The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-10
PUBLIC LIBRARY SHAKE.UP
Commercial Club Takes Up the Subject
Ofthe School Boards Management.
-Deplorable Condition of the Streets
Organizing Real Estate Interests.

of the Board of School eommi ssioners,
were present to oppose the announced
effort in the direction of remov-
ing the control of the public
library from the School Board. The quar-
rel within the board over the removal of
Mr. Evans. librarian. was attended with
incidents entirely out OF harmony with the
public estimation of the library. This has
aroused a sentiment which found it's first
expression in a resolution offered last night
by Alpheus Snow. which is as follows:
Whereas, 1t is believed by some members OF
this club that 10 would be for the best interests
of the city of Indianapolis that the affairs OF the
City Library should be managed by board sep
arate and distinct from the Board of School
Commissioners; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the president OF this club Is
directed 10 appoint a committee OF five members
OF the club Or In his discretion to designate one
of the standing committees OF this club, to which
committee the following questions are referred,
First-Is IL for the best interests of the city OF
Indianapolis that the affairs of the City Library
should be managed by special library boardi
SecOnd-Are there legal difficulties in the way
OF such action, and II SO, In what manner can
they be remOvedi
Third should such board be appointive or
electivel II appointve. in what officer or officers
should the power OF appointment be lOdgedi IL
elective, should the election be by the city. at
Fourth-What should be the term OF office Of
such library boardl Is it desirable that the
members should hold office for long terms and
that the terms of different members should
pire at different timesl
Flfth-Should the members of such board serve
with or without compensation
Such committee shall at the next meeting or
the club, or. IL that be impracticable, as soon
port with Its recommendations concerning the
aforementioned matters. and with any other
recommendations which 1t may deem proper.
and shall also, II its report shall be in favor OF
the creation OF special library board. report TO
the club form OF bill suitable for introduction
in the Legislature, providing for the creation of
suoh library board, defining Its term OF office,
the method of its selection Its powers and duties
and containing such other provisions as the COM
mittee may deem necessary and proper.
This resolution bore the Indorsing sig
natures of Evans Wooden, L. G. Day. w.
III. EastmaD.T. T.. Griffith, Charles r. Rob-
bins. j. N. Hurry. Ovid B. Jameson. Horace
Mckay, Il. l.. Sewall and Hewitt Rowland.
Mr.. Snow made q speech in support
of the resolution. when the point was
raised by Mr.. Baker that there was no
quorum present. This caused the chair
man. Mr.. Foster, TO decide that nothing
could be done at such meeting or on such
u subject In any way TO commit the club
unless a quorum were present. He said,
however. that 1t was allowable under
precedent to give the matter an informal
discussion, but Mr.. Baker objected. Rev.
Mr. Swan spoke in behalf of the resolu-
tiOn, arguing that 1t did not commit the
club to support or opposition to it. Mr..
Griffith moved to refer the resolution
TO the board of directors, which meets to-
day, and Mr.. Snow consented, upon sug-
Restlon, to withdraw the resolution, with
tho understanding that IL shall be present
ed to the directory to-day. The school
commissioners present opposed the PROPOSE
at every step. and were in a minority. 1t
10 probable the animated scenes incident to
the library trouble are to shift to the arena
of the Commercial Club.
The committee on city interests made q
la a 0f
the city's streets and alleys. and the neces-
sity of arousing public sentiment to q
sense of the importance of improvement.
1t was declared that more stringent ordi-
nances and better and more effective laws
are needed under present conditions.
The paper submitted by the committee
was as follows:
The committee on city interests deems 1t ad-
visable 10 call the attention Of the club to the
present deplorable condition of our streets and
alleys. and to suggest the consideration OF the
question Of giving to the city authorities what
ever assistance can be rendered in having the
streets put IN better condition and kept more
cleanly. The committee believes that the pow
ers at present vested in the municipal authori-
ties may he helpfully supplemented by
ganiZation, especially by stimulation OF public
sentiment on the question OF better cleanliness
OF streets and alleys, possibly by procuring the
enactment OF moro effective ordinances relating
70 the subject, and by enforcing observance or
lation more adequately providing for the i'm
prOvement of streets that should be well paved,
and possibly by other work that Investigation
may suggest, for all OF which the committee
believes there is apparent urgent need.
Mr.. Robbins moved that the board of d.
rectors put themselves in communication
| with the city authorities. and devise some
effective form of action supplementary. If
necessary TO the city's efforts. The
| motion prevailed. q. :. Kiser offered
| q resolution urging the Board of Public
| Works to obtain An option on ground III
| the West End for the erection of a market
hat Oh, 90
the present West market. being leased
| ground. must be vacated by Aug /. The
resolution was opposed by Mr.. Twiname.
who said that the best governed cities are
abolishing public markets, but it was
adopted without further dissent The club
then adjourned.
| Organizing ReaI-Estate Interests.
The call of the Commercial Club for o
conference of the members in the real-es.
tate business was held yesterday afternoon.
with about twenty present. 1t was an
| nounced that the meeting was called for
an exchange of views and crystalliza-
tion of sentiment as to the best form of or
ganization for promotion of real-estste in
terests of the city in connection with the
club. and supplementary to Its work. Some
favored constituting department.. others
| favored board of real estate. but
there was q substantial opposition to an
exchange as exchanges are operated In
other cities. Tho discussion showed that
| the general opinion was In favor OF q. IL
ceDse for real-estate-dealers for the pro-
lection of the business. The meeting
finally adopted q motion petitioninR the
| club TO appoint permanent committee on
| real estate, which shall have it's mites aud
| powers clearly defined. The work of this
meeting will largely influence the report Of
| the special committee. which sought the
advice and information derived from the
dealers in real estate.