New-York tribune., 1896-12-06
THE LIBRARY Project
DIRECTORS WILL APPOINT. BUT WHERE
IS THE MONEY TO COME FROM?
THE LAW AUTHORIZES AN EXPENDITURE OF
sG1aOoo But THE CITY is NOT IN Posi-
TIoN TO ISSUE BONDS FOR

TIoN TO ISSUE BONDS FOR
ANY AMOUNT
The next step In the plan for providing for Brook
lyn a free public library. in which the brooklyn
Public Library Association is interested VIII DE
the appointment OF Board Of Directors py Mayor
Wurster. The action OF the Common Counch on
Monday was preliminary % this 1t was taken ia
pursuance OF an ac. passed by the Legislature III
1892 providing that whenever tho Common Coun-
ell, by It's resolution. shall have determined 10 es
tablsh and maintain public library ana read
ing-r under this act. the Mayor OF said city
shall appoint board Of nine directors Tor the same
The Mayor of said city, the president OF saio boafu
of Aldermen and tho directors Of tho brooklyn III
stute OF Arts and Sciences shall by virtue OF 'heir
respective Offices. be directors of the said pubic
library and reading ROOM.
In the typewrtcn copy OF the petition presented 10
the Board of Aldermen the phrase director OF the
Brooklyn Institute OF Arts and Sciences was cor
rected by adding the letter IS" TO director An
examination OF the volume containing tho acts OIL
the Legislature affecting Brooklyn passed IN 1917
shows that the text Of the law printed has been
followed In making the word plural. but there Is no
question that director" was intended In the franz
ing Of the act. The Brooklyn Institute has no d.
rectors; its managing body is the Board OF Trus-
tees but II has director in Professor Franklin W.
Hooper who bears that official title. The purpose
of the law was mako the Mayor. the president Oh
the Board Of Aldermen and Professor Hooper di-
rectors OF the library ofcio Besides these therc
are to be nine other directors named by Mayor
Wurs.cr.
The Mayor said yesterday that no had taken no
action in the matter vet. but expressed hmselr
as willing to make such appointments as the PUBLIC
Library Association might agree on Tho president
of the association Is Mrs. Mary f. Crag!e. the Sec
retary Annie W. Stephens and tho treasurer MIS-
Cornea H. Cary. Tho members OF the committee
presenting the petition are Tax Collector H. Ross
Appleton. chairman: the Rev. Dr. r. y. Storrs. Dr.
Truman J. Backus. Or. David II. Cochran. charles
Phillips. Henry Sanger Snow. ex-Mayor David A.
Boody Professor Peter Townsend Austen. OF the
Polytechnic Institute: Nelson ]. Gates. ex-Con-
gresham w J. Coombs. ex-Congressman stephen
v White and Daniel c. McWilliams. 1t is consid-
cred probable that the directors will be chosen from
among these representative citizens. and tho Mayor
intimated that It was likely that tho Board would
include both men and women.
After the Board OF Directors Is completed tho
question will remain 10 what will be donc In tho
direction Of providing tho proposed public library.
The most important part OF tho act OF 1872 Is not
tho section which has been quoted but tho prov-
sion that the city officials may In their discretion
Issue bonds TO tho amount OF 10000 for tho erec-
ton OF a building for the library which Is to be
established: aud 1t IS further provided that after
the building is erected tho OF not less than
Sf'V' SnhI DC nlac"u III Nil3 NaA .S'
the maini nance OF the library.
The first thing Is 10 get the money for the building:
and. so far DO seen. there Is lit,s prospect
that the Library Association Will be successful IN It's
efforts in that direction. Tho fnanca! condition OF
the city vii! no, justify any large expenditure FOR
such a purpose: indeed. IL IL not certain that tho
Board OF Estimate VIII be In position 10 ISSUE bonds
10 the amount OF $500 90 year for carrying on the
construction OF the museum OF tho Brooklyn lnsu-
tutc although Mayor Wurster and many other c.t.-
zens are exceedingly anxious that this Important
work should be continued as rapidly as possible.
Tho Public Library Association Is making ar
rangements for holding a meeting IN the Academy OF
Music on January H. for tho purpose OF stirring up
popular sentiment the Importance OF tho library
movement
An official OF tho city. who Is familiar with rs
nnanca. condition. said yesterday There Is a den
mite limit the amount OF bonds which the city may
issue and the prospect o; erecting library building.
desirable as such project is In the eyes OF all IN
,egent citizens canno, be regarded as good Brook
lyn needs public library, but there are other things
that 1t needs more /, needs schoo.houses. FOR ex.
ample and an extension OF the waterwo;ks VIII
soon become necessary We are committed TO tho
erection of another bridge to New-York and TO other
that VIII take a good deai OF money There
already under way or al least for me erection OF more
an aes axe whs pee n9T at the END of year BrooKyn
will apparently have 10 depend on Greater New York
menas rSe WeverReIess is good thing for the Public
Library Association to take The course II has. for
library viii have distinct tendency toward accom-
plishing the end which these gentlemen and ladies'
have in view.
The law OF 1892 passed mainly at the instgation
Of Mayor Body Un nov no. steps 1 nay haye been taken Ken
statuc-book placed there with the purpose of sup
piying Brookiyn's need OF a library Chapter 63l OF
the laws passed the session of this year has the
object in view This act authorizes ne 30 iioard
OF Estimate in its discretion TO appropriate SlO0vOO
toward the founding of free public library n tho
City Of Brooklyn. when Ike amount shall have been
subscribed and actually paid to the City Treasurer.
who shall retain ii for the purposes OF said library.
having out moneys only on orders signed By tho
Mayor. There is In the law the additional provision
that this money shall be expended under the dlrec-
,,on of a commission consisting OF the Mayor presl-
dent Of the Board Of Aldermen. The president OF the
BrOoklyn Institute OF Arts and Sciences and six per-
sons 10 be appointed by the Mayor"
The passage Of this act was advocated principally
by Assemblyman Edward C. Brennan. No effort has
vet been put forth to get subscriptions for tho fund
Of slo0 0C9 and If It were all paid In the Board of
Estimate would not be likely in the present condition
of the city treasury, 10 exercise the discretion
conferred upon 1t in the way OF making the appro-
pr!ation provided for.