The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-08
The Board Will Meet To-
Night to Take Final
Action in Matter.
LONG SESSION
NOT EXPECTED
Members Have All Facts Before
Them and Are Probably
Ready to-Vote at Once.
The Public Looking
for Several
Changes.

out Of a meeting Of the Library
Eoard which is scheduled for $50
o clock tonight, Will come 4 climax
to the prolonged controversy over the
State Library situation, and IT Will
probably mean the retirement Of Libra
rian Kennedy and some OF his assist
ntlts
No one is authorized to speak for
the board in the matter. and the mem
bers will not discuss for publication
their probable action; but the impress
sion has long prevailed that the situa-
s ton has reached stage which de-
ninnds some changes in the interest
3 OF the public service, and It is believed
that majority of the board are OF
this opinion. 1t looks as if the main
division Will occur on the method or
making changes.
As is well known. the board has for
some time been in possession OF Mr..
kcnnedy's resignation. and it is n
question whether II it Is determined
TO retire the librarian, the resignation
Will be simply accepted or Mr.. Kennedy
Will be removed from office. If Mr..
Kennedy goes. other changes will al
most certainly follow. as 1t Is known
that some OF the members are OF the
belief that the present chaotic sitna-
lsptl J1is Dten 5COnlFlHuteus4 10 y Dy GER
tain Of Mr.. Kennedys assistants. as
well as by the librarian himself.
Meeting Of Board.
The board will meet in the library
in executive session at $40 o'clock, and
fnal conclusion as to the entire
matter is expected at one sitting
Chairman Armistcad c. Gordon of
staunton, will preside. The other
members are Messrs. John w. Fish
burnc. OF charlottesville; Theodore s.
Garnett. OF Norfolk. and Charles "
Meredith and S. S. p. Patteson, OF this
city. They Will all be present. barring
some unforeseen happening
The library matter has dragged on
through many months. and has bristled
now and then With fiery and cxcltl llg
Incidents. The Legislative Committee,
which was here last winter looking
Into the schoolbook question: acct
dentally stumbled on the irregularities
hfterWard laid bare In the library,
There had long been rumors that
the librarian had been buying and
selling books and manuscripts ION the
side and Chairman Byrd called in
Messrs. Evans Berkeley, Eckenrodc
and other assistants, and examined
them privately and separately with
reference to the entire situation.
-eg Later he put these gentlemen on
the stand in public, and they told OF
various alleged transactions relating
to the purchase and sale of books pri-
Satcly. and of alleged over-chargcs for
books purchased in New York by MIR.
Kennedy for The school travelling lib
raries In this manner. the famous
Hurk's History transaction came out.
1t WAS proven by several witnesses
and admitted by Mr.. Kennedy that
lie bought "a Burk's History on his
own account and sold 1t for profit,
using the name5of the library through
out the correspondence relating to
the transaction. 1t was alleged that
the library needed the book, but in
his final testimony Mr.. Kennedy said
he did not offer 1t to the board be-
cause soma leaves were missing from
one OF the volumes
AS to History-Writing.
It was from Mr.. Kennedy's assist
ants that the first Information was
obtained concerning an offer mado the
librarian to Write a history of Yir-
Einia, and when he testified on this
who made him the offer.
Mr.. Kennedy testified at great length
before the Legislative Committee, and
rs the controversy Went on there was
much cross-flring between him and
> other library employees, tending stcad
ily to show that the situation had
p been strained to point where
changes IN the staff were almost
necessary in the interest Of a proper
public service.
The Legislative committee completed
us labors and adjourned. and the
Library Board took tho matter in.
Before this body there was another
investigation, and the entire situation
was fully gone over.
Has Been Aggravated.
Any feeling that may have been en-
gcndcred at tho first inquiry was ar
sravated by tho second. and when the
hoard had completed the taking Of ties
timony, "the last estate of the library
was worse than the first" SO far rs
arrangements between the employees
were concerned #
Now 1t is squarely cup to- tho board
and 1t is believed that this body will
act promptly, and that It's verdict will
meet the requirements OF the situation
No ono knows definitely that Mr. Ken
nedy will be relieved OF duty. but all
Indications seem to point strongly that
way on the eve OF the final meeting
n and IL this shall be tho result the
board Will have to select his successor
There are already two candidates In
tho evant OF n vacancy. They are Mr.
John S, Patton, librarian Of tho Univcr-
slty Of Virginia, and Mr.. j. G. lankins
assistant secretary OF the Common
" ealth.
There are perhaps others, but these
arc the only ones who are known tt
desire the appointment.
Public Deeply Interested.
1t may bc that the members already
have some one in mind for the place
.ebut they are not talking about 1t Il
they have, nor arc they even saying
how they feel about making an,
changes in the present force.
No public issue which has been i,
controversy In Virginia In years ha.
N created more widespread interest 81