The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-09-06
TWO IGNORANT TRUSTEES.

No ran is fitted for any public posi-
ton who is ignorant of the matters
over which he is to exercise authority.
This is especially true of municipal
legislators; no man should be chosen
to such an office who is not fairly we'll
informed concerning city affairs, pub
lie needs and community economies. or
who is incapable of thoroughly inform
ing himself upon such subjects.
There is one thing that is positively
unforgiveable in a City Trustee, for in
stance, and that is ignorance. No man
has a right when filing a public posi-
ton to publish himself as an ass be
cause there is a greater than a personal
responsibility attaching to him; he is
representative of the people, and his
demonstration of asininity is some
thing Of a reflection upon his eonstitu-
ents. Yet two of the Sacramento City
Trustees have placed themselves before
the public in the ridiculous position in
dictated.
If there is any one institution more
than another in which all the people
of Sacramento take pride, it is the
Free Library, the poor mans univer-
sity. the privilege of the rich, the COM
mon property of ALL On its floors So
cial distinctions are leveled, and intelh-
gence and pursuit of knowledge put
all the people who avail of its benefits
upon a noble level. It is an institution
which the people have SO jealousy
guarded and so tenderly fostered that
it has grown to be one of the first IL
braries in the country, and the de-
mands upon it have steadily outrun it's
capacity. It's growth and the love of
the people for it have been simply phe-
nomenal. In the quarter of a century
in which it has been city property
politics has never trailed its Shiny form
through it. Political parties have al
ways cast it out of their calculations,
and bosses and hot partisans have lift
ed their hats respectfully at the bare
mention Of its name.
So the library has gone on as an
institution absolutely free from politi-
cal influence or control. There has been
one exception, Trustee Pennish enjoys
the unenyiable distinction of having
given the management of the library TO
understand in a way that was not
mistaken, that he looks upon it as a
means to political reward, a thing to
be trained for the patronage of Trus-
tees when they have friends to favor.
And this in the very teeth of the char
ter provision forbidding any Trustees
to- ever suggest, or request the appoint
ment Of an officer or clerk, or any en-
ploye to any place in the city govern
ment.
Since that hour he has appeared in
the Board of Trustees as the inveter-
ate enemy of the Free Library, omit
ting no opportunity to cut short its
revenues and cripple its usefulness. At
the meeting of the Trustees on Satur-
day last Trustee Pennish renewed his
attack, probably with an idea of pro-
noting his candidacy for reelection.
getting too high toned; that, whereas
they asked for S12,0 for the support
Of the library, and while he thought
$4,000 would be ample, he thereafter
moved TO cut down the tax rate one
cent ON that
Which proves incontestibly that the
Trustee is ignorant Of the library. its
history. its value to his constituents.
its use and its needs. Of the thous-
ands of people who constantly use that
library, there is not one who does not
know that this is true. and that Pen
nish. by his asinine declaration, has
dubbed himself properly.
But he is not alone Trustee Mckay
could rot resist the temptation to exhi-
bit his ignorance of the subject, when
he declared that half the librarians
could be dispensed with. Let US see.
There are five low-salaried people at
the library. exclusive of the porterage
emplcye. Four of them are women:
one of them receives the munifcent sal
airy of S25 month, another $40 and
another $50. The library is open week
days and Sundays and every night I'M
til 10 o'clock, but, according, TO wise
Mr. Mckay, half of this number Of
people can care for the departments
of the two-story building, stocked with