Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-04
A F r e E L B r A r Y
Senator Mcmillan Introduces Bill on the
Subject.
To- BE Governed by q Board Of Trus-
tees and Supported by Fines Paid
Into the Police Court.

Senator Mcmillan today introduced a bill
to provide for free public library, differ
ing In its general features from that which
has already been introduced in the House
and Senate. The Mcmillan bill creates a
board of six library trustees, with power to
appoint librarian and assistants. 1t sets
aside two-thirds of the Police Court fines
In District cases-averagfng about $4,000 a
year-for the support of the library which
is Ito be kept at some central or eligible
place in the District" The bill, which was
referred to the District committee, is as
follows:
Text of the Measure.
That a free public library shall be main
tanned in the District of Columbia. which
shall be the property Of the said District
All actions relating to such library, or for
the recovery of any penalties lawfully es-
tablshed In relation thereto, shall be
brought in the name of the District of Co.
lumbia
Section 2. That all persons who are per-
manent or temporary residents of the Dis
trit Of Columbia shall be entitled to the
privileges of the District library subject
to such rules and regulations as may be
lawfully established in relation thereto.
The Board of Trustees.
Section 8. That the said library shall
be In charge Of a board of library trustees,
who shall apply for and receive from the
collector Of taxes of the District of Co.
lumbia all moneys appropriated for the
said library and who shall purchase the
books and procure the necessary appen-
dages for such library. The said board of
trustees shall be composed of six members,
each of whom shall be a taxpayer in the
District of Columbia. They shall be ap-
pointed by the Commissioners Of the Dis
trfct OF Columbia and shall hold office for
six years; Provided. that at the first meet
ing of the said board the members shall be
divided by lots into three classes The
first class. composed of two members, shall
hold office for two years: the second class,
composed of two members. shall hold Office
for four years: the third class, composed
of two members, shall hold offic,, for six
years. Any vacancy caused by the ex-
piration Of the term of any member or
by resignation or death shall be filled by
the District Commissioners.
Duties of the Board.
Section 4. That the said board shall be
held accountable for the proper care and
preservation OF the District library and
shall have power to provide for the safe
keeping Of the same; to prescribe for taking
and returning books; to assess and collect
fines and penalties for the loss or injury of
books. and to establish all other needful
rules and regulations for the management
of the library as the said board shall deem
proper. The said board OF trustees shall
cause the District library to be kept at
some central or eligible place in the said
District. which place it shall determine; and
such board shall also appoint librarian 10
have the care and superintendent of said
library, who shall be responsible to the
board of trustees for the impartial enforce
ment of all rules and regulations lawfully
established in relation to said library. The
librarian shall appoint such assistants as
the board shall deem necessary to the proper
conduct of the library.
Section D. That the board of library trus-
tees shall make an annual report 20 the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia
giving such facts and statistics relative to
the management of the said library and the
library moneys as the said Commissioners
shall direct .t
Funds for Its Maintenance. g..
Section o. That the collector of taxes of
the District of Columbia shall annually Ray
over to the board of library trustees. for The
maintenance of said library, two-thtrds of
the proceeds of all fines collected for any
breach or the penal laws of the District of
Columbia and for penalties"