The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-05
PROBE LIBRARY
MATTER DEEPLY
tSChoolbo Ok Committee
ReCOnveneS Here
This Morning
MIR. KENNEDY TO BE
THE STAR WITNESS
Mr.. Terrence Will Testify First.
Librarian Must Say Who
Wanted Him to Write
History-Will Go
Into Other
Matters.

After recess Of several weeks, the
sclioolbook inquiry will be resumed in
the senate chamber this morning. and
1T looks now as IL the rest or the
hearing Will relate mainly to tho pur-
chase of books for travelling school
libraries by Mr.. ]. r. Kennedy, the
present State Librarian.
The first Witness will be Mr.. VIII
liam Clayton Torrence, an nttachc of
the library. and he. Will tell what he
knows about the alleged offer Of a
book concern to Mr.. Kennedy Of a
certain amount I'd write history or
Virginia. The librarian will follow.
and VIII probably occupy the stand
fer as much as two days
u am confident that + will be able
TO satisfy the committee on every point
raised" said Mr. Kennedy wien seen
in his office. pointing at the same time
10 a great mass OF documentary evi-
dence which he Will invoke in his
behalf.
viii you have an attorney?' he vas
asked.
II will represent myself" was tln quick
reply.
I When alr. Kennedy takes the stand
Interest in the inquiry will be revived
and from what can be learned. Chairman
Byrd and his colleagues are going TO ask
some very striking questions.
Must Call the Name.
The committee has determined to re-
quirc the librarian to give the name OF
the person or corporation from whom he.
had the offer to write II book and 1t is
said that his answer viii be that 1t was
u relative.
Anyhow he will be asked this among
the first questions. There are other mat
tiers upon which Mr. KENNEDY will be
| interrogated. which promise to furnish
Interesting reading.
Chairman Byrd has been here for sev-
crsil days. He Is at the Hotel Allen and
WIS in conference yesterday with one
of his colleagues, M. Cox.
Senator Strobe, tx. other member Of
the committee. is expected this morning.
and the session is scSledulcd to begin
at 10 o'clock.
Refused to Bid.
The time for receiving bids under
| q recent advertisement by the libra
rlan for books for fhe travelling IL
Book and Stationery Company and Hum
ter and Company did not bid. They sent
letters giving their reasons. They fol-
| low and explain themselves:
"Richmond. Va Feb 2.S1so7
| Mr.. John p. Kennedy, State Librarian.
| Eichmond. Va:
Dear Si-,---As practical bookman.
| having purchased since j have been IN
the business probably nfty times as
many books Is YOU have purchased In
| your capacity as state Librarian. this
! company Is unwilling TO submit bid
for the list. OF looks set forth in your
| favor OF the 25th uitimo
/ Our reason for this decision, to be
i perfectly frank. Is as follows:
The chief reason for our refusal TO
| lid Is that We are unwilling to compete
| for business under conditions which we
| feel are not entirely equitable. we do
/ not pretend to say what anmus may
/ have actuatcd YOU In prescribing restric-
| necessary, but which. nevertheless. you
demand shall be fulfilled TO tho let
/ ter; or in demanding that the bids be
,urnod in before this library matter is
| settled we only know that to any
| practical, unpreindiced booiman some
~ least OF your restrictions must seem
4 thoroughly intolerable, II not actually
impossible TO observe, certainly without
tho cordial cooperation of the librarian
i in chief
"Furthermore. II the bid submitted
4 should be in excess of those submitted
| by our competitors, while 1t would have
no bearing on the prices at which we
could have furnished other books under
! other conditions. 1t might nevertheless
! be unfairly used to create the impress
| sion that our prices being higher on
l this list they would. by inference, have
| been higher on previonH lists--whlch
/ does not follow at all. We do not care
4 to put ourselves in n position in which
4 such an unfair advantage might be
taken of us
4 .In conclusion, permit MS to say that
i ARE perfectly aware that our refusal
I to bid on this list of books may be un-
fairly construed 10 mean that We re-
4 fused to bid because We are afraid TO
4 bid. Such a conclusion to a practical,
unprejndsced bookman. or to any fair
Il mil reasonable
4 Eencc, must appear ridiculous ms Well
i as unjust when all the accompanying
Il circumstances, and the rigid conditions
i prescribed, are considered.
''We thank you, however, for tho op-
!. (Continud on Seventh Page.)