The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-17

Us AIMS
Editor of The Tribune.
Sir-The following paper was pre-
pared solely for the board before which
it was read At the boards request
and resolution, VT is submitted for
publication.
Alfred Hand.
To the Board Of Trus,ccs Of tho Albright Memo.
rial Building and Scranton Free Public Library:
Gentlemen: The attempt in branch of the
city council 10 change the management and
control the library, and the trusts committed
to this board. by resolution, which takes from
you all discretion in regard thereto, by com.
mtting to an auditing committee the disburse-
ment OF the funds and taking thereby from you
the responsibility in regard to the books pur-
chased as well as the control in other respects,
is the warrant for this statement Of facts. II is
possible some Of the council never knew OF them
have forgotten them. and the public may not
recognize their significance.
On the 18th of April last a resolution was in!
troduccd into the select council, in the follow.
ing words viz:
"Rcsolvcd by the select council Of the city OF
Scranton, the common council concurring. that
from and after the passage of this resolution,
all claims against the city of Scranton on ac'
count of services, labor supplies furnished
for The Scranton Public library, shall before
payment be approved by the auditing committee
and the mayor and all such claims shall be
itemized, showing the name Of the person or
persons furnishing the services, labor or supplies
with the date when the same was provided
Upon approval Of such claims as herenbcforc
provided, tnc proper city officers shall draw
and issue city warrants to the persons respec-
hp n
plies and hereafter no warrant shall be issued
TO said library except in pursuance of this reso-
luton"
SUDDEN TURN OF AFFAIRS.
This resolution was passed with no previous
notice TO the officers of the library, without
being referred to any committee and received a
vote of 10 TO G.
The same resolution came up on the 12th
inst. in common council and has been referred
to special committee consisting Of Mcssrs. Kell'
er, Tewkesbury, ZizeIman, Calpin and Morris, in
conjunction with the city solicitor. This was
passed by a vote of 10 to 8.
What was the cause source Of this attempt
TO change the relation of this library board to
the city, which has worked tremendously for ten
years for the benefit of both the library and the
city, well as the citizens and Residents Of the
city of Scranton for whose benefit the trust was
expressly designed, has been Of public discussion
since the attempt was made anu multitude OF
expressions have come to your president from
private citizens and members OF the councils.
all OF whom have the public interest at heart,
and feel very zealously that it bodies no good to
the public welfare or the library. I need not
recount them here. The main matters which
now concern the library and the public are tic
rights Of this library association and the cor
responding duties of the city, which have been
| fixed by the covenants in the deeds made wr,ll
| the donors of the building and library, tho
legislation of the state, the ordinance of the
| city, and by the continual practice of tho city
which corresponds with the state in its dealings
with charitable and benevolent institutions.
| r,,.ro ~ nm, ppr,uCpO
| Inc following 'actS nave constantly ueen oe
lore the city omclais ana ihe pnohe, ana nave
been reported to the CITY by our puoilShed an
| hual reports ihdue 10 the ci'!' anu copy ue
he'ed 10 edc" councilman
| oh May 20 1885, Tue commonwealth ol rchh
sylVahia enacted law empowering any city tC
| TAKE ana hold donations OF money oookS' rea
and personal property Tor the purpose OF es'an
| hsh'ng a ree library Wlthh the i'"l'S o' 'ucl
| corporation anu making P'o''S'o" ny dn"ua' "p
preparation for the maintenance OF such fec Ii
| -, ,,.,... ,soo A.. ..!., ,.,, !.
| - - ,.,,,' ,u,uiott al tHi,atath ~
,is, a,,.o,..I ,h, ,,rasont .i,o ot tris IGhr,r,
| . u.,,,; n ciu IL. ma; H. 81 A.
| ,u,s HI a,,I Iotn Ia.onr ,mr;Sht ,,no -
| ~ ''a'' ""r 80 epn r.. Iii. o
| ,horoan as oontarnrIotod In tLo ,,,,s, dood aI
.l, % ~ a,,'.p,.aJ 80 ,,,o oi,,. os Sora,',on
,,',1o, & &u, ,oi,hin t,ro roars tho a;,,. n,a,,i,
aon, ,hn do"at;o,, ~, ordinonoo nro,.io,,,i,
1os.aI ,,no, @ onnditinr. IN Said dood ran,od ,h,
rti.;f ~ -, n,so 10 ,La |r.Ii,,Da',
Tna aai,i" ot Soran,on at ,ro s,n,o ,ir,a ,aiyo,
,.i@,;,,,;o. - coz ooo 80 osto,I;sh a.,
| al "
"a, = Ali, ,soo a., a,,,. - s,,u
| va Wv os. - 49, ,,.'-al ~, A.. -
'o'i p'S'eu az 'l,,a, 'pPl l, ' ~ |
O,' as So, .h'1 80. H. .iu A.. !;
| -, ,',,'en t""o"e" Wv ~ .ta ,n,
edged @ 'H oH that tha day % aHd dated the SS Of Apr