Evening star., 1924-12-31

At the close of a year-fscal or
calendar-it is customary for business
men to take an inventory OF stock
and TO note its condition. If the
Government were to follow that prac-
tice today, il would find millions of
dollars worth-or property on which
it would be impossible to set an ap-
praised value-scattered about, un-
insured and uninsurable, with most
appalling fire hazards threatening it,
and with much-needed Office space en-
numbered uselessly by it. 1t is in
conceivable, according to many Off
cials who know the conditions, that
the public, and especially Congress,
realizes the situation regarding the
priceless records of the Government.
An annual. review of the situation
therefore is timely.
Even from the standpoint of true
history, the Importance of preserva-
tion of public records needs to be
emphasized. A few weeks ago a
son, was seeking through the archives
Of the French government for data
regarding certain phase of French
history when he accidentally un-
earthed the original reports from
America during the Revolution, sent
by the first minister plenipotentiary
from France to her ally, the United
States. These reports from Minister
Alexander Gerard de Rayneval to
Premier Vergennes prove that he was
here to spy out the actual conditions
and to hold the struggling colonies
from making peace with England
lest by that peace the interests Of
France might be imperiled. The
Gerard records had been lost for a
century and half; they throw i'm
portant light on American history,
not furnished by American archives.
But what other truths are still hid
in American records cluttered in
boxes, heaped in attics or crowded
unindexed in dark corners of offices?
X X X X
It is not merely from the stand-
point of history that officials are con-
cerned over the conditions of con-
fusion and neglect and fire risk sur
rounding Government documents and
reports. These data are OF meal
culable Importance, according to the
heads of all the departments, in safe
guarding the financial and political
interests of the Nation. Furthermore
they are occupying valuable space
in departments which is greatly
needed for the workers. They must
not be destroyed, yet in most cases
they are not referred to in years
but when needed they are indis-
pensable.
For example, the Attorney General
reports:
'.It is a regrettable fact that many
ing back to 1890, are stored in old
| wooden boxes. Most Of the papers
| in connection with the recent war
will probably, in years to come, be
of great value"
How are the war records stored?
They are largely in Temporary
Building E." which Is rated as SLOW
| burning" because it has concrete
stairs and floors. But how slow
laden with wooden files filled with
papers in paper cases? Yet these
are the original records OF every
soldier in the war, as kept by his
officers, showing his efficiency and
his service. Here are the data on which
the wounded are given compensation.
Here Is the official story of his su-
perior officer, of the heroism of the
boy who penetrated No Mans Land
to bring back to the safety of the
trench his wounded comrade who
| the top. what price glory" shall be
put upon those fire-imperiled records?
| u II y
! Seventy. per cent Of the records of
the Internal Revenue Bureau, on
! which income taxes, inheritance
| taxes, estate taxes are assessed, are
| In temporary" wooden .'tinder
| boxes" All the census records-ex-
cept what were burned up a few
years ago in a fire in the Depart
lment Of Commerce Building, are now