The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-09
INQUIRY IS NOT
UNDULy DELAYED
Library Board Says 1t Will Take
Up Kennedy Matter Mon
day Night.
Mr.. MEREBITH's EXPLANATION
Issues Statement Showing Why
Board Has Not Met
Sooner.

The state Library situation, which has
been the subject of such wide discus
sion on the streets and In the news
papers, will probably be settled one way
or another next week, the library board
having been called for Monday to take
the matter up.
When the board held lis last meeting
the three nonresident members Messrs'
Gordon, Eishburne and Garnett--had not
had an opportunity to famliarize them
| selves with the evidence before the leg
| islativc Investigating committee, and for
| this reason the board adjourned to await
| the stenographic report of the proceed
| ings
There have been unavoidable delays
! in getting out this report, and copies
were not placed i'll the hands of the
members until February 2Sth
SIessrs. Meredith and Patteson, VINO
| compose the executive committee OF the
board and who heard most OF the evil
| dence, at once issued call for meet
| ing next Monday night. when an IN.
| vestigauon by the board WIZ oesii, y
| 10 uncertain what length of time VIII DC
necessary for the consideration of the
subject. The members will all have read
tho evidence in the meantime, ana may
| act upon this without going into the
| examinat ton OF witnesses. on the other
| hand. they may conduct another an"
| jndependent examination upon when 10
base their final conclusions in the matter
A Clear Statement,
Mr.. Meredith yesterday gave out inc
| following signed statement seluhs ou'
| fully the position OF the noafo.
| CAS- the Richmond papers nave seer
| fit TO comment upon the postponenleh N
80 tbe investigation by the State
Library Board and the consequent de
| lay II Is but right that the puplS
| sbo,,ld know the facts connected there
with.
when the board first met, the three
ron-resident members had not heart
q word of the testimony. and had ohts
seen such as appeared in some OF the
,evspapers. The board could not thet
1 Rave gone into an intelligent inquiry
I as it had no copy of the evidence pc
! fore 1t. and especially because OF th'
! exhibits being in the hands OF th'
| enographer. 1t would have been un
wise and unjust to nave gone INTO az
| inquiry under such circumstances
ut therefore adjourned. to meet a
| soon as it should receive the steno
| graphic report and the exhibits.
The three nonresident members hay
depended upon Mr.. s. s. P. PattesoI
| and myself 10 speed the matter n
| much as possible. Both orally and il
writing. we requested Mr.. Cox. tn
resident member of the legislative com
rnittee, 10 press the delirr-- He cotsi
| piled with our request. We were in
formed that the stenographers wer
| delayed By sickness and other eauses.
4 ION THURSDAY, February 2Sth. W
1 received the copy of the evidence ar
the exhibits from the committee w
| found that there were not among tn
exhibits certain originals, which, W
! deemed important. Owing 10 cour
| engagements and my absence from tn
/ city ii was impossible to make an In
/ qu!ry OF Mr. Cox until last Monday
ION the last named day the nonr resi-
dent members of the board were writ
ten TO, asking that the State boar
should meet on March 18th. That da
has been agreed upon.
These are the simple facts. which
submit without comment for fair an
intelligent consideration"