New-York tribune., 1901-03-20
La " FOR CARNEGIE GIFT,
OFFICIALS PREPARING AN ENABLING
ACT TO BE SENT TO ALBANY.

Corporation Counsel Whalen. Deputy Control
Ter Levey and George /. Rives. the secretary Of
the trustees of the New-York Public Library.
mad conference yesterday over the provisions
or the enabling bill which is to be sent 70 the
legislature TO permit the city to accent the con-
dluonal offer of Andrew Carnegie to give sixty
IIFe branch libraries to the city at a COST Of
so2ooOOO. DR. John s. Billings the director of
the Public Library, had a talk with Mr. Rives
| on the same subject. Mr.. Whalen said after the
conference that he Thought the bill would be
ready for the legislature in a few days Mr.
Levey thought the bill might get to Albany be-
fore the end of the week
The men who are preparing the measure
would make no comments yesterday on the bill
which was introduced by Assemblyman Price of
Kings, on Monday evening. 1t is known, how
ever, that Mr.. Prices bill is regarded as en-
treIy inadequate. There are many conditions
10 De met in the preparation of bill which will
enable the city TO provide sites for sixty-fve
4prarles and make a pledge for the annual
maintenance of the libraries. Until the bill is
ready he sent to Albany its provisions win no
Kept from the public. 1t will have the full ap-
proVal Of Governor Odell and Of the city officials
ana there Is no doubt that it will he passed
without opposition
MI LeVey was asked yesterday if II would
De necessary To consult Mr. Carnegie by cable
"eloFe the Dill Is completed. Il do not think
So ne replied. but it will be necessary to
consult Mr.. Carnegie before the city can accept
his offer 1t will he necessary perhaps TO have
the conditions of his gift defined more exactly.
Frohaoly the legislation adopted will enable the
Board OF Estimate and Apportionment to make
terms with Mr. Carnegie"
There was some talk about the Citv Hall yes
terday 10 the effect that Tammany Influences
might prevent the immediate acceptance of Mr..
Carnegfe's generous offer. Tammanv politicians
We're laying plans for patronage that they said
might come To the organization through the
erection of siXty-five branch libraries They
were figuring the salaries of the supern-
tendents Librarians, assistants and helpers who
Will he required 10 conduct the libraries after
they are built and stocked with books Then
there will come up the question: Who Will
appoint all the employees at the libraries"
Tammany politicians want TO have the appoint
nlents left with the city officials. and not with
the trustees of the Public Library. In the
negotiations which Mr.. Carnegie may have with
the city officials in the future. before his offer
is accepted the question of patronage may play
an important part
Mayor Van Wyck has been unusually out
spoken in favor Of the acceptance OF Mr.. Car
negie's offer. and several of the other city Of
hcials have declared that there ought to be no
delay or bars to acceptance. Some of the lead
ing Tammany politicians have said that the
city ought not to lose an opportunity TO acquire
a complete library system and that politjcaI
questions ought not to be considered in such a
matter. AT the same time there many
Tammany politicians who will try get for
the organization as much patronage as possible
out of MI CaTnegie's generosity. Mr.. Whalen
said yesterday:
Il believe the offer Of Mr. Carnegie should he
accepted at once. 1t is seldom that such gift
this is made, and where 1t will he to the
advantage of the citizens at large it should be
accepted We are hard at work on the bin
but il will probably be two or three days before
il is in shape TO be introduced. There is much
that has 70 be looked into, and until that can
be done we cannot draft the bill