The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-13
LIBRARY MATTER
ABSORBING TOPIC
TWO Aspirants for Posi-.
tiOn of Librarian In
Case Of Vacancy.
JOHN G. HAWKINS
AND JOHN S. PATTON
Board Still Reading Evidence,
Controversy Between Nichols
and Kennedy Over Pur-
chase and Sale Of
Latrobe Manu-
scripts.

Three features of the State Library
situation were widely discussed yes
terday. The second Investigation, which
the board will conduct and the prob
able successor Of Mr.. Kennedy in case
OF vacancy, and the purchase and
sale by Mr.. fennedy, in 1904, OF a val
liable manuscript written by BENZ II. |
Latrobe. the famous engineer and arr
ctlitect
With the second inquiry not yet we'll |
uHder way, 1t Is learned upon good au-
thority that in case a vacancy results
in the position OF librarian, at least
two gentlemen will apply for the place.
They are Mr.. John s. Patton, OF Char
lottesville. librarian OF the University
OF Virginia, and Mr.. J. G. Hankins, Of
Halifax. chief clerk in the Office of
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Ofcourse. no one knows what will
be the result OF the Investigation which
is now being conducted by the Library
Board. and the candidacy OF Messrs.
Hankins and Patton is therefore con-
tingent upon the acceptance of Mr..
Kenncdy's resignation, now In the
hands Of the board.
The members are still engaged in
the task OF reading the evidence ad-
duced before the Legislative Investi-
eating Committee. They tugged away
at It faithfully all during yesterday,
and went back into session promptly
at s o'clock last night, and remained
until q late hour.
Public Sessions Later.
| No one is allowed in the room save
the members. 1t is matter Of un-3
certainty when they will complete ths
task of studying this evidence, though
they will probably get through to-.
day. The hoard will then hold a public
Investigation III the Senate chamber.
| This may last a day. or 1t may last d
4 week. No one can tell until 1t Is
/ known what line tsE to besapurseed
and how many witnesses are to be
put on. 1t may be stated, however.
/ that the members favor staying hers,
| and finishing the work at this sitting.
| so as to have the matter settled once
i for all
The reading of the typewritten evil
dcnce heard by the Legislative COM
mittec is an irksome task, and is try
Il ing on the members of the board.
1 They are going ut 1t, though, as if the,
mean business, and when one tires
another relieves him for a while.
Both Well Known.
i The gentlemen whose names have
been mentioned in connection with the
position OF librarian in case Of va
cancy are well-known in the State
Nfr, Patton served one term as super
intendent OF schools Of the city Of
Charlottesville, and was for time
a member OF the Democratic Stat,
central Committee from the Seventh
District. At the expiration Of his tern
J as superintendent of schools he wa
3 made librarian of the University o
Virginia, and in this position he 4
said to have done splendid work
; Those who know of Mr.. Patton's ad
ministration Of this position say tina
he has brought the university librar
:. UP to very high standard, and tina
! he now has it in excellent shape.
Q Mr.. Hankins. though yet a young mar
> has been chief clerk In the office of til
/ Secretary of tho Commonwealth eve
7 since the administration of the late Go,
I ernor Fitzhugh Lee asld Is a traine
:, and faithful officer.
. In addition to this he took course
: library work at famous Northern ii
n stltution Just before the new Constt,
q tion changed the method of conducti,l
0 the State Library, and was n candida
a for the position of librarian when NJ
It Kennedy was elected, If there shall |
J. a vacancy IN the o1Iee as a result
u the investigation there will probably !
d other aspirants, but so far only II
u names of those mentioned above ha,
been heard in this connection,
y Warm Controversy.
- The story of the purchase and sale
II Mr.. Kennedy of the Latrobe manuscript
- in1904 issfull of interest. II seems til,
= some time during that year Mr. w. A
& Nichols, division auditor OF tile Life /
= surance Company of Virginia, offered
- .- IGlar rictl,t ~ \