, 1880-10-24
PUBLIC LIBRARY.

REORGANIZATION of the Roard-The Old
po.t-Ofiice Property, Etc.
Tho Public Library Board met yesterday
afternoon, 3. Loewenthal In the chair. +
The new members presented their certihcates
OF appointment, and were seated.
Mr., RubenB moved that the Board at once
proceed to the election Of officers for the year:
Mr. Allen hoped there would be no haste in
reorganiztng, for the reason that the new menl-
hers we're strangers, comparatively, to their
Office and duties. By delaying the election of
officers for time he thought the members
could vote more tntelligently on the subject
Mr. Callaghan thought the members all knew
one another, at lelst py reputation, and saw no
occasion for delay.
The motion of MFR. Rubens, after somo fur
Their discussion, prevailed. and the election OF
President Of the Board was proceeded with. The
first ballet resulted rs follows: Onahan, 8;
Loewenthul, 2; SprHgue. l: Walker,I l.
MIR. Onuhan was DECLARED elected, md ne ro-
turned his ACCOMPLISHMENTS for the honor con-
ferred upon him in a brief speeth, after wn1cn
Mr. Loewenthal, the retiring President, was ten,
dered vote Of thanks for the impartial ana
able mnnner in which he had performed tne ou-
~. q. Wtckcrsham was, on motion Of DR..
Walker, elected Secretary to the Board oy ac-
Some routine business was then disposed OF,
after which Nr. Onahnu submitted an opinion OF
Corporations Counsel Adams On the gnesnon OF
the right Of the Public Library 10 tne da7erl5
after rect}Sg the act Of CONGRESS providing
for the exchqnye Of the oS Post Sc foF tne ne
the School Fund ut the City, Of Chicago. anu ~
the subsequent steps taken 70 complete the traac
the he unte snS y Stxts 8 Gs'fsxo Pary
for the use Of schools Of the said city ol CnicaXo
PARTY of the second part" as the deed runs, Mr.
Adams stated that 1t cannot 9e cIaeq ~ aaa. inc
erty exchanged for 1t, in view Of the fact that
the Commission on Appraisemont found both
pieces Of real estate OF
SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME VALUE.
Even If the contrary were true, there would 2 pc
no equity in Iuvor of the Public Library to the
extent OF the difference, because the Polk street
lot having belonged to the school Fund, tae l1t
The city is merely the trustee for the schools;
and where trust property Is exchanged
for other property ths %her nawer
TO appropriate school lands or the proceeds Of
school lands to other than school uses short q
rhe General Assembly indeed dec 1t nag :, sen tf;t
G5y Gosysfituon ct Ge,o4S9 e a K view Of see '
After the reading Of the opinion t ME }st l.
nude any material change in the position of the
Board on the subject. All that had ever been
81 se a By IND m anr IL Ent hs opnoh
chunne the situation. All 1t did really was to
show thar the Board hnd no legal right to the
hands OF the public, and the Board TO 80 to the
City Council fof tho necessary means TO pfoVsoe
the library with permanent home.
Mr.. Alien said he took great deal IF pride in
the Public Library, and suggested that some OF
the moneyed men of the city would willingly con.
tribute toward erecting II library building II
they wero pruperly approached. He thou ght he
knew severni persons who would give slM.Uoo to
such a cause, aud was willing to 90 IN person to
them and present the question as IT was, If the
Doard so determined. He did not think that
anything could be hoped for from the School
Dourd, for the reason that it was nowerlesa
Mr. Loewenthal adopted Mr. Aliens suS9es-
tions and was In favorof trying to do something
toward getting permanent home. He WAS III
favor OF using DeAborn Park. but was aware
that move was on foot in the interest OF the
| railroud companies to obtain 1t for depot pur-
| poses, so there was no time to be lost The
| Board should secure title to the property as
| soon as possible, and, this being done, he
thought sufficient money could be raised to ereo1
| the necessary building on It.. :
The opinion was finally ordered spread on the
| minutes.
| Under tho head of new business, Mr, Ruben:
| moved the appointment of special committee
| to consider tho question OF getting Location
| for the Library, which prevailed The ChnIrsau
| nountcd that he would appoint the Committee
in few days, and notify the appointees.