The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1907-05-10
TAX PAYER ENTERS PROTEST.
Holds That the Trustees of Library
Have Not Measured up to Their
Duty---They Should Resign
4 or Make Better Showing.
Editor Of The Union Times:-

Editor Of The Union Times:-
About 1902 or 1903 Mr.. Andrew
+" Carnegie offered to the people OF
Union $1,000 for the purpose of
erecting building to be used as q
free. public library, on conditions
that the town woufd furnish a -is-
and furnish Sl 600 year for the
maintenance Of said library. BY
private subscription the citizens of
the town fur1iished funds for tho
<spnrchase Of q l0t on which to ered1
bull ding !, and at an electi08
hsld tor that psirposs in ApHB
Z 1903 an annual tax of 81 600 was
4 voted for the support of this insti-
tuition. After a long delay the
building was erected, the then free
library of the city donating it's
stock of books as nucleus for the
new one. In 1906, the General
Assembly of South Carolina passed
an act incorporating the Union
Carnegie Free Library, naming
nine gentlemen of dcservedly high
standing in the community as
trustees, with power to choose
their own successors. In this
respect said act is violation of the
principles upon which are based all
American or democratic institu-
tions. The people supply the
money, but have absolutely no
voice in its expenditure or manage
met. But this, while wrong in
principal, may work we'll, provided
the men in charge give the proper
intelligent and energetic attention
to the, duties they assume under
this close corporation arrangement.
Has this Board of Trustees met
this condition? Let the record
show. This same act provides that
the city council shall annually
turn over to the trustees of the
library one thousand dollars as
voted in the electjas.<rh .""oover, 'of
three years, if not more; ana yet'
when asked why new books or
magazines have not been supplied
to the library the statement IS
made that the council has not
turned over this fund, and, there
fore. there is no money with which
to furnish these things. Here Is a
clear violation, both of Mr.. Car
n.pie's condition and OF the statute
law of the state. The city counci
has no legal or moral right to us'
this tax, levied and paid for the us'
of the library, for any other pur
purpose whatsoever, no matter nov
pressing the need. 1t constitutes
tr,st fund in their hands fur es''
sole purpose. Since council laiis
nrrform its duty under the la"
mon whom falls the burden q
forcing them to comply WIN " ";
rn,ndote of the statute and the W,
nf the people? Clearly. upon u
Ia,rI of trustees and upon the
alone. u,
Here is three thousand dollars
nearly that sum that Is due I
l;hrarv and can be collected, II Il
peacefully then certainly 10y. app
cation to the courts. In TINS VI
narticular, therefore, the tfusu
appointed or chosen by one man !.
set Of men to manage an nsttuC
Snnnorted by the whole peo
i have fatty fallen down and ut.e .s
failed in the performance OF "
plain duty. AS consequerIha
3 library is in a condition tna' ,s'
simply disgraceful to an intenit
community. No books OF any
sennance have been added to
srHau collection donated by
former association. on.li ie'I
the supply of periodicals was
y crous. The large and mere;
demand for new books has nae
feet in stimulating the trustee
ant;on These gentlemen
content to allow matters to ru'
in any old way, IL Is nv, ins"
the people were demanding
sarv;ce. These gentlemen, lo
of whom I have the highest re
bava been tried and found wa
from sheer lack OF interest
should either make good al
90 at once, or else they shoui'
down and ont and give pli
men who viii feel and 'a
interest in maintaining this
tion in the proper way: =,
The motive urged for th
ment of money for the supp
the library was that 1T would
1,oot;onal institution o