Lapas attēli
PDF
ePub

later relieved, of the classification also; and consider that all the above work was to be pursued and achieved upon collections in current use, without interruption of this: and if the resultant impression be not an adequate measure of the task itself it will at least be indicative of the qualities which it called for on the part of Mr. Hanson and his associates. It is, of course, with profound reluctance that we view his departure, his relinquishment of a work fundamental and farreaching in its consequences to this library and wide reaching in its service to libraries in general. The opportunity now offered him, however, in a position more generally administrative in character, and at a higher salary, is one that he could not be asked to forego.

The changes in minor positions during the year have reached about the same number as formerly, with the usual loss to our service and corresponding gain to that of some other library.

Appendix VI gives the names of all employees in the Library proper and Copyright Office as of October 1, 1910, and in the case of employees appointed under the present administration (i. e., since April 5, 1899) a memorandum of their education and experience at the date of appointment.

On two separate occasions an interest in this has been expressed in the form of resolutions introduced in Congress calling for information. The first such resolution, introduced in the House on January 26, 1906, was as follows:

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the Librarian of Congress be requested to furnish to the House of Representatives a statement giving the names of all employees now in the Library of Congress and on its pay roll, date of appointment, the actual residence of each employee at the time appointed, and the names of all persons who recommended the appointment of each employee. Also to state briefly what special training for library work, or for the particular position occupied,

each employee had at the time of appointment; also to state what, if any, examinations have been made testing the ability and fitness of applicants before appointed. The second, introduced in the Senate on April 30, 1910, covered less ground. It read:

Resolved, That the Committe on the Library be directed to inquire into and report to the Senate at the earliest day practicable the number, compensation, and State of residence of each of the employees in the Congressional Library, and upon whose recommendation each employee has been appointed.

The House resolution of January 26, 1906, was referred to the House Committee on Reform in the Civil Service. The Senate resolution of April 30, 1910, was referred to the Senate Committee on the Library. Although apparently different in scope, each seemed to admit of an identical statement concerning the methods of appointment in the Library, and in particular the criteria upon which selections for the service are made. These are specified in the law itself (appropriation act approved February 19, 1897) which provides that the employees in the library service shall "be selected by the Librarian of Congress, by reason of special aptitude for the work of the Library, including the copyright work," and further, "that all persons employed in * * * said Library of Congress under the Librarian * shall be appointed solely with reference to their fitness for their particular duties."

*

The best evidence of compliance with the law seemed to be the qualifications in education and experience of the persons actually appointed under it. My response, therefore, to the House resolution of 1906 was accompanied by an exhibit setting forth these facts in the case of the then existing roll, so far as appointed during my administration. The exhibit was revised for the Library Committee of the Senate in connection with the Senate resolution of 1910, and is again revised to the date of October 1, 1910, for Appendix VI

herewith. As my first communication (of January 31, 1906) to the House committee, to which was referred H. R. 195, covered the ground generally, I quote it in full as part of the above appendix.

FINANCE

The table given below exhibits the appropriations and expenditures of the Library proper and of the Copyright Office for the fiscal year, and the appropriations for the year now current. Included also are the appropriations for the equipment and care of the building and grounds, expended by the Superintendent. The allotment for printing and binding (during the past year $202,000) is no included.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

a Includes balance from preceding year. Appropriation 1909 includes credits $505.97 on account of sales to government institutions. Appropriation 1910 includes $444.30 credits on account of sales to government institutions. Does not include $117.47 yet to be credited. Expenditures 1910 ($17,112.22) offset by subscriptions covered into the Treasury ($28,498.09). An indebtedness of $249.55 is to be paid when amounts due through sales to government institutions have been credited in full.

[blocks in formation]

• Exclusive of $1,5

for that body.

1,500 to be expended by the marshal of the Supreme Court for new books

f Includes credits of $31.46 on account of sales of stationery to Superintendent, Library building and grounds.

* Appropriation 1909 effective March 5-June 30, 1909. Appropriation 1910 effective December 1, 1909-June 30, 1910.

† Offset by fees covered into the Treasury ($104,644.95).

[blocks in formation]

a Appropriations include balance from preceding year.

Appropriations The appropriations for 1910 varied from those in the year preceding only in the following particulars:

Salaries (general service): General administration: Two stenographers and typewriters at $1,000 each (in place of 2 stenographers and typewriters, I at $1,200 and 1 at $720); a messenger boy at $360.

Reading Room: Two attendants (for gallery and alcoves) at $480 each.

Music Division: The salary of the chief of the division increased from $2,000 to $3,000 and of the chief assistant from $1,400 to $1,500.

Law Library: Salary of Law Librarian made $3,000 (covering the compensation of $500 for supervision of preparation of the new index to the Statutes at Large).

Copyright Office: Salary of Register of Copyrights increased from $3,000 to $3,500, and later (through the urgent deficiency act of Aug. 5, 1909, in compliance with a provision of the copyright act approved Mar. 4, 1909) to $4,000; salary of Assistant Register of Copyrights increased from $2,500 to $3,000; and the following additional positions: 1 at $1,800, 2 at $1,600 each, 2 at $1,000 each, 2 at $600 each, and a messenger boy at $360.

Carrier service: Two messengers at $40 per month each, to serve during the session of Congress and for services in connection with the House Office Building.

Index to the Statutes at Large: Phraseology of the item changed to read as follows: "For continuing the preparation of an index to the Statutes at Large of the United States, $10,000, to be expended by the Librarian of Congress for the salaries of the persons whom he employs to prepare the index and for incidental expenses; the scope, classification, and style of the index to be such as the Judiciary Committees of the two Houses of Congress shall direct or approve."

Building and grounds: The appropriation for furniture, etc., reduced from $40,000 to $25,000; and the balance ($200,000) of the fund ($300,000) in the appropriations for the fiscal year 1908–9 provided for the completion of the construction, mechanical equipment, electric lighting, and roofing of the stack of shelving for bound newspapers and books in the southeast court of the Library building.

The appropriations for 1910-11 include the following changes and additional provisions:

appropriations

Salaries (general service)-Reading Room: Stenographer Changes in and typewriter at $900, telephone operator at $600, 21910-11 assistants at $600 each (for new stack).

Carrier service: "For services in connection with the Senate and House Office Building $960 or so much thereof as may be necessary" in place of "2 messengers at $40 per month each, to serve during the session of Congress and for services in connection with the House Office Building."

Law Library: One assistant at $480.

Index to the Statutes at Large: The estimate submitted for this was $10,000. At the hearing, however, I stated that one-half this amount would complete and see into print the volume covering the general and permanent law prior to 1873. Upon this representation the amount was cut down from $10,000 to $5,000, with the purpose of letting the work conclude there (vol. I, already issued, having covered the permanent and general law subsequent to 1873).

Copyright Office: One clerk at $1,500, 3 clerks at $900, 1 clerk at $480, 1 junior messenger at $360.

« iepriekšējāTurpināt »