The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-01

GREAT DOUBT AS TO RESULT
Believed Question Of Diminishing
Others as Well as Kennedy
Will Be Prominent.

Will Be Prominent.
Though, 1t Is difficult even yct -
indicate what the general results viii
be, ono more week will probably bring
to climax the tong 1rawr out con.
trovcrsy over the affairs OF the STATE
Library.
The board will meet here Monday
night, April Sth, and, according To All
official statement given out at the last
adjournment, Will tncn render and
make public It's conclusions
Meanwhile Librarian Kennedy aud
his assistants nre holding on, perfcrn-
Ing their duties and awaiting their
fate. Mr.. Kcnnedy's resignation is III
the hands OF tho board, and II this
body shall feel that his services sho'.lo
ITO longer be retained. there are tao
methods OF relieving him OF duty.
one is to accept the resignation, uno
the other to decline to accept and re-
move him from Office.
Much Speculation.
The members OF the board arc vc:2
naturally not discussing for pub:ita.
ton their views as TO what may DO
finally done, but there is nevertheless
Il great deal OF sp,cula. on on the ia-t
OF the puDlic.
unauthorized though it may be. tliero
Is a pretty wcll-deircd iInpreesio"
that Messrs. Meredith and Pattc.On,
OF this city. are inclined to retain tt.'
present librarian, and McssrJ. Gordon
OF staunton. and 1'ishburne. OF Char
lottesville, to put In a new man.
No one Will venture to predict .tuds.
Garnett's probable views. and for .::.d
reason the situation seems to be N
great doubt
Whatever may be the outcome. 1t Is
almost certain that the question OF re-
moving others than Mr.. Kennedy vii!
be live one In the board meeting.
Tho whole situation Is fraught with
interest, and many Incidents occurred
from time to time at the two in
quiries. which showed that much fee'
Ing was developing for and against
Mr.. Kennedy. and for and against
some OF his assistants. a most strik-
Ing one grew out OF the correspondence
between Chairman Byrd OF the legis-
lative committee and Chairman Cor
don. of the board. which was read on
the closing day of the boards Inquiry.
II related II rlfnors of the punish
ment by probable removal of some OF
| the Library employees who had ap-
| peared aCainrr Mr. kennedy as wit
pcsscs at tho committee investigation.
After assuming the entire RESPONSE
| bility for the appearance OF these en-
ployes before his committee. and as
| scrting that none OF them had vol
unteered any information, Mr.. Byrds
| letter went on to declare that II was
i altogether wrong and Hnfa!r to pun
] ish public servants for testffyinE be-
| fcre legislative Investigating COM
| mittee. under solemn subpoena OF
| the Commonwealth.
Chairman Gordon was reading this
letter, and some of the language was
/, quite vigorous. Mr.. Meredith inter
ruptcd. and strongly indicated that lie
| did not care to hear that portion of the
| document. and he gave the impression
| by his manner and language that he
| rather thought the chairman of the
| Legislative committee was taking n
| long step and Occurring the board as
| to what should be it's duties In the
| matter.
! Other sharp brushes during the sit
tlngs Of both bodies left little doubt
hat the whole situation is greatly
Z strained. and thai the inquiry into the
affairs of the library has In no way
| tended toward the promotion of good
feeling among those most directly.con-
| cerned.
Many Aspirants.
If Mr.. Kennedy shall not be retained
| in the position of librarian there VIII
be no dearth of nspirants for the place.
| Indeed. there are now two in the Held
! They are Librarian John S. Patton. of
the University of Virginia, and As
! sistant Secretary of the Commonwealth
| j. G. Hankins, OF Halifax.
| Both are regarded as we'll cQuippes
| for the work. The former has made
| fine reputation as librarian OF the
| university and the latter took spe-
] c!al course In library work and was
| candidate for the place when Mr.. Ken
| nedy was first chosen.
There will be. and perhaps are now.
\ other aspirants In various sections, and
| 1t is not at all unlikely that II
majority of the board have reached q
4 conclusion to make change in the
head Of the institution they will come
| hero next Monday night with some one
definitely in mind for the place. or with
names of several from which to select
! Decided opposition has loag teSisttls
among the public to going outside the
| State for 4 man for librarian. AL
! though the work is In a measure ."cll-
meal. it is the general BELIEF that one
1 equal to the occasion can be foun \
within the limits of aIiginia
1t is expected. that the meeting ai"r-s
day night will convene promptly at
Is:3O o'clock. and that 1t will be le;h
sI5behnd closed DOORS Tho whole sub
Eject will probably be disposed Of, SO
far as the board is concerned at Otc
sitting. Tho members have read tie
EcvIdcnce taken before the Legislative
committee, and have Very likely iea B.
/ that adduced before the board, al o.
which they heard as. It Was. pcilS
even. Later.on tho report Of ne 'cs-
lslative committee VIII be made, pu !.
| TINS will probably not be drawn un..:F
after the board has roIo rted' ana may
| bear to some extent upon the latter
| 1r1nrNrOOc Or }s sis