New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-17
SCAN EXPENSE LISTS.
LIBRARY QUESTION UP.
Controller Trace1ceU Says Appro-
priations Often Are DiUerted.

Washington Feb. l6-In its preparation of the
legislative Executive and Judicial Appropriation
bill. the House Committee on APPROPRIATIONS is
making a close canvass of the necessity for prac-
ticaly every item asked for by the various de-
partments OF the government, and an estimate made
by the Librarian OF Congress for $4,000 TO erect a
separate building in the court OF the Horary-a
stack for the storage OF newspapers-has aroused
some interest The Librarian has explained that
the rapid advance in the making Of books and
newspapers is filling the mammoth building much
more rapidly than its designers anticipated. so
that the time when II Will be filled to its capacity
is not far distant.
An alternative proposition has been set forth,
which is 10 build one stories of the news
paper stack at first and as the space is required.
extend it upward Whether this will be accepted
by the committee has not been indicated.
The committee. under the lead of Chairman Taw-
ney. endeavored to ascertain from Bernard r.
Green the custodian. the necessity for what was
characterized the large expenditure for the care
of the library
To ascertain just how much time Mr.. Green gives
TO the work at the library. Mr.. Tawney asked the
direct question.
~ cannot answer that except to say that am
employed ali the time answered Mr.. Green.
You the architect employed in the construo-
ton of the National Museum buildngT asked Mr.
Tawney.
Il doing that as general contractor for the
government. I have been in the business so
long that I do business for Unce Sam in that
You get extra compensation for that and
above your salary?'
Il get $4,000 year for that
DO you Go work for outside parties IN add
ton TO that2'
To this Nj Green replied that sometimes he
did when his friends wanted him help them.
Just he engaged in that capacity with
regard to the construction of addition to the
Raleigh Hotel. in this city.
Did you not also superintend the construction
Of fha Man yilor IJofa Slra6N ~ Tox
Il did look after It for the owners. They are
friends of mine. I have not time TO do business
Of that sort regularly TO make business of II,
but
Are you employed as superintendent of
struetion of the State Capitol at Harrisburg
Penn ?" INTERCEPTED MIR. Tawney
mo. sir I simply acted a general adviser
TO the commission I simply went to their meet
ings a month";
In addition your salary you compen-
stated for your work that you do outsider"
Yes; get something for it,
MR. TAwNEY INsIsTENT.
Later on in the hearing. Mr.. Tawney reverted to
the Harrisburg work. and asked: What compen-
sation did you receive for that service?"
That is private matter" responded Mr.. Green.
but have no hesitation in telling you I received
$4,000 year and my travelling expenses. People
come TO me once in while TO answer question
professionally, and I sometimes do it. I am not
engaged in supplying anything of that sort.
have too much else TO do. have worked for the
government all my life"
What he got on the National Museum. Mr. Green
later said, he considered bagatells in comparison
with the services rendered. The work at Harris
burg. he said, ended; that it had lasted
three years
Taking up the total amount asked for the custody
and care OF the library buildings. Mr.. Tawney
stated that II was. in round numbers, 700 for
the year. IT figure that" he continued, as about
$40 per OF the original the building.
] also ascertained from an examination Of the ap-
preparation bills that for the sort of work
snd the same sort of service that you perform
ing for the maintenance and care of the Capitol
building. which is twice the OF the library. the
cost is only $500 and this is old building need
ing constant repairs
Mr. Green took issue with Mr. Tawney that the
Capitol was twice the size of the library. He then
went into details 10 the work his corps Of as
sistants performed and said he could not figure
out how the estimates were TO be reduced.
That there is a constant tendency on the part OF
the government departments 10 divert appropria-
tons made by Congress fer one purpose to some
other end has just been testified TO before the
committee by Controller TraceweI. of the Treas
ury Department. What Mr.. Tracewell said was in
answer 10 questions by Chairman Tawney of the
committee.
The colloquy follows
Mr. Tawney-Mr. Tracewell. Controller Of the
Treasury, YOU closely in touch with the ex-
penditUres of al! appropriations made by Congress
for the public service?
Mr. Traceweil-Every day in the year
You have been the Controller how long?"
Eight years the last o: last July"
During that time have you had occasion TO OBJ
serve in practice whether not the officers in the
departments are disposed TO divert appropriations
from the purposes foE which they are made and
apply appropriations to purposes other than those
There have been a considerable number of in
stances. I compelled TO answer Yes
SAYS FUNDS ARE TRANSFERRED.
The Controller then explained that when errors OF
this kind reached him he endeavored to make trans
fers so that the proper funds should be applied.
but when this was imposs Bile he disallowed the pay
nent and Their Congress had 10 be applied TO for
an allowance to meet the deficiency. When asked
by Mr. Tawney if ell of these cases reached him
Mr.. Traeewen replied;
Il know that great many Of them do not Even
with my six experts I can only examine out
am guessing but think that fair guess
Mr. Tawney-so your limited opportunities have
e on you dn % Dee mat 'ere Is more OF less OF mat
~ am absolutely certain
Justfying his recommendation that auditors in
the various departments should all be officers of the
Treasury, Mr. Tracewell made the point that Il
was only human nature for an auditor TO be sub
ject 10 the influence of his immediate superior.
the department in which he is employed His own
His decisions had been questioned from fifteen TO
twenty times since he had been Controller.
Mr. Lttauer-And has pressure been brought to
bear YOU 10 change your opinion?
Yes sir. am inclined 10 think so. 1 have never
Mr. Tracewen explained that he employs six ex-
pert accountants Who were assigned by HIM to the
examiner proceeds 10 the examination of the books
of a bank TO keep a check on the auditors of the
various departments This system he advocated as
decidedly important.
Il think last year" he continued. they took up
something over AIS accounts. which withdrawn
from the files Of the various auditors and examined
such examinations. where substantial violations of