The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-21
WILSON IS FIRED.
Librarian of Mechanics
Institute.
A Summary Proceeding by the Board
of Trustees That Gives Rise
to Much Comment.

A bombshell has been cast into the
midst of that hitherto peaceable institu-
ton called the Mechanics Institute. After
sixteen years long and faithful service
Horace Wilson. the librarian, has been
told that his services are no longer re-
quired.
The resolution was adopted at the last
meeting of the board of trustees. or the
fourteen members comprising the board
nine were present: A. S. Hallidie, the
president: George Cumming, yice-presi-
dent; G. A. Main, treasurer; r. 2.
Doolan. recording secretary; Charles Z.
Mooser, corresponding secretary; George
r. Ayers. Henry L. Bush, Ferdinand
Formulas and Oscar Lewis. George E.
Dow, Joseph Lsggett. Marsden Manson,
Henry Root and f. j. Symmes were the
absentees.
1t was an ticipated by most members of
the BOARD that sucn movement was in
contemplation, but its adoption was ex-
trem ely sudden. Ferdinand Formulas vas
responsible for the resolution. which sug-
gested that latter July l, 1894, the SER
wees of Horace Wilson as librarian he
dispensed with" The motion was Sec
onded, but vigorously opposed by the
president. A. S. Halidie. However. it
was carried by the votes of Cumming,
Nealon. DOOlan, Mooser, Ayers and Bush,
Oscar Lewis declining to vote.
So Horace Wilson steps out. and ac-
cording TO present arrangements j. IL.
Culver, secretary of the board, takes the
dual position. This will mean an increase
OF salary, of course, alth ough it is the pur-
pose of The board 10 cEt down his saiary
as secretary from 500 to $50 month.
MIR. Wilson stated last evening that the
l ~ hsna AHF had NAl~
| him completely by surprise. II cannot see
that they mad any right TO beat me in such
a cavalier way" he said. 'My record is
| this For six years l was at the Imperial
University of japan as professor of Eng
! lsh and mathematics, and on my return to
! this country / was invited TO take the posi-
| lion Of librarian of the Mechanics Insti-
tute at salary of $3.50 month. That vas
in 1878, and for sixteen years L have held
the position without a muTmur on either
side
1T cannot be that they are dissatisfied
with my work or l would have had some
intimaton to that effect. But no. l have
presented my accounts, financial and libra
rian, every month, quarter and year since
! my appointment, and l have not, in any
| single instance, heard one single murmur
concerning them CuTiously enough. A. 5.
| Hallidie was president of the board when
was appointed. lie is president now
when / am discharged.
''As a member of the Loyal Legion aud
the Grand Army of the Republic | thought
l was entitled to some courtesy, but the
! board has shown me none. [ had no
warning of my intended retirement, and
| the first heard of it was By the formal
notice ! received from Mr.. Culver. the
| secretary"
On their part the trustees are not will
! ing to assign any reason for their sum-
mary retirement of Mr.. Wilson.
Henry L. Bush was seen last evening
and spoke as follows:
st was merely question of economy.
Mr.. Wilson had been with us very long
time, it is true. but we though: we acted
| we'll within our privilege when we re-
solved TO dispense with his services.
| There was no notice necessary, we
thought. We simply concluded that we
had no further use for Mr.. Wilson.
This isoDly The preliminary move of a
grand sweep that we have in contempla-
zion. We have to reduce expenses, some
how, and that we began at the top of the
! tree only shows that we mean TO cut fur
Their. At our next meeting some of the
clerks will take their leave of the iDsti-
tute. We are also intending to cut down
MIR. Culver's salary as secretary"
rs it intended that Mr.. Culver shall
take the position of librarian, vice Mr..
Wilson, in addition 20 his present occupa-
tion?"
81 cannot say, but as far as l know at
present we have il in mind to give the post
of librarian to our present assistant liz
brarian, Arthur NJ. Jellison. But we have
no fault whatever TO find with the work
performed by Mr.. Wilson during his long
term of office. 1t is simply a question Of
economy that is all.
So the matter stands. Mr.. Wilson. how
ever, still expresses himself profoundly ig-
norant as to any direct cause for his re-.
tirement.