The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17
ACCEPTING cARNEGIE's GIFT
Legislative Action May he Needed in
New York.


NEW YORK, March 16.-All the city Of
| ficials who will have to decide whether
or not the city Will accept Mr.. Carnegie
offer of IS, 200, 900 for library purposes were
enthusiastic today They were unanimous
in saying that whatever difficulties might
appear to be in the way should and would
| be dissipated, If necessary, by legislative
enactment.
The only possibility of a hitch in the
arrangements looking to an acceptance of
| the gift lay in the determination who
! should have control of the money-whether
the city or the board of trustees of the
| New York Public Library, or both
| While the tender was made through DIR.
| John 7. Billings director of the Public Ii
| brary and the inference was therefore
| drawn by George /. Rives and other trus-
| tees of that institution that it was Mr..
| Carnegies intention that the Public Lii
| brary trustees should control the expendi
ture of the money. the fact that the city
must obligate itself to furnish sites for the
sixty-five library buildings and supply the
| money for the maintenance of the libraries
made some of the city officials feel that
the city should not leave the expenditure
of the funds solely to the trustees of the
Public Library.
On this point there has already been
some agitation. When the city voted
s.. 500, 600 for the building of the new Pub
lie Library at Forty-second Street and
Fifth Avenue, which is to be maintained
by the library corporation funds, Comp
troiler Coler was made ex-officio trustee
of the library. At that time Corporation
Counsel Whalen was strongly in favor
of Il greater representation of the city in
the board, and it is certain from what he
said today that he will insist upon that
feature now.
In all probability the city officials will
urge that all five members of the board
of estimate be made eX-ofticiO trustees
of the library ~ the ground that the
citys financial officers will have to vote
annually half million or more dollars
for the maintenance of the system and
should have full voice in the expendi-
ture of the money. All this is based, of
course. upon the superstition that it was
Mr.. Carnegie's intention to have the Pub
lie Library control the gift.
Mayor Van Wyck has called meeting
of the board of estimate for Monday, at
which will be present the officials of the
Public Library. the officials of the libra
ries in the other bOrrughs, and such other
persons as the mayor may deem 1t wise
to invite The subject will be gene into
fully at this meeting, and no difficulties
are looked for.
If DIR. Billings expresses the views of
the board of trustees of the library. no
objection will be offered to representa-
tives of the city. other than the comp
troller. being on the library board. in case
the gift is accepted and the library is to
control the disposition of it.
Comptroller Coler, who talked with
Governor Odell on Friday night about the
offer. said that the Governor promised
the fullest cooperation of himself and
all Republican party leaders if legisa-
tive assistance was needed. Said Mr..
Coler: al
1T will probably be definitely deter
at Mnn6aU'S Of no h.,a ri
of estimate whether legisla ton will be
needed. and if so, what. 1t is quite prob
able that notifications or a consolida-
ton of the various library acts affecting
New York and Brooklyn will be required
There are many details to be worked
out, but there will be no hitch Some
means will be found by the city to Sc
cure the sites. The estimated average
cost of these sites is 10000 apiece This
VIII mean the expenditure of 81 800 900 but
feel certain that it can be arranged The
whole business is to be pushed right
through. and this Legislature Will be
asked to act