The Colorado statesman., 1923-02-17

lHt Alull.
For a great many years various or
ganizatlons of the country, scholars.
research men, and persons patrlotical-
ly inclined, have been urging congress
to take means to preserve for all time
the historic papers which Uncle Sam
owns. These papers are invaluable for
research purposes, to say nothing of
their sentimental value. Some of these
archives have escaped damage by fire
on several occasions only by the
prompt action of government en-
ployees and the fire department.
Congress always has recognized the
danger to the documents and always
has been ready to say they should be
saved. While money in the past was
generally Forthcoming for other struc-
lures less important from a historic
and sentimental point of view, the plea
of economy has prevented action to
save these priceless records of the
past.
All Archives In One Building.
Every winter students men who in.
tend to write articles or exhaustive
histories. come TO Washington to con-
suit the records. They are compelled
to go hither and yon to find what they
want. Some things are In the Congress
sional library, others in the War de-
partment, others in the library of the
Navy department and others in this
department and that department. The
plan Is, IL the archives building meas
archives together and to place them in
the new building where they will be
catalogued and made accessible under
proper conditions TO the seeker after
information-and all this in absolutely
fireproof surroundings.
1t may be that the original copy of
the Declaration ofNIndependence, which
is accounted the most valuable of all
the governments paper or parch-
ment possessions. will be kept
where it is today, in a corner
building. 1t is said that the Declara-
tion will be safe where 1t is now
even If the building in which the vault
is located should be destroyed by fire.
Whatever is done with the Declara-
ton, 1t is certain that all the other
records and archives, except the
modern ones in almost daily use, will
be moved to the new building.
The Declaration of Independence Is
shown only. on the rarest of occasions,
Light affects ink, and it is said there
are evidences of fading. A fac-simile
of the Declaration is on public view al.
most constantly.
Within the keeping of the govern.
ment are letters, orders, and communi
cations of various kinds concerning all
the wars and greater peace activities
in which the government has been en-.
gagged. There are documents OF
Colonial times, of Revolutionary wal
times, of early days of the established
republic, of the times of the Seminole
the Mexican, the Civil, the Spanish
and the World wars. The autographs
attached to these letters If placed al
public auction would bring a fairly
staggering sum of money. The govern
ment looks at these documents moi
only from the cash value viewpoint
but from that of the historic and sentf
mental.
Weeks Resents Insult to Harbord.
The statement of Secretary of Wal
Weeks to the effect that congress ha.
offered an insult to Major Genera
Harbord. to the government and tt
the United States by recent legisla
tive action, has aroused considerable
feeling in Washington, the preponder
ance of which, at least seemingly, Ii
charged with sympathy tor what the
secretary had to say.
| The house of representatives amend
| ed the army appropriation bill in sucf
way as to deny retirement pay tt
Mai. Gen. james G., Harbord, who
upon leaving the active service after
40 years of labor therein, became
president of the Radio Corporation OF
| America.
/ The reason that the house took Thu
action was because General Harbort
| is to draw some pay from the company
| for his work, and members of tho
house said that some time the cor
poration might have dealings with tht
government, and therefore the intima
ton was that the general might us'
, his personal influence with the govern
ment authorities to secure some priv
ileges for the corporation.
General Harbord commanded the
second division of the American troop!
in one of the most brilliant campaigni
in the war. Later he served as tn,
director of the service of supplies II
France, a service upon which th'
armies depended for everything which
was necessary for operations, food
munitions, and all the things that Lie
between. His record is what some one
has called monumental one. This Is
perhaps beside the mark in connec
IL. Ia hnnra dnrnn Is