The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-10
State Librarian Under
Fire Before Joint Leg
iSlative Committee.
DEALERS SAY HE
SHOWED FAVORITISM
President of Bell Company Opens
Way, and Library Attaches
Tell Of Alleged PROPOSE
ton to Librarian by
Book Contractor to
Write History.

Failing like repeated bomb shells in the
senate chamber yesterday, the testimony
of the representatives Of two local book
concerns and three attaches of the State
Library before the schoolbook committee,
IN relation to the purchase OF books for
the travelling libraries b. State Librarian
j. +. Kennedy, was at times highly sen
sptional
Mr.. r. o. Bell. president OF the Bell
Book and Stationery Company. was the
star Witness and his testimony to the
effect that the books were all bought in
New York, and many OF them at prices
higher than they could be purchased at
retail In Richmond. opened the way FOR
two hours of fast and furious talk by
Chairman Byrd and witnesses but the
climax came when Mcssrs. Berkeley,
Evans and Eckenrode. OF the library
STAFF. related that il was well understood
about the library that Putnam d Co, Mr..
kennedy's New York agents. had offered
him $3.50 10 write n history of Virginia,
and had sent him 500 as a bonus.
They testified. however. that the cheek
had been returned. and that Mr.. Kennedy
said he sent 1t back because ne had no,
yet determined whether or not he could
undertake the work
The committee sent at once for Mr..
Kennedy. with the view of getting his
version OF the matter. but he was not In
the city. He liz somewhere in the Valley
on business. and telegraph messages were
sent him at Harrisonburg and New Mar
ket by Chairman Byrd. summonlng him
here at once to testify.
Bell Opens the Way.
Mr.. Bell had testified that he talked
with Mr.. S. S. y, Patteson. OF this city,
- L. a
showed him a letter FROM his firm TO
the board. complaining that local deal
ers were being Disseminated against in
tic purchase OF books He said. at Mr..
Patteson's request. he withheld the letter.
and that the later. he understood. got
through n resolution at the next meeting
providing that hereafter competitive bids
would be called for. so that everybody
might hayc chance.
This letter was produced. and Ia printed
cisewhers, as is also copy of the reso-
luton.
Materially, this led up To the introduce
ton of Mr.. Patteson as witness. and
he said Mr. Bell had shown him such
letter, and he had requested that 1t be
withheld because he thought the matter
could be reached In some other way. To
this end he had offered and gotten
through the competitive bid resolution,
though he was not now certain that this
was the best way to purchase the books.
The board had instructed Mr.. Kennedy
TO go to New York and buy the books,
and had left the prices largely to him.
This caused Chairman Byrd to remark
with some spirit that this board, like
many others. appeared TO be a mere
fgtTehead.
He Did Not Know.
Mr. Patteson knew nothing of the al
Il. l.
to write history.
Mr.. c. V. Meredith. also a member of
the board. testified along the same line.
and expressed confidence in the ability
and integrity OF the librarian. which. he
said. would not be shaken In tho absence
of stronger testimony against him.
1t was by far the stormiest session OF
the committee, which returned here yes
terday to resume its work, after a long
holiday recess, and the testimony relat-
ing to Librarian Kennedy completely
overshadowed the single book question,
which heretofore has furnished the main
point In the inquiry. This matter was
only reverted to yesterday in order to
MI in, and when there was an occasional
lull in the feature of the day.
Superintendent w. f. Fox, OF this city,
was the first witness. but he was quickly
excused, having only been called to say
What royalty uc Sot oH oA hSlNN
Government
Profound Silence.
Mr. Bell came mkt, and every word
Of his testimony was heard by all pres
ent He was sure the local dealers had
never had chance to come In on these
books when they could furnish them and
were anxious to do so, and his concu-
sion was that the State had lost much
money by the last purchase
Mr.. F. l.. schofeld, manager of Hun
ters book store gave similar testimony,
and both he and Mr.. Bell asserted that
the books could have been secured for
15 to 90 per cent. less than they We're
gotten.
They both took tho invoice of the last
purchase, and declared that many spe-
cific books had been sold to Putnam to
the library at prices ranging from Sl.So
to $1.5o when they We're being sold here
by retail for rs little as so cents each
Was Freely Talked Of.
Assistant Librarian Evans and Mr.. r..
r. Berkeley and Mr., III. J, Ethenrode
both connected In an official capacity
with the library. were the chief wit
nesses as to the history-wrting episode
They testified that Mr.. Kennedy had
talked of the matter; had discussed the
offer of $500 and the $500 bonus check
which was sant, and had said why the
check was returned.
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