Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1900-11-16
CITY Library.
Criticism of the Action Of Mr.. McMiiien,
Agent for Mr.. Reynolds.

81 the Action Of Mr.. MoMiIien,
Agent for Mr.. Reynolds.
we have been requested by one OF
our citizens to publish the following a
his statement Of the status Of the IL
brary controversy between the city
council and Mr.. McMillen, which we do
with pleasure. so that the public may
be fully advised.
As understand II. the situation as
to Mr.. Reynolds gift to the city OF a
building for library purposes, can be
very briefly stated. Mr.. Reynolds ex-
ecuted a deed to the city conveying the
property upon condition that " should
be used for the maintenance OF a free
public library and that the city should
raise not less than $1,000 TO be expend-
ed for books and repairs on the build
ing. A committee OF citizens obtained
subscriptions to an emount consider
ably larger thai the ti.OOO required. The
deed was then delivered 10 and accept
ed by the city. The title passed and
the property could not legally be
away from the city unless II failed to
perform the conditions upon which the
gift was made. md even h only by
some proceeding instituted BY Mr..
Reynolds. Mr.. Reynolds ls 5000 miles
away and knows nothing OF what Is
going on in Albuquerque. A difference
OF opinion having arisen between the
city council and Mr.. McMillen, who as
sumes to act for Mr.. Reynolds. as to
how the library shan be managed. Mr..
McMllen obtained possession OF the
| deed from the mayor OF the city upon
| the claim tina II was necessary for him
to have It In connection with the pay
| ment OF insurance on the property
| Having thus obtained possession OF tn
| deed he declares his intention to keep
II unless the city council submits TO his
dictation as to the way the city IL
brary shall be conducted.
II is obvious that the city council
must employ some one to the
library. There Is In existence In the
| city a library association made up OF
public-splrited women who " for ten
year successfully maintained a free
public library and have acquired books
and other property to the value OF six
or seven thousand dollars. They have
demonstrated their ability and the city
council proposes to make use OF the
agency OF this association to manage
the city library under some arrange
ments which will be- fair to the asso'
citation and at the same time preserve
It's " power Of control and proprie'
torshlp in harmony with the spirit Of
the conditions imposed by Mr.. Raynoldi
II his deed. As I am Informed, Mr.
McMillen insists that the library asso
citation shall not be permitted to hav'
anything to do with the management
of the library and that II must uncon
~dltionally convey to the city all thu
property which 1t owns. or the gift 1
not effective. The city council doe
nothink IL Just or fair to the ladies o
the association to ask that they shal
commit corporate suicide upon the de
mand OF Mr.. McMlllen and does not be
lieve that MIR. Reynolds ever desire'
anything OF the kind. | am sure tina
an that Mr.. Reynolds would ask is tina
the building be used for library purpo
SEES and that the library shall be a free
public library, under the control OF tn
city authorities. and that the details o
management must necessarily be left {
the discretion OF those city authorities
There Is entire harmony n goo'
feeling between the city counc an
the library association and II In dim
cult to understand why there should b
any hostility to the association on tn
part OF Mr.. McMlllen or any n else
II II were proposed by the city to al
fer any ownership to the library asso
citation that would certainly be objec
tlonable. but as already stated moth
ing OF the kind IL contemplated. TIL
matter ought. and II Is to be hoped
VIII soon be adjusted without furthe
friction.
since writing the above l have see
: the Issue Of The Citizen OF the lot
: inst, which contains some comment
Indicating he existence OF %erroneou
beliefs as to the library association.
seems to be the Idea OF some person
: that the association has obstructed {
prevented the acquisition by the cit
n NJ the building offered by Mr.. Ray
nolds. | have heard 1t even asserte
that the association has demanded this
the building be turned over to II.
vi As a matter of fact, the ladies' OF IN
h association have done nothing of III
y kind. They have demanded no,hini
they have objected to nothing, an
they have not even had a chance to oil
ject to anything or to take any actio
whatever about the new library.
The only thing they have done hi
been to write "A letter on october 2j.
the mayor asking for some intormatio
This was In response to a letter fro
him written a few days earlier
which he stated that the city had r.
10 ceived the building n asked co-ope
alton OF the association. The SUI
n, stance OF the letter from the ladi
y was published last Tuesday In Il
k morning paper. 1t contained no hi
II Of objection, unwillingness, obstructiC
d or demand No answer has ever be,
"A made TO II, but II has been understo,
that his was because the mayor W,
80 closely occupied with other matte
n that he had no time to give to III
a subject until after November 9Th. la
II Monday night he laid the letter beto
AZ the council n that body directed hi
to answer It and to communicate Il
n, wishes OF the council embodied In
resolution then adopted. This he h
not done, but only because on Tuesdi
the present difficulty developed al
everything came to a standstill.
1t is quite certain that no one. eth
In the council or In the ASSOCIATE,
ever imagined that the city could tran
. fer the building to the association
part with It's " ownership and 60
+, troll.
Many people worry because they b
a ieNe they have heart disease. II
" chances are that their hearts are