Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1906-09-04

ones as they came from the publish
ers. from time Ia time. and by stimu-
iating a wider interest IN general
library work. and aiding the library
in a general way. This organization
has done q splendid work and In en-.
titled from the pahlic 10 great credit.
u has added In many ways 10 the Il,
ticieney al he library. provided
screen for the building. purchased
mating. constructed a cess pool. and
generally has taken q wide interest In
library affairs. The idea vas. that
the city council would with pleasure
discharge the duties required by or
dinance No. 1883. and provide current
expenses, thar the library board would
take active interest In the matter Of
administration and the Women's asso
citation become an actis" and intlucn,
iial auxiliary, aud In this way by all
working together create and maintain
an institution cfeditable 10 h intelii-
gent and progressive citizenship Of
Las Vegas. considering that word In
it, broadcast
Thus library matters were satissac-
torily progressing until the insrodue'
tion and passage OF the resolution OF.
fered by Mr.. Bacharach. Necessarily
that resolution has created confusion
and brings the library board into the
presence Of a crisis in management.
The board cannot administer the H.
brary without funds for current ex.
penses. The moral and legal obliga'
ton is ON the city to appropriate cur
rent expense money. All beyond the
board and Women's association will
provide. II has been found by expert
ence, taking the year around. that
$685. per month is necessary. The
following persons have been members
Of the board: Mrs. Harry Kelly, Mrs.
w. L. Crockett, Mrs. Will Rosenthal.
Mrs. W. j. Lucas. Mrs. NJ. r. Williams.
f. V. Long, c. H. Bradley. Ed. Ray
nolds. John A. Ross and ". s. Belden.
and these members have exercised
their very best judgment to reduce
expense to the least possible amount.
To continue a useful institution the
library must be properly handled and
managed. 1t should be an active. Nv
ing, progressive institution. meeting
the needs intended by its creation, or
il should be closed. To adopt half way
measures and linger along more a
than alive, would be ~discreditable Il
Las Vegas and to the board. There
should be no halfway measures.
| have no criticism to sugges,
against the city council. 1t is for the
members thereof to determine h ex
tent of their duties and obligations
and the manner in which they SHOULD
be discharged. The library board Il
ready and willing In all ~reasonabl'
and proper ways to cooperate with TN
council and to perform all the dutie'
contemplated by the ordinance which
created the board, and am sure tn
several members thereof sincerei
hope that the council may see SOM
way whereby the resolution alread
passed may be repealed or rescindee
and the library work continue unde
the appropriation and arrangemen
that had been working so SUCCESSFUL
for eleven months prior to the pas
age of that resolution.
Shall the library close? 1t is ne
for the library board to say. 1t mus
close unless funds necessary to me-
current expenses are appropriated b
the city council. -.
For the good name Of the city, III
library board hopes that there Will |
no r%epudiation Of the obligations
Ordinance No. 1879. The city has pied
ed its honor and good faith to mai
tain this library and it is to be hops
that Las Vegas will be saved the q
credit, humiliation and disgra'
which must attach to a Republication
the moral and legal obligations OF ]
contract. If it be published to y
world that we do not keep our on
cations, that we invite donations,
ceive them and then go back upon =
promises made. the library board
not willing to become a party to sn'
%repudiation. We recognize fully Z
difficulties under which the city COZ
ell labors. 1t is evidently d~ifficults
uroyide funds to meet the necessa
axnarsec af the city. That, howev,