Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-28
PITTsBURG, SUNDAY, DEC. IS, 1890.
THE LIBRARY QUESTION.

It is pertinent to remark that some ex-
traneous matter was impaired into the dis
cussion in the Councils committee over the
Carnegie Library site by the assertion that
the Library Commission, through its Exec
utive Committee, had asked that the park
site be offered to it By Councils.
This arr ument is not entitled TO weight
as binding Councils or its committee to take
any course that is not in accordance with
their own Judgment. On other matters in
connection with the Library, Councils
have an equal voice with Mr.. Car
negie's representatives in the Com
mission itself. But where the prop
osition is to denote city property
for the sites, it is entirely within the prov
ince of Councils to decide the question on
its merits. The park entrance was pur-
chased by the city with a widespread idea
on the part of many people that it would
afford site for the Carnegie buildings, but
with much wider agreement that whether
the buildings were located there or not, the
land would be worth the expenditure several
times over, merely for a park entrance.
When it comes to settling the question
whether the main library shall be put there,
Councils have the same right to decide the
question simply on its merits that the Com
mission will have. That fact NAV prolong
the dispute: but it carries with it the guar
antee that, if site is selected which earns
the approval Of both bodies, it will be salts
factory to ali interests.
There is a further reason why it should
not be urged upon Councils that they must
offer the site TO the Commission because it
IS asked for in the fact that the representa-
zion is incorrect. The Executive Commit
tee of the Commission and the Library
Committee of Councils occupy the
the same position in this respect,
that each is able to recommend
certain action to the main body, but neither
can commit the body which it represents to
any Iiae of action. Further, since the
Chairman Of the Library Commission and
lis executive committee has been referred to
as authority for this representation, it is
necessary to say that it puts that gentleman
in false position, through no fault of his
While Mr.. James B. Scott has used his
personal right to express his individual
views, and to take whatever steps he NAV
have deemed proper as an individual men,
Der of the Commission, he has always been
careful to disclaim any authority to commit
the body over which he presideS to any
course of action; and we are in position to
say that Mr.. Scott has protested against the
inference that his individual views or acts
amount to a decision of the question by the
Commission.
With regard to the rival sites, there is an
almost inexhaustible fund OF arguments on
both sides. While there is practical agree
T2ent that the park entrance will be a most
eligible site for the art gallery and perhaps
the museum, it is the fact that its principal
strength as site for the main library build
ing is because no attractive site for that
building has yet been discovered in the
downtown section. If further investigation
should develop a practicable site near the
concentration of railway lines, at a cost
that would not impoverish the building
fund, the popular opinion would probably
be IN its favor, as the most accessible place
for the bulk of the population.
While the question on the surface is far
from settlement, there is drift in the direc-
tion of a compromise, such as was mooted
early in the discussion. This would consist
in putting the main library building as
near the business center as possible, while
the art buildings will be located at the park.
This would not preclude the location of the
main library at the park entrance if at some
time in the future the growth OF the city
should make it the center of communi-
cation.