New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-12
A LIBRARY FOR SPOILS.

At last we have the explanation OF Tam
many's opposition to the Library. The Mayor
IS not unaterably opposed 10 learning. provided
it is properly mixed with spells. IL is only the
EMPLOYMENT Of money which he thinks should
be used for the benefit Of Tammany by experts
! in the arts and sciences TO which he objects.
He explained ii all yesterday when the Con-
roller reported that the Geological Garden dl.
rcctors had raised 100000. and It was the
duty OF the city 10 devote a like sum for the
nrenaratlon OF the grounds on which the society
Is TO build He said:
think the city should this geological
garden We are called on to spend money on
/, and then Il will be under the charge Of n
private corporation or society This whole sys-
tenn IS wrong. The city Is rich enough TO own
its own institutions. Here we are asked 10 give
So. 800 900 to the New York Public Library, and
after il is built the city VIII have no control
over it. 1t will be controlled by three private
corporations. l willing to give Slo.Vo'ooo'
IL necessary, 10 library for TINS CITY, Out III
city must own 1t.
We may remark in passing. that the city IS
not asked TO give S65OOOOO TO the Library, but
only S2,5OO,00O; but a city government which
can juggle with the debt SO as one day TO be
$50 100000 beyond the limit and another well
within it does not mind little matter of
selves ridiculous by exhibiting such ignorance
OF a subject they presumed to talk about as to
say the Public Library was controlled by three
| corporations when, In fact, 1t was controlled
| BY one But nothing can make Mr.. Van Wyck
more ridiculous than his temper and his talk
| have already done. The Mayor. who has been
| violently proclaiming the poverty Of the city,
| complaining that he cannot even light the
| street lamps in some OF the boroughs because
| OF the municipal poverty, offers to give 49,
| 100000 to n library provided II be a city in
| sttution. In ordinary business 1t might be
thought a good thing for anybody in need Of a
| library to secure forever the free use Of books
and endowments worth perhaps s15.OOO,Ooo at
| the cost Of providing a suitable hou instead
| of having to build the house and buy books
the latter work task Of years. But It natll-
| rally does not seem so to a Mayor who Is rich
enough to spend millions one mini and too
| poor to burn gas the next.
The fact that city starting library at this
| late day would find 1t almost impossible for
any money it would think Of spending to get
| a collection that would compare with those OF
| the Aston, Lenox and Tilden foundations, and
| that the city government is neither by nature
nor training fitted for the management of such
an enterprise, docs not In the least weigh with
| Mr. Van Wyck. The trustees and the libra
rlans may have spent years living library
| problems, but none OF them know much about
| carrying caucus What he wa. Is Is practical
men who will not go incoming about among
books, but will give all their time to their du-
ties as he understands them lie has plenty of
men who could do that Scanncll would make
n beautiful Commissioner Of Libraries. Asa
| Bird Gardiner could run the genealogical depart
ment the sporting books could be taken care
Of by Mr. Croker himself, and all the messen
| gers and assistant librarians could be recruit
| ed from the districts. and it wouldn't be long
before Tammany meeting would rival the
Concord School Of Philosophy. The language
| of the beer saloons would become Shake
spearian and the boys would all say: "Da,