The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-02-12
LIBRARY TRUSTEES MAD.
They Will Mandamus the Board
Of Finance for Their Money.

There is every prospect of lively fight
between the trustees of the Free Public
Library and the Board of Finance. For
months the Finance Board has refused to
allow the trustees the amount of money
the result of the refusal was the call of a
special meeting last night aud the en-
ployment of counsel by the trustees to
make the Board of Finance pay up.
The trustees claim that they are en-
titled to S24, 500 and that the Board of
Finance only appropriated $l0,0 900, which
the trustees refused to accept.
The act creating the trustees directs
the Finance Board to lay aside one-third
OF mill on every dollar OF assessed
valuations for the benefit of the library.
At the meeting held last night at the
Gordon, Charles S. Haskell, Nelson j. II.
Edge, Michael Murray and Superintend-
ent A. b. Poland. Colonel Heppenheimer
and Mayor Cleveland were absent.
1t was said that the Colonel conceded
with the trustees in the effort to get the
money.
The secretary reported that A. J, Bow
den thought the position of librarian
would suit him, and John p. DAILY sent a
wild and weird drama to the trustees.
The secretary gazed at it and turned pale.
Must !, oh, must read this?" he t9ar-
fully cried.
you must,p sadly said DR.. Gordon.
Then may God have mercy on my
soul, for none of you will survive"
The trustees looked very weak and
haggard when the communication was
ended, but they, fortunately, were ali
alive. The substance of John P.'s effu
sion was to learn why the trustees did
not solicit books.
DIR. Gordon told the others that the
time had arrived for the trustees to de-
termine whether they would perform the
duty they had been appointed to perform.
Also how to get the money the Board of
Finance refused to appropriate.
Doctor Gordon said he objected to TAX
ing the $4,000 the Finance Commissioners
were willing to give for it would, perhaps,
establish a bad precedent. and next year
they would want the trustees to take $5 900.
Counsellor Record was asked his
opinion, and he said he thought a man
damus would lie against the Finance
Commissioners and they would be COM
PEELED by the court to pay the money the
trustees claimed.
1.-The act creating the trustees,'' said
Mr.. Record, gives them the widest lati-
tude, incorporates them and permits
them to make contracts and do such
things as may be advisable and neces-
sary."
DR.. Gordon, after this, offered resolu-
tion that counsel be employed to enable
the trustees to carry out the duties the
act creating them demanded, and another
one that George L. Record be employed
as counsel
The resolutions were accepted by the
trustees, and then Mr.. Haskell asked Dr.
Gordon, Have you talked to Mayor
Cleveland about this matter?',
mo, sir; not for three months, and then
he pleaded the poverty Of the CITY,"
Counsellor Record asked that proper
demand be made on the city for one-third
of mill on every dollar of assessed valu-
alton (about $24, 500, and that If the
money was not paid. he said, he would
bring a mandamus suit to compel the
payment
This was agreed to and the meeting ad-
ourned subject to the call of the chair.