Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-26
ANXIOUS TO HOLD ON.
Allegheny Councils Mean to Keep the
Control of the Library.
THEY CONSIDER IT AS SETTLED.
A Triple Representation Favored by Sew
eral Of the Members.
wYMANS FRIENDS SEEKING A DELAY

Unless Allegheny citizens do some lively
hustling within few days, it is practically
settled that the permanent control of the
Carnegie Free Library is to be vested in a
library committee appointed by Allegheny
Common and Select Councils, with the con-
troll of the building vested in the City Prop
erty Committee. Brief chats with several
of the Councilmen last evening, after the
meeting of Common Council, convey this
impression.
President James Hunter started the con-
versation by remarking that he had found
by inquiry that the majority of Councils
favored Councilmanic control to the ex-
clusion of the citizen element. with regu-
larly appointed library committee.
Mr.. Arthur Kennedy said that he favored
q triple representation, pretty evenly d.
vided-Councilmen, school controllers and
citizens-snd also stated that there was no
doubt in his mind that to avoid the expert
mental it would be wise to secure the CO
operation of the present library holders and
the citizens. From the latter element he
was still assured of 500, 900 at least in con-
tributlons and, above all, he thought that
some plan should be agreed upon which
would end the matter.
STRUCK WITH SURPRISE.
Mr.. Robert McAfee, of the Eleventh
ward, rather surprised the gentlemen pres
ent by stating very bluntly that the Board
of School Control were best constituted to
deal with the matter.
Mr.. G. w. Dahlinger interpolated the
suggestion that it might be the best plan of
all to appoint temporary library commit
tna to- ~ mn Mr nd Il
ascertain what his wishes were in regard to
the future of his magnificent gift to the city.
Mr.. Dahlinger advanced the idea that Mr..
Carnegie's rigid silence in regard to the
matter had arisen from the failure of Coun-
ellis to consult him. This plan seemed to
meet with appreciation, and it is Just pos
sible that some action looking to this end
may be taken.
Mr. Arthur Kennedy returned Yesterday
from Philadelphia where he had been on
business, and as all the members of the sub
committee are now in the city it was the un-
derstanding last evening that Chairman
Ammon would issue call later in the week
for meeting.
ACTIVELY AGITATED.
Meanwhile, the project of holding a citi-
zens' mass meeting in Common Council
chamber seems to be again under headWay,
and the whole matter IS being actively agi-
tated. The prospect of several positions to
be filled is whetting the appetite of the aV-
erage Northsider with taste for politics,
The friends of Librarian Benney, of the
present Allegheny Library, are booming
him for similar position in the Carnegie
Free Library.
In all respects the situation is extremely
complicated. The Board of School Control
again expresses determination to hang to
its property unless given representation in
the permanent commission or committee.
The friends in Council of Mayor-eleet
Wyman are working quietly for postpone
ment of the whole matter until that adroit
politician becomes Mayor, and can train his
guns upon the appointments to be made.
So much is uncertain in connection with
the whole affair that some apprehensions are
felt as to the prospect of the public obtain
ing access to the building within the next
two or three months.