The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-11
Mr.. Kennedy Returns and
Makes Statement Be-
fore Committee.
EXPLAINS MATTER
AS TO THE HISTORY
Says No House from Which Hf
Bought Books Made the Offer.
Superintendent Eggleston
Submits Powerful Argu-
ment in Favor of Sim
gle List.

Fiery incidents and stormy corlouuics
arc following each other in quick success
sion in the schoolbook inquiry, and tho
end ia not yet
Librarian ]. p. Kennedy occupied the
stand for over an hour yesterday after
noon, and he entered sweeping denial Of
most of tho statements made concern-
ing him ON tho previous day.
There was sharp passage between
Chairman Byrd and the witness, which
at times bristled with biting invective.
Witness had vigorously denied that Put
nam & Co. or any other firm with whom
the library had had dealings during his
incumbency had offered him $500 to
write history and had sent him a check
for $500. He admitted that the offer
was made. however, but refused to dis
close the name OF the concern making
1t, and sharply reminded the chairman
that he was present to refute statements,
and not to offer evidence.
This led them into a. brief siege Of cross-
firing. which was full Of spirit while 1t
lasted.
The committee took under advisement
the matter of requiring an answer to the
question, and some developments OF In
terest along this line are expected when
Mr.. Kennedy was told to be in readi-
ness to appear if desired by the commit
tee. and he is expected to be the first witt
ness to-day
Two Long Sessions.
Two long sessions OF the committee.
were held and were entirely consumed
with the testimony of Superintendent Jos.
d. Eggleston, Jr.. and Mr.. Kennedy.
neither one having concluded.
The testimony ONT. Eg gslestap was In
reality a very clear and able argumenr
| In favor of the single book list, in COM
tradistinction to the multiple system, OF
adoption. and he met forcefuily and at
time with great vigor the various conten-
tions that have been advanced on the
opposite side
Flo demonstrated his proposition in
many of Its more important phases. oit
never with more clearness and simplicity
than when he produced the books sold
under the two methods and showed that
in quality they were practically identi-
cal, while wido chasms lay between ths
prices. The superintendent was severe In
his references to the evil and corrupt-
ing influences left In the path Of book
campaigns, and he produced figures to
show that the people arc paying great
deal more for books now than they would
if the single list prevailed.
Mr.. Eggleston WAS questioned for the
most part by Chairman Byrd, though
Messrs. Cox and STROBE interrosated him
occasionally.
He left the stand at 4:20 p. NJ. to
give way for MI. Kennedy, ana will re-
sumo when the latter concludes.
Librarian on Stand.
Mr.. Kennedy arrived from Harrison-
burg on the 3:45 P. NJ Chesapeake and
Ohio train. and came directly to the
Capitol after hurriedly gathering up sonte
documents in his office.
His testimony was In the nature OF n
statement and he stood all the while
and spoke at times with much earnest
ness. He was asked only two questions.
one of which he declined to answer. So !
his examination has not really begun.
Witness dwelt upon tho strict business
methods In his Office, and declared that
no sum of money over SIS was ever spent +
without first obtaining the consent of 1
the board.
He said that all bills were carefully +
checked up and audited. and that Special {
Accountant Boudar had recently gone over /
the books and found them In first-c class
order @
Eighty-two per cent. of all the money
expened by him had been expended in
Virginia More would have remained here
had he been able Ia get what WAS neeoed-
Witness said no one had a monopoly OF
the books furnished the library. and he
could show that he had patronized one
hundred and fifteen different firms.
He denied that he had spent $4,000 for
books for the library. and said $500
would moro than cover the amount.
Coming to tho question of the recent
New York purchase Of which Mr. Bell
complained, Mr. Kennedy said he was
forced to another market than Richmond
on account OF circumstances. No hrrn i
here could furnish the books, and they a
must be had at once to meet the urgent
demands for libraries.
He got the list from the Superintendents
of Public Instruction, and his orders from
the library board,
He believed he had done better In New
York than he could have done elsewhere.
In speaking of department stores selling
novels at a low figure na said that this
was done for advertising purposes, and
that he had paid Mr.. Bell, who made
the complaint. sl,0S for every novel he
bought from him
Emphatic Denial.
Mr.. Kennedy was emphatic In his denial
of Mr.. tlyans's statement that he (lSeil-
nedy)g had told Exams that Putnam and
Company, from Whom the hooks wcra
bought. had offered him $s,5Oo to writa
4 history OF vf.ginia, Ho said he told !.
Mr.. Evans and others at the library thai
such I'm offer had been made; that q
$500 check had been sent. and that tbs
check had been returned. Mr. Evan
asked me- he said. ''if the offer was
from putnam, and | told him Il Was not,
Witness here entcred another fat de-,
nial Ia the COMMITTEES. and apoka AZ soma
length along tue line that he had kent
himself aloof from book concerns With
which he had pnblie bnsinass, 30 far AZ
his private affairs were concerned.