Morning journal and courier., 1885-05-02

And ITS Position with Regard

| And Its Position with Regard to a
| Free Public library Clearly stated.
| Mr. E. p Arvine, one of the directors of
the Young Mems Institute, when interviewed
| yesterday in reference to the question of the
free public library, spoke somewhat as fol-
lows: "Mr. Baldwin, if correctly reported,
misrepresents the position of the Institute.
It seems to me that he could not have been
| correctly reported, for it seems impossible
that one at all acquainted with the history
of the movement in favor of free public
library in this city could have said, as he is
reported to have said, that the only opposi-
ton to the movement comes from the Insti-
| tute. When the library committee was ap-
| pointed by the city to raise funds to estab-
lish free public library, the Institute made
proposition in writing to the city, offering
| to give to the city the use of its books and
| its property and to give to the city its in
| come, if it would establish a free public Ii
brary. 1t does not seem as though one SO
we'll acquainted with public affairs as Mr..
| Baldwin could be ignorant of the fact.
have therefore supposed that he could not
have been correctly reported.
s'The Institute has recently asked the city to
I appoint a committee to confer with COM
mittee of it's own for the very purpose of
making arrangements to open the Young
| Mems Institute library as a free public
| library. The Institute proposes to put into
| the hands of the city for the purposes of
free public library over 100000 worth of
property In view of this fact it does not
appear that the Institute is the only source
OF opposition to the scheme of free public
library, and it is difficult to how Mr..
Baldwin can take that view. The Institute,
instead of being opposed to the scheme be-
cause free public library would take away
its income, proposes to give all of its in
come to the city, and allow its books to
be used as the nucleus of the free
public library should like to know if Mr..
Baldwin, as a philosophical citizen, is OPP
posed to that scheme, and, if 50, why?
ct understand that Mr.. Baldwin is one of
several gentlemen who have subscribed
So 600 to be given to the city for free pub
lie library Does he consider that as proof
that he is opposed to the free public library
on the same line of reasoning with which he
says that the Institute is opposed to it? The
Institute proposes to give 100000 for that
purpose and Mr.. Baldwin says that the only
opposition to the scheme comes from the
Institute.
81 understand that his subscription is to be
given on condition that the library be open
ed in the State House. As it stands now,
an outsider would be at a loss to know
whether the agitation OF his scheme before the
Common Council is really designed to retain
the remnants of the old State House
for the sake of the $4,000 library or to retain
the So GOO library for the sake of the old
State House"
Judge Pardee, also director in the Young
Mems Institute, spoke to the reporter as fol-
lows in regard to the same subject: 81 I'M
derstand that some gentlemen have petit
toned the Common Council for permission
to open a free public library in the old State
House without charge for rent, but before
the request has been duly considered and
acted upon by the Council, by some process
part of the Council is induced to vote that
this library shall be an official public library
established by the city and belonging to the
city To my mind this is pretty
clear indication of what may be ex-
pected if the Common Council allows
itself to be hastily engaged in any enterprise
of that kind. I have found from my little
experience in the Institute that to furnish
books and reading facilities for compare
lively few people costs great deal of money.
But when you get such library established
by the city, with candidates seeking positions
in it that must be paid for, l think that the
expense Of supplying any considerable frac-
be very great compared with the expenses of
the Institute, where there is no one to be
paid except the librarian, and that very
meagre sum.
''But when the city has once adopted this
bautling, of course the arguments will be all
the stronger and will be the more persistent
ly pressed for money to bring it up to a re-
spectacle and really useful position. The
officers of the Young Mems Institute, far
as can understand their motives, desire to
make the Institute library free public Ii
brary. They have been accommodating this
library for years; it is now worth about $25,
900. They are willing to let the city have
the use of this library and their $40, 900 build
ing on condition that the city will establish
free public library; or they are willing to
run the library free if, the city or public
spirited citizens will give them money enough
to do it, with the exercise of the most careful
economy and without making a fat place or
salary, or position of influence for anyone
The officers of the Institute see clearly that
no public library can be so economically, SO
conveniently SO usefully established in the
city of New Haven in any other way than
has been suggested. This is all the fsunda-
dation there is, so far as 1 know, of Mr..
Baldwins reported remark that the Institute
is opposed to free public library"