The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-10

mo such a letter. ! think this was tina
I'd of November. The library board met
that night. and did pass such a resolu.
ton"
Mr.. Patteson read the resolution, which
was adopted. He said 1t had been offered
By himself. 1t was practically the one
shown Mr.. Bell by himself.
What was your idea In asking MIR.
Bell TO withhold the ~letter?'' was asked.
II thought the same results could be-
accomplished in his way. / had talked
in a friendly way with Mr.. Bell about
the matter several times. We did no.
know exactly wiint was the best way to
purchase the books. but I did not think
the prices charged by Putnam were ex-
horbitant."
What were the instructions given the
librarian AK to the purchases of books?''
The matter was discussed fully at tho
board meetings and lists OF books made
out. The librarian was then instructed
to get the books on the best possible
terms"
First Experience.
"You didn't consider the propriety OF
calling for bids. did your
This was the first experience we had
had in purchasing books for the travel
ing Libraries. and some OF the members
thought the competitive bid method was
not the better one. I thought when I
offered the resolution that It would DO
well to give it a trial"
Did you leave the whole matter to
the librarian when these books were
bought?" asked Mr.. Byrd.
Largely as to prices"
We'll. then. your board is like a great
many others. You were mere figure
heads, and left 1t all to the librarian,
Witness said he was of opinion that the
Board OF Education should be practically
in control of the purchase OF books for
school travelling libraries. He also
thought the question WAS such n new
one that later on all parties would know
more about 1t than in the past.
Mr.. Patteson knew nothing whatever
OF the alleged history-writing matter.
Confidence in Kennedy.
Mr.. C. V. Meredith testified briefly.
He Is n member OF the board, and
agreed with Mr.. Patteson in most OF his
testimony. He declared that the board
had placed Its confidence in Mr.. Kennedy
to go New York and purchase the books.
and that they had left the matter OF
prices largely to him. For his own part,
that confidence had not been shaken in
the librarian, and would not be shaken
unless some stronger evidence was adj
duced against him.
He had never heard OF the history mat
ter until 1T was rtimored on the streets.
but he was sure that II such an offer
had been made, 1t had no connection
whatever with the purchase of books.
He believed Mr.. Kennedy had declined
much more attractive offers. He knew
nothing OF the school Libraries, and
thought this was a matter for the school
authorities to deal with.
Witness did not believe that. taken as
a whole, the Richmond dealers would
have sold the books for the same prices
at which they were bought in New York.
They might have made lower prices on
some books, but in the end they would
have been higher. The two reasons act
uating him In the matter were first that
Mr.. Kennedy could do better purchasing
the books OF his own Judgment, and
second that the board was anxious to
get the Libraries in the field.
The committee will meet at 10 o'clock
this morning. when 1t is likely that SUI
perintendent Joseph D.. Eggleston, Jr.,
will take the stand. unless Mr.. Kennedy
shall arrive in the meantime.