The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-28
THE SALE WAS PROPER.
THE JOINT LIBE1Er COMHfffEn
sUsTfIys sECRETiRI' LIULEsS.
They state That the Old Books sold to VII.
DC. smith Were of No Value, ana ih"'
the sale Was Entirely Proper

The following report Was pi'o'"N0" ~
the Senate yesterday by Senator May
narf. chairman of the Joint Library COM
mlttee. to which was referred Tor ihNes-
tieatfon certain sale Of books made last
September.
To the Joint Library Committee.
The subcommittee to whom was re-
ferred the examination OF the account
of the Hon. Joseph 7 Lawless' geheI'l
librarian. would respectfully report tha'
they have examined the accounts OF me
said librarian, and find that the account
of his receipts and disbursements has
been properly kept. and are sustained
by all proper receipts and vouchers.
The report of the Librarian. together
with his receipts for his disbursc ments
and expenditures. ore herewith returned.
Your Subcommittee. who. az the re-
quest of the librarian, were required 10
investigate and report the facts anu CIT
cumstances connected with the sale OF
proposed sale. at public auction. OF Ger
tain books belonging TO the state Library
would further report that they nave per
sonally Inspected the same. so far as
# was practicable 10 do so. and nave
examined witnesses and taken testimony
in reference to their character.
WERE NOT VALUABLE.
Your committee ascertain and report
that the said books. so exposed TO sale
as aforesaid. were - part OF the contents
of the second gallery OF the old library
that by FAR the larger portion Thereon
are surplus annual reports Of the state
OF Virginia, similar reports or other
States. many volumes Of old United
States Statutes at Large, in paper backs.
and various Government publications OF
like character. none OF which had ever
been deemed OF sufficient value 10 be
placed on the catalogue OF the library
that many OF said books remained tn the
original sacks. IN which they had been
received many of them stored In m
accessible places, and few Of them, prior
10 the proposed sale, even accessible 10
examination or demand. that upon me
removal OF the library 10 the new Library
building. the Librarian was required by
the legislative committee 10 whom was
entrusted the duty of remodelnng the
old library, that the same might be used
bv the General Assembly Tor committee
rooms. to remove said books. There
being no shelf-r0om In the new library
and no place for the storage of the same
the said Librarian was forced 20 STORE the
said books I'm the old city Hall, Mt an
expense of 81 so per month. That me
said books were carefully gone over and
examined by the Librarian. and assistant
librarian and, after consultation with
seyeral members of the Library COMMIT
tee. II was decided 90 sell the said
books. as had been done by a previous
administration with former surplus lot.
PARTICULARS OF THE SALE.
That the said librarian, having unsuc-
cessfully cndeavored TO dispose OF the
same at private sale. advertised them
10 be- sold at public auction, ard I'm adj
dition notified dealers i'm this class of
books Of said sale. and invited their al
tendance. i'm consequence of which sew
efal dealers did attend. among them Mr..
Charles r. Soule. Of the Boston Book
Compauy--au eminent authority ana
president Of the largest book concern iu
this country'-the limit OF whose bid was
sixty cents per hundred.
That the said books were sold ar public
auction. and purchased by Mr.. James O..
Smith. ar sixty-hve cents per hundred
pounds: that the highest offer made
privately was twenty-five cents per nun
dred.
That il was understood ana agreed be-
tween the Librarian and Che purchaser
al the time of the delivery of the books
g. at the said librarian had a right 10
reserve and would reserve any and AN
books OF value. or any he might desire,
If inadvertently left among the books
so sold as aforesaid.
That I'm order that No. books OF value
should be included IN said sale or Dee de-
! livercd. the librarian employed AR "
@. Stanard. an expert photographer. TO
assist i'm examining the said books as
and when the same We're delivered.
That only one load of books had been
delivered when proceedings were had hy
an application for an injunction to set
aside The sale.
Your committee are of the opinion that
the said books are of no value 10 the
state. and that their sale was wise and
eXped.ent. and would recommend that
20 be- proceeded with and confirmed, in
The discretion Of the librarian
That every precaution was taken by the
said librarian 10 prevent the accidental
sale OF any book Of value; and il pro-
ceeded with. no book of value VIII bee
included or disposed Of.
That the legal proceedings 10 enJoin
the librarian We're unnecessary and UNI
warranted by the facts. and have SUBJ
jected the State TO a considerable eX-
pense by way Of storage.
That the utmost good faith, care. ana
diligence characterized the conduct OF
the librarian 10 making said sale. which
sale was duly and properly made. In ace
coriance with law and the power and
discretion vested In him. and with the
advice and consent OF the resident mem
beers Of the Library Committee and that
every care and precauti0n was taken 10
protect the interests OF the state.
Your committe therefore. respectfully
recommend the adoption OF the following
resolutions:
SECRETARY SUSTAINED.
Resolved !. That the report OF the
Secretary Of the Commonwealth ana GEN
eral Librarian. showing his receipts and
disbursements for the terri ended Janu-
AIRY J. 1896. is fully sustained by vouchers.
and shows careful business-Hke. and
wise administration OF his Office. and
the same h. hereby approved.
2. That the sale OF the books was
the exercise Of a proper discretion on
his part. and IN the best interests of the
library and the Commonwealth. and he
Is hereby authorized by this committee
TO complete such sale. or. IN his dscrc-
ton. 20 make a new one. N the pur-
chaser now declines 10 comply with the
terms OF the former sale. under such
conditions as to him may seem wise.
The committee also adopted resoiu-
ton. authorizing any college or insutu-
ton Of learning to send and examine these
books. and 10 take such as they may