The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-13
|S|N
TROUBLE J [: I !. AGAIN.
Library Class Want Money.
Paid for Private
Services.
HAVE EMPLOYED COUNSEL
Declare That Mr.. Kennedy Has
No Authority to Withhold
Money.

Claiming that the money pnid for
services rendered to DR.. George Ben
Johnston, in catalogung his library,
was duo them. the sixteen members
Of the library class" have employed
legal counsel to forcs Librarian John
p. Kennedy to turn the moEey ovrr
to them. 1t was stated yesterday that
the money was to have been gives
Them to be used to pay the expenses
OF trip to Ashevillo. NJ c., TO atten!
n meeting OF Southern library people.
The class decided that. as they would
cceds gained in cataloEuing this
library, they could not afford to tane
the trip, ana asked that the money DO
divided among them. This Mr. Ken.
ncdy refused to do. claiming that he
had not the authority to DO so. and
saying that he would leave 1t to the
decision Of the Library Board.
Not Employed by State.
The basis for the demands OF tho
library class" Is that they are not
employed by tho State: that the work
was undertaken and performed BY
themselves apart from their work in
tho State Library, and that Mr.. KEN
nody has no right whatever 10 decide
what shall be done with the money.
They contend that Mr.. Kennedy. II no
believes that the class Is not entitled to
the money, had no right to send them
out to catalogue private library and
then collect the money In the name OF
the State. The members OF the class
do not pny for their instruction, but
they do render service in return In the
way OF helping in the State Library
1p,t1nY 111H
or any head of department in tho
State Library has the authority to farm
out their services in tho name OF the
State for private work is uuestion
II so, there still remains the question
as to whether he may dsaidc as TO whnt
is to be done with the money. He de-
cided in this case that the money, should
be used to pay the expenses OF a trip
to Asheville or to jamestown, and then
upon the refusal OF the class 10 co. de-
clared that he would withhold tho money
and leave the question as to Its dis
bursenent to the board.
The members OF the class believe firmly
that they are entitled to the money to
be paid by Or. Johnston. whether 1t be
used to pay expenses to Ashevi!lc or sc
divided among them. All the work, with
the exception OF weeks supervision
by one Of the heads OF departments Of
the State Library, was performed by
them, and Mr.. Kennedy took no part in
lit They claim that they may catalogue
and index any PERSONS library. without
first seeking authority from Mr. Kennedy.
or allowing him to collect money paid
for their services.
Moreover, all the members Of the
class have graduated, though they have
not yet received, they state. all the
course Of lectures due them. Though
they have received their marks on
their examination papers, signifying
that they have passed, they have not
yet received their diplomas and this
is another grievance they have against
Mr. Kennedy
Counsel Employed.
The class has held several meetings
to discuss what their action will be
in collecting the money they believe
due them, and they finally decided to
invoke the law in their aid. Counsel
has been employed. and the matter. 1t
Is believed, will finally be adjudicated
In the courts. A letter from the class
was sent to Mr.. Kennedy on Friday,
and an answer Is being awaited.
Work on Dr. Johnston's library was
begun IN March. and 1t occupied the
class. Off and on, about two months
and half. Trouble between the H.
brarian and the class. 1t is stated, has
| been brewing for some time, and 1t Nm
ally eliminated in the present aRita-
ton. 1t is believed that much that has
not yet been divulged lies behind tho
present trouble. and is expected that
additional matters Will conk to light
before the trouble bo closed, 80
1 + { J. III