The San Francisco call., 1897-12-21

therefore, not surprised at the dis
closures.
All attempts to ascertain the where
abouts of Librarian Harbourne proved
futile. Some said he had announced
that he was going to Sacramento,
while his family said he went to San
Francisco on business last Friday and
had not returned. At all events, no
one could be found who had seen him
since that date.
The members of the library board
absolutely refused to talk about the
matter at all, nor would they affirm
or deny any of the stories which were
in circulation about the matter A
private meeting of the library trustees
was held this morning, at which the
matter was canvasSed and a state
ment was prepared to be given to the
public. 1t was also decided to hold a
special meeting this evening to accept
Harbourne's resignation and elect a
new librarian.
In accordance with this decision a
public meeting was held at o'clock,
at which all the trustees were present
The proceedings occupied but a short
time. The resignation of Mr.. Har-
bourne was read and accepted. Then
Trustee Charles L. Weller, ex-Chinese
Inspector, resigned his position as
trustee and was elected librarian to
fill the vacancy. E. w. Mastin was
elected secretary, that position having
been held by Mr.. Weller. After this
the following statement, which had
been prepared by the trustees, was
given out for publication:
About two weeks ago one OF the per-
sons who has been supplying merchandise
TO the library telephoned to ask what
was the matter with the library, and say
ing that he had received no money since
January OF this year. Knowing that on
November 16 a warrant had been drawn
Tor payment TO this person, / got from
the librarian the minute-book, cashbook
and warrant-book and made eXamina-
ton of them. | found on, examination
some things that looked suspicious
wherefore l asked the principal ones of
those with whom we dealt for state
ments of their accounts from the 1st of
January. Having received these state
ments, MIR. Weller and | made an ex-
animation of the books, discovering some
singular discrepancies. We notified the
treasurer of the same and also, after a
meeting of the board. held on Monday
last,notified Mr.. Harbourne that his serv-
ices would not be required after the Goth
inst Since Monday last we have been
making as complete an examination as
possible of our books, and the creditors
statements, and have found that war
rants amounting to about S1100 have been
paid by the treasurer which the persons
to whom they were payable claim were
not cashed by them.
The trustees refuse to give names of
the persons to whom the warrants were
payable and who have not received their
money. 1t is known, however that they
are all San Francisco houses and that
the amount is so divided up that no one
firm is very heavy loser. Robertson
the Post-street book dealer, and MyseIl
q Rollins of Clay street are among the
list. 1t is rumored that in at least one
case warrant had been raised to a con-
siderable amount more than that for
which it was originally made out
One of the boys employed as a mes
senger and assistant in the library is
loser to the tune of two months salary
$3.50, the warrant for which appears TO
have been cashed by Harbourne
The method by which this shortage
was created was as follows: All bills
for supplies were presented to the
board and audited and warrants or
dered drawn. This was done by the
secretary, who then left the warrants
in Mr.. Harbourne's hands for delivery
to the persons in whose favor thew
were drawn. 1t appears on examina-
ton that these warrants, to the
amount Of $1100, have been paid, but
not to the persons IN whose favor
they were drawn. The conclusion is