New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-10
THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
STORMY MEETING.

The seth annual meeting of the Mercantile
Library Association was held last evening az Clinton
Hall Astor.pace. Preliminary 10 the meeting circular
was sent around to the members Of the Association
urging all to and cooperate III the work of reform
who desire the Library To be redeemed from the shame
less corruption which nfect IFS operations, aud who adj
vocate the opening Of the readingroom on Sundays ;
reduction of the Dues the selection Of impartial In
spectors honest election, and an immediate and rad
zeal change in the direction Of the Library"
This cali signed by General Committee Of the
Reform Party, follows: - Mortimer, L. Mckenzie. A
II TmpsOn, A. Judson Stone, Charles ii. Patrick Thos.
T Hazard, W. Laurent Bailey, Henry ID. Lloyd, VIM.
Curtis Moves, VIM. tombstone ir, VIM &. Cari, julian
h. Hart and John c. Lloyd. The Reforners aim to cor
rect the amendments the Constitution Of last year.
one of the most obnoxious features Of which l.
the Classification act, 10y which the Board of D-
lectors is divided into three classes of four members
each. only one OF which classes il 70 he elected
annually The amendment proposed by the Reform
ers makes the election for the entire Board annual, as
heretofore They claim that the purpose II this act was
10 perpctuae power those who had gained control oi
the Library Another grievance is the power gwen the
Board o Direction, 10y the present constitution 10 ar
point Inspectors election, which they contend has been
grossly abused. The raising Of the annual dues. II j.
urged has tended 10 reduce the membership ol the
Library.
Asa natural consequence Of this call, Clinton Hall
densely packed by the two parties and the meeting at
once BEGAN 10 assume turbulent aspect the leaders Of
the Reform party dCnouncing the mismanagement and
corruption " the officers Of the Association Nearly so
policemen were the room. ana cndcayOred 10 oppose
the ingrcs Of any but members. At about O'Clock Mr.
Charles F. Allen took the chair and, slcucng the noise,
called uuon the Secretary, Nj Samuel Putnam, 10 read
the minutes Of the last meeting when the motion FOR
their adoption was made Henry d. Lloyd Of the Reform
Marty moved 10 amend the words Carried without a
division" which followed the Classification act, by sub
shutting the word " Lost"
The President called he gentleman to order.
Mr. Lloyd insisted upon Biz motion, and II was finally
decided to he IL order and ho repeated it, He SAID the
entire thing was bareiaced fraud, nave men mere
fad ne, who will that the thing Was not carried
without "a division. object 10 the reading Of the MN
utcs, and call upon al the members Of the Mercantile
Library Association who wish 10 have fair play.
Here the speakers voice WAS Kissed down. and cries Of
Order, order, ana "PuJ Inn Out rang through the
A Mcmhor-I second the motion to adopt the minutes.
Constitution carried without division. cannot
sec now Mr. President how you can alter what has been
done already. IL II not our business, cltDef To look
infinitely into II. IL has been done.
A memhcr-I have been a member Of this Institution
for over 20 years, ana submit that nothing can De
adopted without the consent OF twothrds Of the mem
hers present. have paid my money into this ASsocia.
ton because thought II was good and worthy one II
the amendment to the Constitution required twOthirds
vote then should he recorded have no feeling one
way or the other hardly know how tlS thing lies
lchccrs, hut that amendment mas never been passed
and don't care whom il hits. Great cheers, and cries
At this point member moved an amendment TO the
II,
President then put the question OF the adoption Of the
minutes and Thunder of ayes" mingled with hlsscs
from the other side OF the house. announced the ado|
Mr. Lloyd cali for a division! lCrics of sit down!
SIT down.! refuse to take my seat unless division ~
@Gcwh dpp%n !"Y n' u'''''o" 0' o '"' '''' VI
ncmher-Every gentleman should have right 10
express his views here division hds been called tof
and the gentleman has appealed from the decision OF the
chair and the President VIII he the first man To put the
appeal before The house. Cres oil shake EN- up ana
laughtcrJ
say Yes.
This was responded to by another deatening shout
with noisy procstauons fro1n the reforiners A. ,his
mode Of estimating the vote useless, the President
called upon all in favor Of II To stand up, when large
number rose and tremendous cheers were gwen
Mr. Lloyd protest IN the name OF the young mem
bon of tins AssOcatlOn
lItsldeht-l call upon me ponce To remove mat young
man from the room. The vote was fairy carried .
nv I"iN' h,i' hiH', "'ioiS'I "h,i,,i',
Lloyd and actually forced lin hall way from the ROOM
but hraily allowed him 20 return when he demanded
count and hcroupOn count wac loudly called FOR ana
met with counter cries OF :" Put him out!
Tie President then read the tTeasurerh report, al
though his voice swallowed up by the calls ana pro-
Total income Of Ascension yesI the largs,,
1885 ~ from imitation ietf dari le Ac +4l2ll IS ou 81
Tepdrcs s%226 For bo, s4i9l 81 for binding sl' 0S
ol a. i S ssl., n '"am. b the 6S,
Over IA ~ 40 uaie OF II 4lC yoam curing year, ia
volumes plrchsssd aud lfs doAa.rt -
Tue question of adoption wac put and carried amid
member the Pr s.deut's char then shouted; "
move that the thans OF tho mcnberr be returned 10 the
officers Of the Association 1hIr war greeted with "a
tempest OF "Ahsv and "Ohsl" from tie Reform pnri!
but carried nolsily motion WIS Immediately
made for adjournment DE, aud, nOtWtlhthhultg
the utmost efiorts of the inOty carried. HE
indignant RofOrmcrf remained 10 denOuDce the ofib.
uons OF the officers, ana To express thelr deleston
such fraud ana mismanA cement, until the sudden -
uncon of the lights left the room ia total Darkness al
very soon Ia total silence
rKoTrsT BY THg REFORM COMMITTEE.
me General Comm',ee OF the Reform Party have
eutoh 81 ntibt,rs from the annual meeting last year
and asDiut VI, tLiea vi violence bse bcb "