REPORT

OF

THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Washington, D. C., December 2, 1918

SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith my report, as Librarian of Congress, for the year ending June 30, 1918. The report of the Superintendent of the Library Building and Grounds (and Disbursing Officer) follows, beginning at page 175. That of the Register of Copyrights is, as usual, attached as Appendix II.

The reasons which last year required such documents to be limited to the minimum requisite for a record of operations apply even more peremptorily this year. I avoid, therefore, either recital or comment, beyond this minimum.

SERVICE

The depletion and impairment of this not merely by enrollment for military duty (always acceded to) but by resignations for civilian positions, either in other official establishments or with business concerns, have grown more serious. [See for example under "Reading rooms," page 87 infra.] The impairment accompanies the depletion: for when an employee leaves our service for a position elsewhere his experience can not be replaced by a newcomer; and when he leaves us for a higher salary elsewhere his associates remaining with us have to take on additional burden without any additional recognition of this in increase of pay. That they have done this uncomplainingly is a high credit to their

morale; but that they can not do it cheerfully, or with enthusiasm for the Government which permits such contrasts, is obvious. A depression from it is inevitable; and a loss of efficiency very serious indeed.

There is no assurance that I can offer to withstand it, for any remedy for the conditions can come only from Congress.

It may be significant to note the following statistics of the actual losses in our service in each division during a recent period-January 1, 1917, to June 30, 1918:

The following table exhibits the appropriations and expenditures of the Library proper and of the Copyright Office for the fiscal year, and the appropriations for the preceding fiscal year and the year now current. Included also are the appropriations for the equipment and care of the building and grounds, expended by the Superintendent.

a Appropriation 1917 includes credits $954.05 on account of sales of cards to ment institutions and $86.15 yet to be credited. Appropriation 1918 includes $ credits on account of sales of cards to Government institutions and $195.20 ye credited. Expenditures 1918 ($47,421.29 including outstanding indebtedness) of subscriptions covered into the Treasury, $67,615.85.

› Appropriation 1917 includes credits $4.74 on account of sales of photo-duplicat Government institutions; credit of $1.11 by return of photostat spools. Approp 1918 includes credits of $9.04 on account of sales of photo-duplications to Gover institutions; credit of $3.48 by return of photostat spools.

c Allotment 1917 includes credits of $408.81 on account of sales of cards to Gover institutions: also $36.92 yet to be credited. Allotment 1918 includes credits of $46 account of sales of cards to Government institutions and $83.69 yet to be credited. ment 1917 includes $9,000 provided in deficiency act approved Sept. 8, 1916. d Includes balance from preceding year in addition to appropriation of $800.

e Any unexpended balance of purchase of books will be available for the succeedin f Offset by fees covered into the Treasury ($106,352.40).

9 Exclusive of $2,000 to be expended by the marshal of the Supreme Court for new of reference for that body.

h Increased $8.68 by refunds of defaulting contractors.

* Made available in fiscal year 1917 upon passage of legislation act for the fiscal ye

? Does not include "Increase of Compensation" $29,080.15.

m Does not include "Increase of Compensation" $7,206.34.

n Includes $2,000 urgen deficiency appropriation approved Mar. 28, 1918. *Including outstanding indebtedness.

The appropriations for 1917-18 varied from those in the preceding year in the following particulars:

Salaries-Mail and delivery division: 1 additional assistant at $1,200; the following salary was increased: 1 assistant in charge, $1,500 to $1,600.

Reading rooms: 1 additional assistant in room for the blind, $900.

Copyright Office: The following salaries were increased: 5 junior messengers, from $360 to $420.

Card indexes: Appropriation increased from $43,000 to $46,900 (the following additional positions: 1 at $1,600, I at $1,200, and 1 at $1,100).

The appropriations for 1918-19 include the following changes and additional provisions:

Salaries (general service)-General administration: The following salaries were increased: Stenographer and typewriter from $840 to $900, messenger to Chief Assistant Librarian from $540 to $600.

Reading Room: 2 additional assistants at $840. The following salaries were increased: 2 assistants from $960 to $1,200, 3 assistants from $960 to $1,000, telephone operator from $660 to $720.

Smithsonian deposit: The following salary was increased: Messenger from $780 to assistant, $840.

Law Library: The following salary was increased: Junior messenger from $420 to assistant, $600.

Semitic and Oriental literature: 1 additional assistant, $900.

Legislative reference: Appropriation increased from $25,000 to $30,000. The following added: Provided, That no person shall be employed hereunder at a rate of compensation exceeding $3,000 per annum.

Library Building and Grounds: 1 additional position: Watchman at $900.

Appropriation for extra services of employees and additional employees under the Superintendent to provide for the opening of the Library Building from 2 until 10 o'clock p. m. on Sundays and legal holidays, increased from $2,800 to $3,000.

For fuel, lights, repairs, etc.: The item made to include the following: "Including new auto delivery wagon, and all incidental expenses in connection with the custody, care, and maintenance of said building and grounds, including $2,000 for repairs to roof and $1,500 for painting exterior stonework, $18,500, of which sum $1,500 shall be immediately available." Decreased from $28,000 to $18,500.

For furniture, etc.: The item made to read "For furniture, including partitions, screens, shelving, and electrical work pertaining thereto, $12,000, of which $2,000 shall be available immediately.”

The following additional provisions:

For refitting old boiler room and coal vaults, $3,000.

For extension of steel stack for storage of catalogue cards in the card division, $10,000.

SEC. 6. That all civilian employees of the Governments of the United States and the District of Columbia who receive a total of compensation at the rate of $2,500 per annum or less, except as otherwise provided in this section, shall receive, during the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and nineteen, additional compensation at the rate of $120 per annum: Provided, That such employees as receive a total of annual compensation at a rate more than $2,500 and less than $2,620 shall receive additional compensation at such a rate per annum as may be necessary to make their salaries, plus their additional compensation, at the rate of $2,620 per annum, and no employee shall receive additional compensation under this section at a rate which is more than thirty per centum of the rate of the total annual