Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-08
NOT A JUST CRITICISM.

| MIR. Carnegie Duly and OMicially Notified by
Councils of the First Meeting of the liz
brary Commission-Citizen Commission.
ers Also Asked to Atreud-A Clenr State
| ment.
A gentleman who is a member OF the Car
negie Free Library Commission, the other
| day informed q reporter for The DISPATCH
that he believed Mr.. Carnegie had been dis
courteously treated in not being officially
notified of the first meeting of the commits
sion. He claimed that Mr.. Carnegie was
surprised, and said the proper way would
have been to forward the ordinance and
await his pleasure before holding meeting.
| The criticism of the gentleman considerably
| surprised other members of the commission,
| and yesterday reporter sought John M.
Lambie, Esq, to ascertain the facts in the
| matter. Mr.. Lambie said he could not un-
derstand how member of the commission
should make such statements as set forth
in the interview. Continuing, he said:
The gentleman must have erred when he said
Mr.. Carnegie was surprised by the non.recelpt
| of an official notice OF the meeting called for
Wednesday last. Last Saturday Clerk Shep-
pard sent to Mr. Carnegie certified copies of
Councils, together with an official notice of the
meeting to be held the following Wednesday.
In addition he prepared notices of the meeting
for members of the commission, and mailed
them on Saturday. OnMonday Clerk Sheppard
received a telegram from MIR. Carnegie stating
that business engagements prevented his at
tendance, and asked that the meeting be post
poned until the week following In accordance
with this request, without waiting until the
time fixed for the meeting, Mr.. Sheppard i'm
mediately, complied with, Mr. Carnegie's re:
quest, and notified him and all the members of
the com mission oRthe postponement. One or
two of the Citizen Commissioners called on
Clerk Sheppard in relation to the matter after
having received the clerks call
The gentleman also erred in relation to Sc
lection of members of the commission. Nr.
Carnegie designated his commissioners when
Instead of being discourteous to either the
generous donor his commissioners the
Councilmanic members exercised both care
and diligence in properly notifying them Of the
first meeting and were and are anxious to Sc
cure full attendance. One-rhfrd of the COM
mission had perfect right to call meetings
and to adjourn to any set time, but have no
right to transact any other business. Perhaps
the member quoted failed to receive his notice.
If he did the mails are to blame, not Clerk
Sheppard or the Councilmanic members of the
commission. All we ask is earnest co-opera-
tion on the part of the citizens designated by
Mr.. Carnegie to assist Councils in carrying out
his grand project.
Mr.. Lambie then allowed the reporter to
copy the original letter Of Mr.. Carnegie, in
which the latter's choice of trustees is indi-
Gated. 1t is as follows:
FEBRUARY 6, 1880.
John S. Lambie, Esq, Chairman, Pittsburg, Pa:
DEAR s1R-As a result of our conference I
send you the enclosed, which beg you to hand
to the proper authority. The gentlemen
whom propose as trustees, should the Coun-
ellis favor me by accepting my offer. are as fol-
lows:
James B. Scott Reuben Miller, II. K. Porter,
Rev. w. j Holland, ]. F. Hudson, e. NJ. Fer
guson, III. c. Frick. David McCargo. Robert
Frew, John B. Jackson.
Horing that may be privileged to give to
the city of Pittsburg the boon of a free public
library. which l consider the most valuable
gift community could possibly obtain, and
with many thanks for the courtesy of Yourself
and associates on the committee, am. very
truly yours, ANDREW CARNEGIE.