The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-26

Mr.. Lockwood, and she wrote to him. He
replied, forwarding number of creden-
tials, which were very satisfactory. Wit
ness had consulted DR.. Kibbe, who was a
well-informed man, and he wrote to the
Buffalo library, one of the best in
the country, and the librarian re-
Piled that Mr.. Lockwood was
a man of good Judgment and strongly
advising the engagement of some such
expert as the best practical way of found
ing library, The library board invited
suggestions from the pub ic through the
newspapers. Colonel Lockwood's method
was not "haphazard," as Mr.. Foster had
insinuated. He had watched opSortuni-
ties and bought cheaply for cash. Mrs.
Haines had inquired of booksellers and
publishers and in her opinion the prices
were very favorable. The commission had
from 81, 500 to $1,000 month TO USE The
library was not as evenly balanced as the
commission desired, but their means were
limited and varied tastes had to be con-
suited
Mr.. Washburn, in reply to a question,
said he had not himself added up the
amounts charged.
Judge Smith, again examined said the
been completed yet; the librarian had
pointed out number of small discrepan-
cies which it took lot of correspondence
to straighten. In reply to Mr.. Foster
Judge Smith said it was very much mat
ter of judgment whether the library was
as good as it might have been made. In
his judgment, while it was open to techni-
cal criticism. the library was a very fair
H. 6 - =. 4 L II.
Mr.. Lockwood had stuffed" prices, as
Mr.. Foster suggested, but he had no
knowledge on the subject.
Mrs. w. r. Bentley was sworn as an ex-
pert. She had not thoroughly examined
the books in the library; had looked
through books on art and biography, and
books of reference: she found very many
excellent books on art, good selection
and in proportion; her opinion was not so
favorable as to biographies. but her objec-
ton was mainly to the reference depart
ment, which seemed to be too large in
proportion to the size Of the library.
Judge Smith desired to remind the COM
mittee that when they made the contract
the board was led to hope from the
revenue at that time they would be able to
spend considerably more. The revenue
fell oil, leaving the selections in many de-
partments incomplete.
Mr.. Davies then testified that he had
made superficial examination of the cat
alogues. Some of the books, those bought
from the standard houses, were bought at
low prices, but in many cases he saw
books on the list which were two-tnirds
more and some one-third more than he
could have bought when dealer. Lippirs-
colts Magazine cost the library $l08 a vol
ume, when he bought them for about 80
cents q volume. Here Mrs. Haines cross
questioned Mr.. Davies about his being in
the book business and as to the editions of
various books. Mr.. Davies thought it
wise to have paid Mr.. Lockwood 10 per
cent. commission if ne had given the time
he should. In three or four cases he no.
ticed that books cost nearly six times as
much as they could be bought for. Mrs.
Haines interposed and said she took the
responsibility for buying some books in the
city, especially bound volumes of maya
zines.
The committee then arose and will meet
today