The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-26
THE LIBRARY BOARD.
Investigation of It's Methods by
the Council.
THE CONTRACT WITH LOCKWOOD
Three Experts and . Joint Committed
Ask Ouestions-More Testimony to
Be Taken-Cost OF Books.

An investigation was begun yesterday
OF the management of the public library
under the direction of the city council. A
Joint committee was appointed. with
power to invite three experts, provided
their services could be obtained without
cost. Notices were sent requesting the
library commissi oners to meet the COM
mittee in the library. The five members
of the board. Mrs. Belle Haines. Mrs.
Frank \. Wilcox, Eben Smith, r. c.
Washburn and John Z. Aver, responded.
They were met by Aldermen Carrie and
Brewer. Delegates Lyon and Crichton, F.
J. Foster, an attorney; Griffith Davies and
Mrs. W. r. Bentley. the three last
named being experts. The Investigators
organized by eecting Mr.. Foster chairman.
Dan Raglan took shorthand notes for the
committee and Miss Fannie A. Hall for
the library board.
The preliminary talk developed the fact
that the contract made by the library COM
missioners with ]. s. Lock wood over year
ago would be the principal subject of in
quiry. The contract engaged Mr.. Lock-
wood to do all the buying for 10 per cent.
commission, the city to have the benefit Of
all the trade discounts his experience could
secure.
The commissioners were all questioned,
| chiefly by Mr.. Foster. and replies were
frankly given. although Mrs. Halnes
proved the best witness. She has given q
great deal Of attention to the details of the
library, and was at no loss for replies. Mr..
Foster had allowed little OF the tone of a
prosecuting attorney breaking down adj
verse testimony to govern his first ques-
Of ,,th np yrit Nrc HOW
did not fail to give him a good-natured re-
buke. The committee very soon found
that it was dealing with conscientious
| body of ladies and gentlemen who had
the interests of the library very much at
heart.
The investigation will be continued
| today with the examination of Librarian
| Smoke and his assistants.
Eben Smith was sworn and related the
| circumstances under which J. S. Lock-
wood, of Boston, was engaged to purchase
the books for the library. He was intro
| duced with very strong recommendations.
| They had purchased through Lockwood
| in all about $1,000 or $4,000 worth of books.
Invoices for all purchases were on file.
| Colonel Sheafe was chairman of the COM
| mission at the time of signing the con-
| tract
John +. Aver was examined and related
that the reason Lockwood was engaged
was because of his exceptional qualilica-
tons. They engaged Z. J. Smoke as tenn
| porary secretary.
Until he had acquired residence here ?"
asked Mr. Foster.
"No until we were satisfied that he was
| a competent man" In reply to other
| questions he said he had made no per-
sonal inquiries as to Mr.. Lockwood. Since
the signing of the contract he believed
| that with their present experience
| they might have done better; still, he
considered the arrangement had many
| advantages. Witness had sent to make
| inquiries about Mr. Smokes qualifications
! as librarian and was quite satisfied. He
| had based his opinion of Lockwood on his
| testimonials and by his acquaintance. He
| thought they might have done better if
| they had given the purchasing Of books to
| Mr.. Smoke, but at the time he thought
they were doing the best. He usually
called in at the library every day. They
| had four regular employees and two occa-
sional-one was Mr.. Smoke, the libra
rian; Mrs. Harnett, for cataloguing;
| Peter Pirret and James Pirret. who took
| charge of the reading and reference rooms;
| MISS Henry attends to the book counter,
alternating with another young lady.
There were formerly eight employees, when
| the books were being catalogued.
r. c. Washburn was asked by Mr.. Lyon
! if the number of employees compared
favorably with other lbrabries. He re-
| piled that he believed 1t did. He knew Mr..
| Lockwood by reputation as 4 member of
| the firm of Lockwood G. Brooks. Mr..
| 7 do oil Of ,u wiz fnr
| libraries; his last task had been to fit out
the Enoch Pratt library of Baltimore.
| Witness had asked any Boston men he
| happened to know as to Lockwood's quail
| tications Lockwoo had list of $1,000
books which he had compiled, with the
J aid of a number OF librarians This was
submitted By him, and the members of the
| board selected between 5000 and 1000
| from it. Some books not in Lockwood's
| list were selected by Mr.. Smoke and by
| others.
"Do you consider the books you selected
| good as a basis for library with the linn
| tied means of this library?" asked Mr..
| Foster.
Yes" replied Mr.. Washburn. 1--WE had
! to cover wide field for selection; we
/ could not take an entire series in classes
| but had TO break them. Lockwood has re-
ceived about 800 or $500 in commission
| He did not do the cataloguing"
Don't you think that a competent II
brarian could have done the buying with
out paying commission"
"No. Mr.. Smoke is a good librarian, but
| the matter of buying books needed man
! with a know ledge of the book market |
| made no examination of the accounts;
we depended upon the librarian as to that
| l believe the contract, on the whole. a
| good arrangement"
Mrs. Belle Haines testified that the
| library Journal, of Boston, spoke we'll of