Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-19
THE STATE LIBRARY MATTER.

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the Board of State Library Trustees, of
the charges preferred by the Governor
against Librarian Wallis. This action has
resulted from a statement made by the
President Of the Board, A. c. Freeman,
that even if the charges were proved to be
true he would not vote for the removal of
the Librarian. On being asked in open
Board if he had made that statement, Mr.
Freeman replied that he had, as he had
uniformly held that the charges were not
sufficiently specific to warrant any action
thereon. As it requires unanimous vote
of the Trustees to remove the Librarian,
the prosecution withdrew. Mr. Freeman
practically demonstrates his unfitness to
discharge public trust where broad dis
cretion is reposed in the Trustee If the
Library Board is a tribunal of the law be-
fore which offenders may be brought and
tried, then the strict formalities of the
Code must he observed. But it is Board
appointed to administer the affairs of the
State Library as according to its judgment
will be for the best interests of the State.
The law defines the powers and duties of
the Board among others is the power to
remove the Librarian by unanimous
vote" In all that is necessary for the
proper administration of its trust the
Board has the power to act according to its
own judgment. 1t need not even try an
employee as precedent to discharge, or re-
quire charges to be preferred. In fact, it
is to make rules and regulations not in
consistent with law for its government, and
the government of the Library" If, there
fore, it is brought to the attention OF the
Board that anything relating to the Ii
brary is being done that is subversive of
wise administration of its affairs, we take
it that the Board can proceed upon in
quiry, and should do so regardless of the
technical formality of charges, pleas and
demurrers, that in a Court where one is
being tried for life or liberty, or the re-
covery of property, would of necessity OBJ
| tain. 1t is amazing that Mr.. Freeman
should declare that if it was proved that
all the Governor says of the Librarian is
true, he would not vote for his displacement,
and the Librarian, We think, has reason
to pray to be delivered from such friends,
because he has repeatedly said that he is
innocent Of the offenses charged; that he
courted inquiry, and desired full, free and
fair investigation into the administration
of his trust. He is entitled to the pre-
sumption of innocence until it is shown
that he is guilty of conduct that would
Justify his removal. In this affair the
Board should act toward him as a Just
employer would toward his clerk, or con-
fidential secretary, or agent; not condemn
unheard or on improved charges, nor
yet declare that even if proved he would
still repose confidence in an unworthy
object Mr.. Freeman's prejudgment when
he is sitting as the member of an inquisi-
ton puts the Librarian into an awkward
position-an attitude, were we in his place,
we should prefer not to occupy. If all
State Boards should act as Freeman de-
clares the Library Trustees shall, there is
no public trust that would be safe in their
hands. The rule of action he lays down
opens door for all manner of malfeasance
and the covering up of all sorts of NAL
administration. The sum of the whole
matter is, that Mr.. Freeman's prejudg-
ment, and his declaration of immovable
ness, even if the charges preferred should
be established by proofs as the truth, justi-
fies the conclusion that his moral concep-
tions are of such character as to wholly
disqualify him for the position he holds.