The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-09
TO OPEN THE LIBRARY
Patrons Are to Be Charged Ten
Cents q Month Each.
WILL NOT cHAncE QUARTERS.
Inc Commission and Council Comnafs-
tee Decide ON Means of Keeping
the Library Open.

The uhrary commission and a ross7r,sst-
tee OF the city councsl held two hours
session at the city hall yesterday rs,orn-
ing for the purF&ose OF deyHstng ways ard
means to continue tbs Seattle library. and
Eve minutes before the meeting adjourned
h was agveesi that next week the tnsff-
tuition which has temporarily closed down
should be opened TO the public, With fee
OF - cents q month 70 persons using IL
until tfe income reaches the expenses
While the library is regarded as a free
as well as q public institution. it was
deemed advisable to charge this fee for
two or three months. No person can be
compelled "a ray this fee. but the COM
mission as well as the committee OF the
council feel certain that those VINO patroa-
txe the library day In and day OUT wiIi
not object 10 contributing so small an
amount as 10 cents in return for the great
benefit derived from it The question
which confronted the city ana the conf
mission was a serious one. and II WAS
considered that either the 10 cents would
have to be levied upon each patron or
the library would have 10 suspend opera
ton untn It's treasury should be reim-
bursed from the fines and licenses coli
1ecsed hy the city.
The meeting was well attended. among
those present being Mrs. Belle B. Haincs.
DIR. A. B. kibbe, Eben Smith and Thomas
p. Hardin. of the library commission.
Delegates James. yoigt. Hurd. Chapman,
and Aldermen Miller. Lovetoy. Compton.
Anderson aud Daulton. Mr. Dauitoa
acted as chairman Of the meeting, which
was opened by DR.. Kfbbe addressing the
members on the subject of the financial
condition of the commission and the
amount which would be required to tide
over the temporary embarrassment The
figures he gave were the same as those
presented by the commission to the coun-
ell last Monday night. The commission.
DIR. Kibbe said. had even agreed to make
greater reduction IN the salaries of all of
the employees Of the library notwfthstand-
ing that they are very low at present.
OF the present rent charged by john Col
Inns for the present quarters. he had
agreed TO donate $50 month for the next
six months 10 the commission Ia order
to render them assistance
Mr.. pauitoa stated thatln behalf of the
Rsalto company he was present TO offer
to the commission quarters in the Rsalto
building free OF charge for the next few
months or until the library was Out OF It's
present embarrassment
Mr. Daulton said he thought that. If the
commission would accept his proposition
and that IL the eighteen members of the
city council would agree to donate their
salaries for two months. the library would
in a very short time be on Its feet again.
Mr. James said that while MIR. Daulton
and one or two others might be IN a po-
sition to surrender their salaries In the
interests of the library. he believed that
there were many who could not do so. and
he did not believe that such a piece OF
legislation would receive the support OF
the council.
The question was then discussed Of va
eating the present quarters and moving
the library into new quarters. but tnat
did not meet with the Endorsement OF the
commission. 1t was stated. 100, .hat the
commission had leased the building Tor
a stated period and the lease would not
expire until next January
Mr. James inquired if IL were true that
certain parts of the lease had not been
complied with by Mir. Collins, and the re-
My was that for time proper heat had
not been furnished. Mr.. Hardin stated
that IL was very serious question
whether on this ground the city could
vacate the building. He did not believe
Il. True, IL the city suffered any damages
suit could be brought against Mr.. Collins.
Mr.. Hardin, however. was OF the opinion
that Ii would be better TO temporarily
shut down the library than to move out
OF the existing quarters. Mrs. Haines
thought that Mr.. Collins had treated
the commission very nicely. He had gone
to the extra expense of $4,000 in order 10
fit up the top floor OF his building for IL
hrary purposes aAd was willing to con-
tribute a portion of the rent 10 the Ii
brary.
This appeared to settle the question OF
moving the library into cheaper quarters.
and the meeting then discussed how the
money could be raised for maintaining
the institution for the next few months.
tR toms sHsf s4fa a
Mr. James said that the city was In about
the same condition as the library. II had
very title money. and that which II could
derive from the levy this year would
hardly be sufficient TO meet the necessary
obligations. There was only one thing TO
do, and that was for the commission to
decide on the least amount which Ii
would require and for the city to then
make some arrangements to give II.
Expenses would have TO be curtaiied In
every direction. The council. Mr.. James
thought, had a right to require this of the
commission so long as the commission
had come to IL for aid. The proposition
to charge each patron OF the library ~
cents a month was advanced, and all
present seemed 20 think that IL was a
good one. Mr.. Hardin. however. said
that II would be impossible for the city
20 compel any one 10 pay that or any
other SUN. as the charter provided that
the library should be free to the public.
lie thought however. that a person
should certainly be willing 10 pay the
money. and he believed that the. patrons
were willing, or at least a great portion
OF them. If however. a person refused 10
pay the money and the city refused TO
issue books by reason OF this failure. the
court would under the language of the
city charter issue n writ OF naandamus
compelling the city &c issue the books.
The members OF the council said that in
such case the city could. and la fact
Mould. be compelled 20 shut down the
library until funds were available, I,
was thought unlikely that any person
who understood the situation would GO
into court about the matter. Mr.. Kfhbe
believed that ff the council would allow
the commission 10 charge the sum named
and at the same time appropriate $50.
the commission would be in a position 10
get out OF IT'S present predicaTnent. This
IL was agreed 10 do. and after some
further discussion OF the subject the
meeting adjourned.
AZ present the library has about 100
active patrons. and by securing 10 cents
a month from each one will get a reve-
nue. OF sSoe IL Ia rot thought. however.
that this much will be secured for the
reason that In many Instances there are
two or three cards IN one family. and
when the charge is made a family Is
likely 10 curtaii and retain but one card
The commission viii go to work on th-
matter at once and VIII he ready 70 oren
the library bs- the beginning OF the week
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Wants to Buy Water by Quantity.