The San Francisco call., 1897-06-20
DEMO RATS PLOT
TO KEEP CON Troll
Seeking to Retain the
State Library Pa
trOnage.
Combination Formed to Pre-
vent the Ousting of
Ed MCCabe.
Gllls, the Republican Asplrant,
Given a SubOr dinate Post in
the Department.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, June 19.-The
condition of affairs in the State Library
Just now has aroused a storm of excite
ment in State Republican circles and
measures are being sought to place at
naught the combination which, carryin :
with it, as it does, the backing of some of
tie leading mem beIs of The Democratic
party, menaces future Republican inter
ests.
During he last session of the Legisla-
ture new Board of Library Trustees was
elected. All of the members, being
strongly Republican, were pledged to ap-
point none other than Republican at
taches in the departments they were to
preside over. a lively battle began be-
tween several Republican aspirants for The
pos tion of State L brarian, which will be
declared vacant under this pledge as soon
as the new board assumes control, pro-
vdIng none of the mem bers break their
pledge.
About the same time a bill was intro
duced into he Legislature providing that
the State Librarian could be removed
from office by a majority vote of the
board instead OF by unanimous vote, as
IS required. This measure was showed
under, and it is claimed by eadins Re-
publicans that its defeat was accomplished
by the efforts of the same Democratic
faction which is engaged in the present
combination.
The primal cause of the present excite
ment is the fact that James L. ellis, a
strong Republican, who is conceded TO be
the fGvOrite aspirant for the position Of
State Librarian under the com: :ng Repub-
lican Board of Trustees, has resigned his
position as keeper of State archives and
has accepted q position in the State
Library, although the nature of the posi-
tion is unknown, all inquiries being re-
Piled to with the answer, Special work
1t l. claimed that through The effoIt
OF certain Democrats whose com binstio
shapes the political hand of the executive
some one of the present Democratic force
must step down and out the first of the
month, thar the future librarian may
have steady employment until April
next, when, it is supposed, he will be in
stalled librarian.
In speaking of the matter to-day a lead
ing Republican said:
There can be no doubt that there is g
strong com bination on foot among the
Democrats in power TO retain control Of
the State Library. How this Is to be ac-
mplished, l am not prepared to state.
1t may be possible that some member of
the coming board may be led TO believe
that the appointment of Z. d. McCabe to
the position of librarian holds good for
four years, and in consequence, decline to
vote for his removal, in which case Mr.
ellis will nrobab blv retain the position of
deputy under him during his incum bency.
at seems strange that the system of
boasted retrenchment, which has been the
Wanted aim of the present al ministra-
I'll
really Democratic-cortroIled State institu-
ton. The law provides that there shall
be a State Librarian, ahd that he shall be
empower Ell 10 appoint an additional dep
uty, which would seemingly provide for
three appointments in the library; vet
the present force Is so numerous that it
simply tumbles over itself.
There is Librarian McCabe. two depu-
ties Mrs Blanchard and Mrs. Neal, the
latter a sister-in-law of the GOVERNOR,
Assistant Librarian Genevieve Green, who
draws $500 a month in created
office not provided for bv law;
Dana Perkins Miss Hopkins and
Miss Casey. holding some unknown eff e;
Judge Cravens a. lanltor a. 500 a month
with l believe. an assistant j4nitress, and
now Mr.. ellis has been added TO the
force, making ten people who have to
answer an average OF about twelve de-
mands for books a day."
inquiries at the Controllers office brings
to light the fact that the trustees have
absolute control of the funds of the insti-
tuition and make demands for lump sums
on the Controller, which they designate
as being for salary, the purchase of books,
ETC., without hav- ng t. give any account
ing of how il is expended.
There are other Repu olicans who be-
lieve that the present com bination is SIM
ply working in ne interests of Genevieve
Green to insure her retention under the
coming Republican administration. and
still others claim that it is a gigantic
scheme OF Governor Budd to control the
library as he attempte to control the
State Printing Office, and, in failing to do
so, killed it.