The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-15

business Importance. The Exchange
is devoid of conveniences. the accom-
modations for official purposes are
poor. and it appears an impossibillty
by repairs and works of renovation
and improvement TO make it other
wise. While nothing can be done this
year beyond painting the exterior or
the old structure and endeavoring IN
other ways to give it a more presenta-
BILE appearance, Council could take up
the subject of new hall and lay the
way for future Councils to push a
project to completion. Either on the
site of the Exchange, or on more
centrally located lot, building in
keeping with the Savannah of the
twentieth century should be erected.
The present building may have re-
fected credit on the Savannah of
half century ago. 1t certainly does not
reflect credit on the Savannah of to-
day. So insufficient are it's accommo-
dations that not single committee of
Council has a room in which to meet,
three or four officers, whose depart
ments have no connection, are crowded
in one room, and in other ways the EX-
change is unsuitable for the needs of
the existing municipal government.
Is for "A Free Library.
There are other matters not directly
connected with the city government,
but which affect the interests of our
citizens, to which 1 would recall your
attention as worthy of immediate con-
siderotion by you as the official voice
of the people.
During the past year the Mayor has
been in correspondence with Mr.. An
drew Carnegie, whose work for the i'm
provement of the masses by the estab
lishment of free public libraries needs
no commentator at my hands, and
there is reason to believe that he re-
CARDS Savannah with favor and is in
clined to assist materially in the estab-
| lishment of such an institution here by
| a liberal endowment. We cannot afford
| to allow such an opportunity to pass
| 1t is not a question as to what few
! citizens may say or desire; it is a
| question solely as to what the best in
terests of the vast majority of our cit
| liens call for. To my mind, in these
| days free public library is almost as
| much a necessity as free schools. BY
| far the greater number of our people
do not attend school after they are IA
| or Is years of age and a free library
| would become potent factor in their
| mature education, opening the door for
higher culture than would otherwise
be at their command.
Citizens everywhere are availing
! themselves of the unbounded gener-
| osity of Mr.. Carnegie and securing
| libraries that will count for much in
their intellectual development. Savan-
nah needs such an institution as much
as any city in the land. We have moth
ing here approaching it. 1t is, to a GER
tain extent, a reflection on us that we
have none. A few people are so pecu-
harly constituted that they regard
| with suspicion, if not with actual dis
favor, anything that is labeled free"
! or that is intended for all of the peo-
| PIE and not for self-selected few We
| cannot allow such g spirit to control
Savannah nor to have the impression
| go abroad that we are not awake to
| modern conditions and requirements
l believe that Council should meet Mr.
Carnegie in any proposition he may
make with the determination to secure
| Savannah a free library if il
is in anywise possible. To
this end it may be necessary
to make an appropriation yearly, but
as it is an expenditure that will APP
peal to practically all of our taxpayers
as wise and beneficial, / feel that the
city need have no hesitancy in MAX
ing room for it in its annual budget.
By all means let us have a free
| library if it can be obtained and let
| 1t be so located and SO managed that
| 1t will best meet the needs of the peo-
! pie. Let it be trust administered by
! the Mayor and Aldermen as trustees
for the people and for Mr.. Carnegie's
| benefaction. / have no fear that the
| time will ever come in Savannah when
| such trust, whether some consider
| IT in politics or not, will not be man
| aged with an eye single to the public
| good. Politics. So-called, will not in
! Jurlously affect a public library any,
more than 1t affects the public schools.
| Some people-fortunately few in num-
| ber-look apparently with disfavor on
! the rule of the people They would
have a rule of the favored few. if
| possible. | maintain that it is right
| that the representatives of the people
| should manage a public library. Coun-
ell should not be deferred by the bug.
| aboo that is raised by some who evil
IDENTIFY are opposed to the official rep
| resentatives of the people managing
the affairs of a library intended for
| their use.
Measures in Congress-
Our relations with the Federal gov
! eminent remain of a most cordial char
| acter. The Marine Hospital Service
continues to cooperate most heartily
| with the local government in matters
| anecting the public health. Reports
| are regularly sent from the ouaran-
! tine station and in other matters there
is same evident desire to work at all
times in harmony with our health Of
hclals. At present a movement is
under way to erect commodious and