The herald., 1895-04-09
THE Library DIRECTORS
Their Meeting Yesterday Was
Not So Turbulent
CONSIDERABLE FIRE EATING
The Salaries of the Librarian and
Assistant Reduced
Miss Kelso Gets sIsS and Hiss diasse Gets SIS
The Proce edings Denounced by
Friends of the Officials

that a person can get buri d now ada, S
at remarkably low rate. In fact, by
actua pricing, | found that first-class
funeral costs only $22. 80 That includes
erything-eveD the half lot.
Vast. of good cal estate" growled
a practical colleague.
For my par, | prefer cremation. y
said tn practical and progressive Miss
Kelso.
"Order, gentlemen, broke in on this
cheerful conversat on, as Chairman
Major Bonebrake called to order the first
org auiZed meeting OF the public library
directors in the north tower room o. the
city hail yesterday afternoon. ID rectors
Bone brake Flint, 'Meiveny, Stewart ana
Storrs answered Clerk kelso' S roll call.
Miss Ke. 50 read the minutes OF The
stormy previous meeting, and MIR. Flint
forthwith sent for the city attorney. Mr.
ID mn soon stood before the board Mr..
Flint read t. written document repre-
sentIng q copy OF the minutes OF The
latest proceedings the last meeti lg, re-
viewi the kelso-H .ssedirectors fiasco
and the votes therein taken. The silence
was oppre ssive. ~
con how do you do. Mr.. 'Melveny?"
said Miss kes suddenly perceiving that
gent eman present. did you catch any
fish?"
The reply was lost in the deep tones of
Director Flint "Now. Mr.. Dunn can
this board, uy vote. expunge the records
of this city? The vital question is, Have
we librarlan?"
Gentlemen, this is very hard matter
to pass upon and | should like to avoid
it." said Mr.. Dunn. but | think you
have committed one error in not show
ing in full your exact doings III the min
utes. The minutes of q body like this
should not be expunged. Whether you
nave a librarian or not, | cannot imme-
diately pass upon. If you will demand an
opinion in writing, 1 shall giveit, though
as the proceedings were rather peculiar, L
had rather not pass on the question.
Cannot tonight, anyway. Is that all,
gentlemen?'
Yes" Exit Mr.. Dunn.
Mr.. Flint and Mss Kelso now got into
an alteration over the minutes and the
votes and other things. Said Mr.. Fllnt:
IN IS Kelso, have you those minutes?''
mo, | didn t keep them" purred the
librarian.
You have that thing all mixed up
yet!" exclaimed Director Storrs. And
the righteousness of the situation caused
a ripple of grim laughter to circle around
the table.
MIR. Flint began to read.
81 didn't second that motion you
IT,.
vous laughter passed around the board at
each contretemps as the reading was in
terrupted by II never moved that!' Il
never seconded that!' Some body must
have seconded it or the chair shouldn t
have put it. 5oa4
With a fiery eye Mr.. Flint arose. II
think it is a sh me that the public records
cannot be kept intact, he cried, "but
can be omitted or destroyed. 1 desire
here to publicly enter my protest against
such a practice in the name OF the people
we represent who cannot know our pro-
ceedings." Miss Kelso, the keeper OF the
records. looked askance.
gently inquired Mr.. O'Melvcny.
YES it is, said Mr.. Flint.
The minutes were then reviewed and
amended and finally adopted as amended.
The committee T ports were then called
for and the rest of the proceeding were
carried on in an atmosphere OF nervous.
ness. Director Flint laughingly led his
colleague. Mr.. O'Melveny, over to win
dow seat and they INDUCED i'll serious
but motherly little chat.
Chairman Boneb brake remarked that as
the committee on books and donation
had no report he would like to say under
the subject of rules and adm nistration
that he believed the library employees
should have as much chance to enjoy La
TleSta us any ptutJ lllltNccS.
Dicctor Flint reported that the commit
tee suggested the library close as follows:
Tuesday, April 49, from 2 IN. to p. nj. !;
"Wednesday at pm. Thursday. from 8
a. m. to p. M. Friday, from . pm. to 5
pm; Saturday at p.m.
On motion of Mr.. Flint the order sug-
gested was adopted, Mr. Stewart remark
ically: 81 want it spread on the records
of the town that | voted for that.
Mr.. Flint replied through the general
laugh We'll, want the records to show
what we vote for just the same.
The question of the salary of the libra
rian ana assistant was next in order to
be regulated by the new board. Mr..
Flint moved that the librarians $ salary be
set at Sl25 a month and that the as 'stant
be awarded $75 a month. The motion was
seconded
Director O'Melveny objected to the pro-
posed reduction and thought the salaries
ought to be raised from $50 nd 500
rather than be reduced. He reviewed
what he claimed was the unsurpassed ad-
ministraton for excellence and intma ted
tina the reduction might lose to the city
two valuable servants whose services
could hardly be equaled or dispensed
with.
Chairman Bonebrake then put the ques-
ton ami the motion was carried.
Director O'Melveny moved to adjourn.
and the meeting OF which SO much was
eXpected went out of session for a month
4 period of informal discussion fol-
lowed.
Professor P. W. Search. superintendent
of the city schools, was introduced and
delivered a short speech to the board.
Said he:
II am here to express to you the senti-
ments of the teachers of the city, who.
may presume represent, with others.
the intellectual lie Of the city. They
have a hiEh aEpreciatonso the library,
and nowhere 10 they kslow OF one better
conducted. 1t is df Infinite value to the
school children. ..4s,
1T seems to the principals of the city
schools thar it is a mistake for the city
to lose the excellent management of the
library, and | think there ought to be Il
public protest against the low salary
paid. You ought TO reconsider that order
now or later. You ought to keep and
maintain the bright stars that are a lus-
ter and alory to the ibrary Of this city"
Up rose the major, and bending a ter
rible eye on the hardy professor, delivered
himself as follows:
Professor Search, wish to say to you
that this directory VIII endeavor to run
this library without favor or lear OF criti-
cism from any source. When ieel CAN
not attend TO It's duties. Il viii resign.
think eacn oi us think the same on that
head. ~ u-t
''I feel that each OF You will do just as
you think best, replied the crushed ped
ago<ue, 'and thank YOU. And he
.iet,nrted iori HNi tti