Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-02
The Offer Of Henry Phipps, Jr.. to
Give $4,000 Worth of Books to
The Carnegie Library
ACCEPTED AFTER A DISCUSSION.
A Protest Filed by Committee That OBJ
jected to the Opening of the
Library on Sunday.
TIE LITELIEST KIND OF A DEBATE.
Tas orours Thought thc Proposition an Innovation,
but It Wasn't

for the use OF the Carnegie Library came
up before the committee last night, and be-
fore the session was over some exceedingly
lively and spicy proceedings were In.
6ulged in.
The stipulation in the offer that the IL
brary be kept open on Sunday from o'clock
in the afternoon until 10 o'clock at night
kicked up the liveliest kind of discussion,
and On several occasions some pointed and
decidedly tart remarks were INDUCED in.
After two hours of arguments pro and
con the gift was accepted on the terms laid
down by the donor.
Just after the committee had been called
to order it was waited upon by a committee
consisting of Rev. DR.. w. j. Robinson,
Rev. 1. \. Havs and Messrs. w. G. Lind
say and L. S. Smith. Mr. Robinson asked
permission 10 be heard, which was granted,
and he made quite lengthy speech against
accepting the gift with the condition at
tachcd that the library he kept open the
hours specified in Mr.. Phipps' letter.
PUBLIC OPINION WANTED.
He argued that such action would be
against the law of man and God. There
was no necessity in thus violating the Sab.
bath, and be felt satisfied that majority of
the people of Allegheny were not in favor of
it. AT all events, he was in favor of leaving
the question open for four weeks for the
consideration of tire public.
Al the close of his remarks, Mr.. Robin
son presented a remonstraDce from the West
eru Pennsylvania Ministerial Association.
Aside froIc the point that the conditions
of the proposed gift did not meet with the
approval Of the citizens generally, the docu-
ment stated that investigation of the leading
libraries of Europe showed that the best
class of people was not benefited by keep
ing libraries open on Sunday. 1t closed
with an appeal to the Committee to continue
as it had been doing, and keep the library
closed on the Sabbath day in the tuture.
Rev. Mr. Robinson had barely settled
into comfortable sitting position when
President Hunter, of Common Council,
arose and asked the gentleman if he was
aware that the library had been kept open
every Sunday afternoon from the hour of
until ) clock, for months, in fact, since
they had had periodicals there for the in
struction and benefit OF the people
SURPRISED AT THE NEWS.
Mr.. Robinson replied that Mr.. Hunters
statement was news to him, this being the
first he had heard of 1t, and he was much
astonished at being so informed.
Mr.. Hunter assured him that he had
stated nothing but the bare facts of the case
= This conversation between the gentlemen
was productive of 4 number of broad smiles
A motion was finally made 10 postpone
further consideration of the proposed gift
for one month, in order that Mr.. Phipps
could be informed that the library was al
ready open on SUNDAYS, and to get his exact
views on this particular point. The vote on
this motion resulted in tie, Messrs. Sna-
man, Parke, Kennedy, Rynd, Thompson,
Dahlinger, Mercer and Cochran being in
favor of it. Those against such action were
Nessrs. Hunter, Lare. Heuricks, Einstein,
Ammon, Loppe, Groetzinger and Muehl.
bronner.
Mr.. Lare then moved that the donation
be accepted in its original form. This
started considerable discussion, during
which the visiting delegation left the room.
After some moments Mr.. Lare got the
floor and defended his ideas. He said that
he would feel ashamed to have the outside
world know they were haggling over such
2 splendid offer. He sincerely hored that
the details of the session would not come to
the notice of Mr.. Phipps. He failed to see
where the evil influences would arise in
aiordin- the public an opportunity to read
good books on Sunday.
IN FAVOR OF A FURTHER TRIAL.
Here was gentleman asking for the
privilege to pav for doing this very thing,
and he thought the least they could do
would be to accept the gift, just as it had
beeu offered. He said it would do no harm
L., 81 &c bor +bo++ +bo,-
were really going to perdition, no doubt
Mr. Phipps would consent to all necessary
notifications.
MIR. Thompson said he did not particularly
object to having the building open on Sum-
cav, but he was decidedly opposed to the
distribution O! books on that dav, and he
would vote against it from first to last.
President Hunter said that in his opinion
the opening of the library on Sunday would
be an absolute benefit to the people at large
No complaints had been made about the
keeping Of the Phipps Conservatory open
in the parks on Sunday. Yet thousands
and thousands of people had visited them
on that day, where they had contemplated
many beautiful things in nature, and up to
Gate not a single comnlaint had ever been
made He was satisfied that, if the ques-
fion should be put TO vote of the people,
it would be carried by big majority, and
he was heartily in favor of accepting the
gift outright.
When Mr.. Adam Ammon arose the mem
bers all looked as If they were prepared to
hear something drop, and they were not in
the least disappointed.
FAILS TO SEE ANY WRONG.
He said II concede nothing to Rev. Mr..
Robinson, so far as proper observance of
the SIbbath is concerned. I do not believe
that any man has a higher regard for the
day than I entertain. But / fail TO see
wherein any wrong is to result from the
opening of this library on Sunday. Every
Sunday in the year the churches and Sunday
schools of this city circulate thousands aud
thousands of books that are of a decided
poor quality. In fact, they are trash. Yes,
sir, trashi Now, which is the most iniuri-
Gus, to circulate books OF this quality. or to
give the people chance to secure good
books, that treat of scientific moral, religi-
Gus and other valuable subjects?'
''Mr. Phipps, in making this offer, did so
with the purest of motives. He is thought
fuI man of rare sensibilities and tastes. and
he had only the highest good in view when
the gift was offered to the city. So far as
am concerned l shall vote for its &C.
ceptance." Mr.. Ammon's speech was re-
ceived with considerable applause.
Mr. Parke was in favor of being conser-
vative in granting such a privilege IN a
wholesale manner. He could not see what
harm would result in having a consultation
with Mr.. Phipps, and learn exactly what
hours be favored.
Mr. Henricks did not object to the keep
ing of the library omen on moral grounds.