The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-08
FUNDS FOR LIBRARY.
Useful Institution With a Fast
Growing Debt
DECREASE OF FINES The CAUSE
The Csmmfssisn and Finance Commit
tee rryinx 90 Find Means 80 Keep
the Library Qp~a.

The finance COMMITTEES Of the city conn-
csi and the hbsary commission met last
evening in the rooms OF the library % de-
wise savs and means whereby funds could
be procured 70 pay cff the Debt Of the con-
nission. which amounts TO 81 90 aad for
which no funds are available
Mayer Phelps, Aldermen Sweeney. Nil
Ter, Daultoa and else and Delegates
Crichton. kistlsr and Little. composing
the joint finance committee. aad Mesxrs.
Smith. Rochester and Hardin. OF the CON-
mission. we're present In opening the
meeting President Smith. with the assist
anee of Librarian Atkinson. explained the
cause Of the debt. The only revenue re-
ceived by the commission 10 defrsy
the current expenses Of the library
is 10 per cent. OF the Enes. penalties
and licenses Of the city. and that amount
has 30 decreased within the past year as
to cause 8 debt Of some 500 each month
In the running expenses Of the inssitu-
ton. The revenue received from the CITY
for the past SIX months has averaged
apout 500. and the running expenses are
as follows: Renf, 500; light. SO; tale
phone. $3.50; printing. s.: miscellaneous
stationery, s.; reblndGng books, $40: saia-
ries, $3s@; total. 500. Thus the expenses
EXCEED the revenue about 500 month.
Librarian Atkinson stated that the
strictest attention was paid 10 the practice
of economy about the institution. and that
the employees we're faithful in the dis
charge of their duties. The library has
1900 volumes st present, and of this num-
Der 1900 are in actual circulation. the bal
ance being books Of reference. aliases. etc.
Last year the entire circulation was %. :
COO volumes. During the first six months
Of the present year II has been 1000, and
is constantly Increasing.
Comptroller Parry stated that, while
there was large sum Of money in the
treasury at present. there would be u
heavy demand on il in short time. and
he did not see how 81. 90. the sum asked
for by the commission. could possibly be
appropriated at this time.
Mavor Phelps said he was heartily in
favor Of the continuance of the library.
and thought some means could be de-
vised whereby the debt could bs paid. He
would do everything in his power to help
the institution along IN an official as well
as personal manner.
While all the members on the finance
committee expressed themselves on the
question. and ali seemed heartily in favor
OF doing something 10 pay the debt and
provide some means for increasing the
revenue Of the library. they all thought
time should be taken in considering the
matter.
Alderman Sweeney thought the money
needed might be transferred from some
other iund. He said the library was q
credit to Seattle. and should by all means
be kept open to tho public. He suggested
the curtai;ing of expenses of some other
department and endowing the library
with the money thus obtained.
1t was decided to refer the matter TO the
Joint finance committee OF the council and
have that COMMITTEES submit its report at
the next meeting OF the council.