The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-31
PETER PIRRET STAYS
But as Assistant, Not As City
Librarian.
THE BOARD MEETS IN SECRET.
A Reporters Presence Causes Painful
silence ana Arouses Mr.. Har-
dfn's Innate Love OF Truth.

The library commissioners met yester-
day afternoon at O'Clock and reconsia-
cred the vote whereby Peter h Plrret was
elected librarian. IL being decided that the
election was Illegal as Pirret at the time ne
was chosen was not a citizen OF the united
States. A new vote Was taken. resulting
TN his rejection unanimously. The cnes-
ton was then considered whether PIrres
should remain at all, and IL was discussed
al great length. DR.. A. II. kiboe. WHO
had opposed Pirret. took the ground that
he would be competent to be assistant H.
brarian and inasmuch as he had confessed
his wrong-doing in the McEiwain matter
TO discharge him would be cruelty. no
action was taken, and Pirret VIII remain
in the library as assistant.
Many applications for the ONCE or IL
brarian are now On file. Two OF the apph-
cants have the required qualifications. ana
either. IL would seem. would be sausfae-
tory. One Of them has had experience IN
smaller libraries, and is familiar with the
modern system OF cataloginS- The re-
naming applications are thought 10 ue
not worth considering. The board VIII
meet at 3 o'clock Monday afternoon ana
decide definitely upon a librarian
AT the meeting yesterday there were
present Hon. Ecen Smith, Mrs L. T.
Baekus Mrs. Belle B. Haines, DIR. hlooe
and lIr. Thomas y. Hardin. The arrivai
OF a representative OF the Pcst-Intelligen-
from the momentary silence that fell over
the group there was no question that he
was not welcome. Ar. Smith, as chairman
of the board, courteousiy informed the
commissioners that the visitor was
newspaper man. and thereupon there en-
sued an informal discussion as to whether
the meetings of the board were to be pub
lN The general opinion seemed to be that
the doors should he closed Upon learn
ing the attitude of the board. the COM
missioners were told that the Post-1ntelli-
gencer had sent representative TO the
meeting as a matter of right. Mr.. Har-
din said:
II do not know that the public has any
right to overhear the proceedings of this
board We can give out for publication
what We wish to after the meeting has
adjourned. but while IL is in session, there
is much gone over that ought not TO be
made public. For my own part / say a
great many things that should not want
to see I'm print. and as for the newspapers.
my experience with them has convinced
me that 80 per cent. of what they publish
is untrue"
After hearing Mr.. Hardin. DR. Kibbe ex-
ploded a small bombshell by the statement
that as the proceedings of the former
meeting were to have been held secret,
their disclosure branded some one of the
commissioners as guilty of bad faith. But
for such disclosure, the public would have
been kept in ignorance of Mr.. Pirret's dis
qualification. and the unpleasant state of
affairs confronting the board would have
been avoided. Mrs. Backus and Mrs.
Haines said little, but they deplored the
publicity that had been given the matter
Mr.. Smith suggested that the board de-
liberate on the question of admitting the
public but no action was taken. Accord
ingiy the Post-Intelligencer representa-
tive withdrew, and the imperfect account
cf fha O{y oho ny,
tanned from one of the commissioners af-
ter the meeting had adjourned.