Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-01-31
Special Correspondence Of Gazette and Journal,

Special Correspondence OF Gazette and Journal.
Dover, Jan. 26. Representative Shall.
cross has introduced an act providing
for the establishment and maintenance
of free public libraries.
IL says that, as soon as may be, after
the passage Of the act, there shall n.
established board to be known IA
the State Library Commission for the
Stats of Delaware. The commission
shall be composed of nine persons. to
be appointed by the governor, who
shall respectively hold office for Ava
years, or until their successors are
chosen, provided that in the first com
mission the governor shall apront
three members for ons year, three Tor
three years and three for five years.
No person shall be ineligible by reason
OF sex to serve on the commission,
The State librarian shall, by virtue
of his otlloe, be the secretary OF tbe
commission, but shall have no vote in
the proceedings OF the commission. No
member shall receive salary or com.
pensation for his services, but the
State treasurer shall pay to the chair
man funds for all proper bills for print
ing, postage and stationery.
The commission shall have general
supervision over all libraries 10 the
State established or maintained under
the provisions of the aot
Any incorporated town In the State
may receive in its corporate capscity
and hold any devise. tequest or dona-
tion for ths foundation and establish
ment or for the maintenance, support
and increase of free public library
within the rams.
Any incorporated town is authorized
to establish and maintain Tres public
library, with or without readingrooms,
within the same, for the use OF the in.
habitants thereof, provided that at the
town election a majority of The quail.
fled electors shall vote 10 favor OF such
establishment.
The Town Council of any incor-
porated town. when petitioned by at
least % qualified electors 30 days before
the town election, shall submit the
question as to the establishment Of
free public library to the qualified
electors at said election. Females over
the age of 81 years, who have resided
In the town for three months preoeoing
the election and VINO have paid the
town tax for the preceding year, shall
be entitled to vote ON tho questi,n q.
They shall also be entitled to vote nc
the election for members of the Town
Library Commission. Ii at any cleo
tion the qualified voters shall declare IN
favor Of the establishment of free
public library, the Town Council shall
iery and raise tax not less than 25
cents and not exceeding 81 for each Of
its Iatable POLLS In the preceding year
for the purpose of the establishment
ard maintenance of the library, and
annually thereafter the Town Council
shall levy and raise such a tax for the
maintenance Of the library during the
next year.
Every Incorporated town which shall
establish q free public library pursuant
to the provisions Of the act shall, OF It's
annual election, elect members Of the
Town Library Commission. The COM
mission shall be composed of nipe
members, who shall hold office for
three years, provided that three mem
bers of the first commission shall To
elected for one year, three for two
years and three for three years. No
person shall be ineligible to serve on
said commission by reason OF sex. The
town treasurer shall be treasurer OF
said commission.
The Town Library Commission my,
II 1t deems proper, permit persons resi-
dent in the county or counties in
which such town is situated, but living
without the corporate limits of the
town, to use the library or readingroom,
exactly as inhabitants of the town upon
the payment of such fee as the com.
mission shall deem proper.
Whenever the State Library Cons
mission shall certify to the State treas.
urer that any incorporated town has
established free public library and
has raised by taxation sum not less
than 500 for the support and main
tenance Of the library for the next
year, the State treasurer shall pay TO
the Town Library Commission 500 for
the use Of the library; and annually
thereafter, upon the certificate OF the
State Library Commission that the
town has raised by taxation 800 for
the library, the State treasure shall
pay to the Town Library Commission
800 for the maintenance, increase and
support OF the library.
The provisions of the act shall not
apply tc nor affect in anywise tho city
of Wilmington.
The bill was advocated at o meeting
at tho Dover Century Club Thursday
afternoon. Addresses were made by
members of the club, George Massey
Jones, Senators Abbott and Brasure,
Repi esentatIyes Clark and Finn and
others.