Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-08
TIRED OF THE STRING.
Mr.. C. L. Magee's Ideas of the
City's Duty Regarding
THE LIBRARY QUESTION.
he Would Have the City Choose Its
Own Commissioners,
E LIBRARY QUESTION.
OR REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE GIFT

The library site and all that the words
imply, like the golden apple which Paris
gave to the wrong goddess, has made con-
siderable trouble of one kind or another, as
the great Pittsburg public is very anxious
to have the site located in every locality in
the city. The Bedford avenue advo-
Gates are numerous and per-
sistent. The East End element
who assert that East Liberty will
be the center of population before many
years, are confident that this library will
drift that way, while there is a proposition
of Bohemian, that the central library be
mounted on wheels, so that it could spend
the hot summer months in the cool retreats
of Mt Washington. To this the objection
was raised by members of the Library Com
mission that however hard A. c. Robertson
might labor in behalf of free bridges, they
could never be made free enough to get a
building like the projected library across.
SLOW IN GETTING A MOVE.
r. B. Carnahan said yesterday: You
can publish whatever you please on the
library subject. / am in position to state
no move will be taken to select or determine
a site until the plans for the building shall
have been made"
Mr. Carnahan was asked if any architects
had as vet been consulted, and admitted
that nothing had yet been done in that d.
rection. He thought that if the commits
sion were subject to less comment and less
dietation from outsiders it would sooner
come to a conclusion regarding both the site
and the building. He positively declined to
say any more on the subject until the COM
had Hpt hnd ifc loha
On the other hand, the new Councils
yesterday inaugurated feel about the same
as the old Councils regarding the position
held by the City Fathers in the commission.
When the adjournment took place yester-
day the talk on the subject was very ami
mated, and while the East End representa-
tives maintained a dignifed silence, the
Southside and old city representatives
were far from being pleased with the pres
ent state of affairs in library matters.
Mr.. MAGEE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY.
The gift appears to have made as much
disturbance as that of the wooden horse to
the Trojans, and some of the members of
Council appear to think that there is a
great similHude. In rehearsing some of the
Councilmanic complaints to Mr. c. l. Magee,
last evening, be laughed and replied:
"Of course anyone is in favor of a public
means of education. l have no doubt that
could popular vote be taken on the acceptance
of the present from Mr.. Carnegie it would be
framed on the basis of the ordinance of accep-
tance already formulated by Councils. There
is no man, except in one in whom ignorance is
inviucible. who would object to the provision
of means to educate and elevate his children,
L of course, would like to see the library a sue
cess, no matter where it may be placed, and
will be glad to see it il operation Tor the gen.
eral good.
Il think, however, that Mr. Carnegie's propo-
sition to change the form of the ordinance of
acceptance is more or less OF a reflection,
Shether intended or not, upon the capacity or
the integrity of the city's representatives. The
city of PIttsburg. through those who were en-
powered to do so by the vote OF the people, ac-
cepted Mr.. Carnegie's proposition in good faith.
SHUTS OUT THE CITY.
This proposition, as you will see by looking
it over limited the city's representatives on the
Library Commission TO minority but provid-
ed that when any vacancy occurred it should be
blled by a majority vote of the remaining
members of the commission. This, as the ma
jority had already been fixed by Mr.. Carnegie
SO as TO place it in the hands OF his own repre-
sentatives, virtually shuts out the city from
any voice In renewing the membership, thus
making the commission in perpetuity a repre-
sentative body of Mr.. Carnegie's choosing
This, think, is unfair. Now 1 do not know
in 20 years, but this rule, carried out. would
keep the commission solely in the Carnegie
interest," while the investment was maintained
at the expense of the city of Pittsburg
Under the present ordinance of acceptance
the citvs representatives could not elect any,
body. as the majority Of the commission are |
appOintees of Mr.. Carnegie. This. think is
plainly understood by all.
"Mr. Carnegie justly and generously stated |
when mere that the public library to be public |
benefit must be sustained and supported by |
the public at large, and the condition of his |
gift is that, after he has paid for the site and
building, the city shall bind itself. annually |
and forever, to appropriate $4,000 or per |
make this appropriation. and the public benefit |
intended by Mr.. Carnegie be conferred by him |
and supported by the people, the representa- |
tIves of those people should have some say in |
the administration of the funds they supply |
and the people some representatives in the |
commission which governs the library it main |
tainS.
WHAT HE WOULD DO. |
"Were l a member Of Councils should vote |
that any change in the ordinance of accept |
ance would be one removing all the city's repre-
sentatives from the commission. When the |
grant is made limiting the powers of the city's |
representatives in perpetuity, they should be |
left out of such consultations. Let Mr.. Car
negie and his representatives control his gift 4
until the Gift is made over to the city. but put
q straight issue to you: If make you gift and |
attach certain conditions which may be dis |
be optional with you whether you would ac- |
cept it or not?"