Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-11
NO AXES TO GRIND.
Mechanics Want the Library Free
From Political Influence.
ACTION OF A NORTHSIDE COUNCIL.
The City Property Committee Confronted
With a New Question.
1T Has no POWER TO RENT MUSIC HALL


the Carnegie Library, to be opened for pub
lie inspection TO-DAY, has been given fresh
impetus. The matter has been taken up by
the American Mechanics. At the last reg
ular meeting of Colonel J.. G. Hull Council
No. 56. the following preamble and resolu-
tions were unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, The Councilmen of Allegheny
| City. as represented in the City Property Com
mittee of Select and Common Councils seem
| inclined to exclude from the future control of
the magnificent free library and music hall
presented to Allegheny City by Mr.. Andrew
Carnegie any representatives of the education
al element of said city, and
Whereas, The only proper taxation to be
levied for the permanent maintenance of said
free library and music hall must be levied by
action of the Allegheny Board Of School Con-
| troll as provided in an act of Assembly in 1872
| and,
| Whereas, The Junior Order of United Amer
| ican Mechanics feels it its special province to
jealously guard the interests of education as
| exempliied in the common school system and,
as an order, is firmly convinced that the Allie
| gheny High and Ward schools should sustain
| the closest possible relations to the free Ii
brary, and that the future control of the insti-
tuition should be entirely removed from the
64lgenCleS OF pOl1ClcS. be IL therefore
Resolved, That our representatives in Coun-
Gil be and are hereby requested to so constitute
the permanent organization of the Library
Commission as to give representation to the
city government, the Board of School Control
and such citizens as Mr.. Carnegie, the generous
donor OF the building, may designate.
Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing be
sent to all councils in Allegheny for approval
and thereafter forwarded as petition to city
Councils.
THEIR ACTION APPROVED.
The action of Colonel J. G. Hull Council
has been approved by the State Councillor,
j. P. Winnower, of Lancaster, Pa, and
State Vice Councillor Stephen Collins, of
this city. There are % other councils of the
Mechanics in Allegheny, to which the docu-
ment will be forwarded to-day. These con-
tain a combined membership of nearly 5000
men, among whom are many of the leading
officials and citizens of Allegheny.
National Representative A. L. Solomon,
who introduced the resolution in Colonel
Hull Council, said yesterday: "By our
action we do not mean that the Mechanics
want to be represented on the committee
that is to manage the library. I don't be-
lieve that there are any men better adapted
to manage and look after the building than
the City Property Committee, but 1 be-
lieve that the greatest care should
be observed in selecting the men
who are to be responsible for
the literary feature of the institution. The
ordinance now pending, providing for spe-
cial library committee, does not allow any
representation outside of Councils. The in
terest the Mechanics have in this matter is
simply this: We feel that the library, being
an educational institution, ought to be in
some degree under the control OF a commits
sion representing the educational interests
of the city" .--...
5000 MEN INTERESTED.
State Vice Councillor Stephen Collins
said: ''The Jr. o. U. A. NJ. speaks in this
matter because the organization comprises
in the city of Allegheny about 5000 citi-
zens-all young Americans, who naturally
have decided interest in any public pro-
ject in that city, and, as members of an
order one Of whose main objects is the ad-
vancement of free education. We expect
to see the Carnegie Library become
what Mr.. Carnegie evidently intended
it to bean educational power-and
we want to see it entirely removed from po-
litical influences Those men elected by the
citizens to control the city should have a
share in the management of the Carnegie
Library and Music Hall, but the active con-
troll of the library should be in the hands of
the public school authorities and some ofthe
prominent citizens who are in harmony with
Mr.. Carnegie's views and members of the
City Councils. 1t should be saved from the
bad effects of a management which will
change every year and which will neces-
sarily be political and the appointments
would naturally SAVIOR of spoils
'I notice that in the conditions named BY
Mr.. Carnegie in his gift to this city, that o f
q committee OF q he provides for IL of the
members being well known citizens of the
county named by himself, besides the Pres
ident of The Central Board of Education and
other city officials. He has evidently
adopted this plan to avoid any such contro-
versy as has arisen over the future control
of his gift to Allegheny"
NEW PHASE TO CONSIDER.
The City Property Committee, of ALLIE
gheny, had a new phase of the Carnegie Lii
brary question to confront last night. The
Ladies' Aid Society, of the Arch Street M.
E. Church, presented petitionor the use of
the hall on March 1, and the Home for the
Friendless February %. Both offered to
pay 800 for the privilege, and it was
granted them at that rate after considerable
discussion as to the power OF the committee.
Mr.. Lahugh asked for the use of the hall on
February % for the Jr. o. o. A. M. to give
free entertainment.
Mr.. Dahlinger suggested that it be
granted at the same terms as to
the other organizations. Mr.. Lahugh did |
not know what the mechanics wanted ex-
actly, but, after consultation with gentle |
man in the lobby, he withdrew his request. |
Mr.. Kennedy expressed his objections to |
any free entertainments in the hall, and |
Chairman Ammon raised his right hand in |
the air and declared ''any frst-class enter |
tainment can have the hall for $100 night, |
and no less. )"
In the course of the discussion as to the |
power to rent the building, City Attorney
Elphinstone was asked as to the committees |
rights. He answered that under the present
legislation the committee had no power to
rent, but that that right lays with Councils.
Mr.. Dahlinger from the Conference Com
mIttee presented the report of the meeting
of the committee with the representations Of
the Board of Controllers, as previously pub
lished. Mr.. Lare moved to receive and file
the report and that the committee adhere to
its former action. This meant that the
would have no voice in the man
agement of the library. Mr. Kennedy
moved to amend by receiving and filing.
The amendment was adopted, and Mr.. Ken
nedy moved to postpone further action un-
til after the building is in possession Of the
city. Mr.. Lare moved to adjourn. Mr..
Kennedy accepted the motion with laugh
and the committee separated.
Fresh Cloak Room Bargains To. Day.