New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-25
FREE LIBRARIES CLOSED AGAIN.
PRESIDENT KERNoCHAN SAYS HE DOES NOT BE-
I.IEvE Mr. COLER WILL CUT OFF THE
APPROPRIATION.

PRESIDENT KERNoCHAN SAYS HE DOES NOT BE-
L1EvE Mr. coLER WILL CUT OFF THE
APPROPRIATION
IS All Of the eleven branches OF the New-York Free
Circulating Library were closed yesterday. j Fred
eric Kernochan president of the Board of Trustees,
when regarding the closing said
The closing of the branches of the New-York Free
Circulating Library was made necessary Uy 'I ms
by the Board OF Estimate and Apportionment. With
expenses constantly increasing and the approprIa
economic in order TO meet the new order OF things
The closing Of the branches on Sunday was only
to practise We estimate by this closing to save
about 5000 yearly There is no friction between
The Board Of Estimate simply does not understand
the library question as Thoroughly as some some, VINO
have made a study OF II for years. We feel tnat
when it does understand the matter thorouglly
We will get all the money we ask f9r and more, afu
will be able 10 establish many other orancnes III
various parts OF the city, well as greatly increase
our II we G Win an and 1
in our appropriation II is imperative that We cur
with the least inconvenience 10 Iost 10 U.s. Ta
books. We do not wish TO close up entirely any one
The Board Of Estimate in cutting down our ap-
propriatiOn loses sight Of one fact-that the money
perses and in keeping the books in good condition
Not one cent Of this money has ever been USED LOT
tWeIVe wears we have conducted this business
aided by the city and only when it get toe large
for us 70 support by private and public subscrlp-
tons did we go to the city for help. Our books
now are purchased by subscriptions received for
this purpose. We have property valued at 5000
which the city gets the use Of, and not one cent
was ever paid by II for the improvement or the
buildings or in the construction Of them Judged
from the experience and published statistics OF
country, allotment OF 6i3 cents per DOCK would
be less than the work Of the libraries could be
BRery '1 be con conducted We circulate $1,000
volumes. and appropriation OF little over
$50 go will hardly pay for that The Board OF Esu-
mate and the Controller are said to favor the plan
OF consolidating all circulating free libraries under
management and with one head We faVor TINS
plan also for many reasons, but the cut In TINS ap
dated the libraries Of the city could be conducted
much more economically and with greater adVan-
tage 10 those using the books. With large ap-
preparation for this purpose the city could have It's
representatives the Board Of Trustees, and an
amendment 10 constitution making the Mayor
and Controller members Of the Board is under con-
ceivng funds from the city should be open 70 In
specton al any time. Ours may be gone over
whenever the city so desires. and we VIII snow
where every cent has gone, namely. for current ex-
In addition, by consolidating all the libraries the
number in some districts could be lessened and
greatly but at present without any. II has been
our purpose each year, when possible. TO establish
a new branch in some part Of the city. but we Will
be unable TO do this during the coming year Our
estimate for apportionment must be based on what
We have done for the last year and not on what we
expect 10 do in the coming year. Accordingly. with
expenses constantly increasing and appropriations
decreasing curtailment OF expenditures is abso-
lutey necessary.
When Mr.. Kernochan was asked II he thought
the Controller would now try TO carry out his
threat Of cutting off the appropriation altogether
II the libraries were closed on Sundays Mr.. Kerno-
chan said he did not believe Mr.. Coer had ever
made any such threat Anyway he mad not sent
any such warning TO the library trustees.