The morning call., 1894-08-08

Horace Wilson renewed his request be-
fore the board of trustees Of the Mechanics
Institute for an investigation last evening,
and for the second time the request was
denied, with the cliucher added to the de-
NAL that it was final.
The librarians request was put in this
form:
SAN FRANCISCO, Monday. August 6.
The Board of Trustees Of the Mechanics In
stitute: Since my request for an investigation
was NOT granted at your last meeting renew it
and ask the appointment Of committee TO in
veStigate and report the causes OF my discharge
as librarian.
l Insist thus urgently because, notwithstand-
ing the assertion made at your last session that
There was no charges and nothing 10 investi-
gate" it is nevertheless the fact that charges of
most damaging character having the authorl-
cation and support OF members OF your board
have been 1ndustrIously circulated through the
press and otherwise, coupled win the assur-
ance OF ample evidence Justliylng the action OF
The board on these grounds. ! have already
stated TO you that these accusations were false,
. and | again so state.
/ ask but the scant courtesy OF an Opportu
:. nily TO Tefu!e these accusations. Very respect
fully, HORACE WILSON.
This request was backed by the follow
ing properly addressed:
The undersigned members Of the Mechanics
Institute recognize The justice Of the request of
M Wilson. late librarian of the institute. and
We respectfully ask you 10 grant the investiga-
tiOn desired: Horace Davis John Middleton,
f. NJ. Robertson, L p. Heard. Z. s. Haley. (.
T. Allen, George Webb Alexander, Frank Dali
ion. A. B. Davis, Robert II. Fletcher, L. S. A,
j. Charles L. Hops, h. NJ. darkness, Charles l..
. Patton, James b. Sletson. John S. Hlttell,
Irving NJ. Scott.
Out of justice t. the institute as well as to
Mr.. Wilson: q. Z. AEes, L. l.. DoTr, Id, A.
. +. Morrison. WIN L. Fisher. L. A. RambO,
George ID. Hops, William Il. Sherwood, l. ii.
Gilmore.
Mr.. Symmes, Mr.. Wilson's constant
friend, moved that the request for the ap-
pointment Of a committee TO investigate
be granted. It was promptly seconded
and Mr.. Wilson's right TO be heard cham
pioned in mild fashion, when George Cum
mings introduced the following:
WHEREAS AT The last quarterly meeting of
the members OF this institute a motion was
made and carried unanimously that iU was The
sense of the meeting that The trustees should
Ietrench the expenses Of the library 20 at least
The extent of $500, and the trustees, in con-
fo:mlty with that resolution, passed a motion
sft the next regular meeting reducing the salary
OF tile secretary by 500 AID dispensing with the
services Of the chief librarian after July l,
thereby making a reduction OF the monthly ex-
penSes Of the library OF $500; therefore be il
RsSOtUsd. IEat said action was taken solely
on The ground OF economy and TO carry out the
expressed desire of the members given at the
quarterly meeting. The grOunos Tor the said
motion beng given and recorded IN the min
uIes OF The meeting of trustees, we depTecaIe
any attempt 10 attribute any other motive on
The part Of The board in this case and consider
the action CT the board taken at that time as
nnaL
In furthering his motion that this be
adopted Cummings declared that the
board had made no charges against Mr..
Wilson, and he should trace the disturb
ing rumors TO their sources and then de-
mand satisfaction for them. MIR. Form
hall WAS said to be the authority, and il
Del- I'D hnn ba OulR n n
This board had been called brutes,''
and otherwise maligned because of their
action, which so far as he was concerned
was perfectly conscientious. He thought
Mr.. Wilson deserved no courtesy at their
hands
During the entire discussion Mr.. Wilson
was present, sitting near the reporters
table.
Recording Secretary Doolan came to
Mr.. Cummings assistance with a long
speech. largely culled from the previously
published financial report, showing that
the funds Of the institute were falling be-
hind. Tie receipts for the four months,
March to June, were S14, ST. Y, the outlay
SIG, 270 so. leaving a deficit of S4393 II,
ratio that would net a deficit for the year
of SIS. 179 ~. This did not touch the Pa
vlIion account. The receipts showed
general falling of. and a reduction Of eX-
penses was mandatory. The speaker had
economy, and whatever rumOrs were
abroad they had not emanated from the
board and needed no answer from it.
Marsden Manson thought that if these
economic explanations had been made in
the first place it would have been much
better for all concerned. But he thought
that DOW Mr. Wilson's request for an in
vestigaion should be granted, for the sake
of the institute.
Joseph Leggett thought it a queer posi-
outside committee to investigate whether
the board had lied in explaining why it
had discharged Mr.. Wilson.
thought that the board itself should hear
created by the rumOrs that had gone
abroad.
+. j. Symmes thought that the request
of twenty-four members should be an
swered by the appointment of the commit
tee.
Cummings made another of his charac-
teristic speeches and moved jan indefinite
pOstDoDement of the whole matter. 1t was
carried by vote Of to 3-the three be-
ing A. S. Hallidie, Marsden Manson and
j. J. Symmes.
The board then took up other business.
Following its economic lines is dropped J.
Hartman from the roll of assistant
Librarians and fixed schedule of salaries
for that office of $40 per month for the
nrst year and adding So per month each
year thereafter until $50 was reached.
NO NEW VOLUMES.