The times., 1901-03-17
ACCEPTING cARNEGIE's GIFT
Legislative Action May he Needed in
New York.

new teFtN-
NEW YORK, March 16.-All the city Of
fcials who Will have to decide whether
or not the city will accept Mr.. Carnegie
offer of 81, 900, 600 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 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 T Billings, director of the Public LII
brary, and the inference was therefore
drawn by George L. Rives and other trus-
tees of that institution that it was Mr..
Carnegie's intention that the Public Lii
brary trustees should control the expendi
ture of TIE 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.. 500 900 for the building OF the new Pub
lie Library at Forty-second Street and
Fifth Avenue, which is to be maintained
BIZ the library corporation funds, Comp
troiIer Coler was made ex-officio trustee
of the library. At that time Corporation
Counsel Whalen was strongly in favor
of q 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 ali 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 viii have TO vote
annually a half million or more dollars
for the maintenance Of the system ana
should have full voice In the eXpendi-
ture of the money. All this is based, OF
course, upon the supposiuon that IL was
Mr. Carnegies 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 bOroughs, and such other
persons as the mayor may deem ii wise
TO invite. The subject will be gone into
fully at this meeting. and no difficulties
are looked for.
If Dr. Billings expresses the views of
the board of trustees of the library. no
tives of the city. other than the comp
troller, being on the library board. in case
the gift is accepted and the library is 10
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: 81
1T will probably be definitely deter
mined at Mondays meeting of the board
of estimate whether legislation will be
needed. and if so, what. 1t is quite prob
able that notifications or a consolida-
tion 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 $4,000 apiece. This
Will 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"