
ample opportunity for investig alton so far as they
have the books on hand. The force is able. compe.
tent, faithful and enicient. This is no doubt due
to the care and management of the Librarian, He
should be given proper credit therefor"
The real cause of complaint against
this man PUTNAM was perhaps disclosed
earlier in the discussion:
N LIrTAUER-The force connected with the
institution Is appointed without reference to civil
service rules. We made a thorough examination
into how that force was appointed, and how pro-
motions took place In the force. and the general con-
dition Of the administration. We found that out
OF some $50 appointments made by the present
Librarian. more than three. quarters Of them, l67
in number, were appointed without even a letter
Of recommendation from either a Senator or q
Representative.
Mr.. GRosvBNoR-I would like to ask from what
STATES they were appointed. and did you hnd out
how many were Endorsed by two certain Senators
from the New England StatesG
NJ LITIAuER-We went Into the matter thor
oughly- We did not go into the matter OF how
many were Endorsed by any particular Senator.
pointed by the present Librarian, were appointed
without any reference TO any recommendation
either by a member OF this House or a member Of
the other body"
Clearly. this man PUTNAM has the
usual damned literary feller's" tendency
to disregard the recommendations of
statesmen with constituents in search of
a soft snap