The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-02-08
SCUDDHR ON. LIBRARY.
Thinks Jersey City Should
Give More Money
for Its Support.
SERVICES AT OTHER CHURCHES.
Special Musical Programmes at
st. Johns and the Green
vile Reformed.

The Rev. DR.. Scudder last night made
the Free Library the subject of the pre-
Jude to his regular discourse. He first
gave the terms of the law and the fnan-
cial and other statistics connected with
the library. with which the public is
already familiar. after which he said:-
Now, although the law has directed
the Board OF Finance to turn over $26, 900
a year to this worthy institution, us a
matter of fact 1t has repeatedly defied and
disobeyed the law and never paid more
than $4,000 q year until compelled to do
SO by law suit established by the Library
Committee. One more Instance, by the
way, of official disregard for the expressed
will of tho people. Now, the object of
the recent bill introduced by our patriotic
Assemblyman from Hudson county is to
enable the Board of Finance to ~perpetuate
its parsimonious policy and give to 1t the
sanction Of law. But as 1Shave already
minated, this peerless statesman had
not the courage to push it through the
Legislature. Already an adverse report
has been made by the committee in
charge.
HAS MANY READERS.
o an average over one thousand vol
umeS are taken from his building every
day, and Saturday the number rises to
1,5C0. So thoughtful and accommodating
has been the management that seven de-
livery stations have been established in
various parts of the city, and thus multi
tudes have been saved the time and ex-
pense of visiting the library itself. AL
ready 5000 people are taking out books,
and soon the numbe will reach 10000.
The reading room, so commodious, cheer
tul, accessible and inviting, has domon-
strated its popularity by the constant
throng fr%equenting it by gay and night,
''This library has developed into a ver-
itable poor man, college. Its educative
influence is second only to the public
school. The honest workingnan cannot
afford to buy expensive books and period
icals. II ne is to be q reader the city must
furnish his reading material, for his
money must go into bread and fuel and
clothing for his wife and children. Other
cities provide him literally with intel
lectual nourishment. and Jersey City
should do the same. Any man who at
tempts to diminish the usefulness of our
Public Library and curtail the comforts of
the working classes is al enemy of the
people and Justly deserves their ridicule
and contempt. Anyone but a Hudson
county politician could tell you that $40
600 a year is barely enough to cover the
salaries of the various employees in such a
MANY sided institution. II the library
had no more h this there would be
nothing for rent aud new books and
other necessary expenses. =
BELIEVES IT WELL ADMINISTERED.
Having carefully examined the work
ing of this Institution, l find 1t most ad-
mirably and economically administered
Every dollar of expenditure is accounted
for, and all its financial transactions are
open to public inspection-that is more
than we can say for other departments of
our city government. Let the political
hawks and vultures keep their claws off
our public library. Give us at least one
thing in Jersey City that is free from
intrigue and corruption, and where the
offices are filled by those who stand high
est in competitive examination and moi
by subservient nenchmen. Let the ex-
cellent library law now standing on the
statute book remain where it is.
at is true that $40. 600 a year, wrenched
forcibly from this beneficent institution.
would be able to create a score of sine
cures for AFFECT political heelers, but such
action would be an open insult to the in
telllgence of this community, an utter
disregard for the wants and comforts Of
the laboring classes, and an especial
hardship to the rising generation in Jer-
sey City,n