or You could pay for him!

Once upon a time, Secretary Ickes and First Assistant Secretary Burlew thought they were hiring Ansel Adams to document Department of the Interior projects and the American landcape (among other things), in order to produce photographic murals for the walls of the Interior building.

Then, someone read the rules. 

It seems that in 1941, the Office of the Secretary could only have people on its payroll whose position resided in Washington, DC.  Adams, of course, would be spending his time elsewhere, leaving the Office of the Secretary unable to pay him.

Not to make too light of the situation, but this is where one might say, "Oops."

Enter, National Park Service Director Newton B. Drury, recipient of today's letter.  Drury was "asked" to "bear the major cost" of Adams' pay, while the Secretary's office agreed to keep responsibility for the brunt of Adams' travel expenses.

This seems an odd memo, considering the last note (from just a few days earlier) was laying blame for Adams' lack of a proper appointment on a delay in receipt of a form.  Was this (the lateness excuse) the truth, or was it just a way to cover for this additional problem?

or You could pay for him!