The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-10

luLLeT. respectfully lib WAS true OF Drl-
mary school-books.
Mr.. STROBE took the witneus at this
point and carried him back to the dues-
ton of lbrary-books. He stu.k to his
frat statement, that fifteen to twenty
per cent. could lave been saved to the
State had there been competitive bids.
Have you sold any books to the
state Library at all?"
we have. We have had n standing
order to pick up Virginia books for the
library for several years. We hnve FUR
rislied n few others"
How much do your animal .oIo. 10
the library amount TOT" asked Mr.. Cox.
In the last eighteen months 1 think
they amounted to about $500. The
other dealers in Virginia, I understand,
sell the library none."
Mr.. Berkeley Testifies.
Mr.. r.. B. Berkeley, In charge Of the
division IF travelling libraries. was In
troduced at this point.
Are YOU familiar With the invoices
OF purchases made OF f. p. Putnam &
Coz" asked Mr.. Byrd.
II am
Did YOU consider the prices paid by
Mr.. Kennedy for these books fair?"
No. sir: / did not
Please take the list and tell us what
prices you did not think were fair"
Witness took the list and he referred
to Aliens "CarIinals,' put down Mt
$l.5O and sold to the library Mt 95c. He
objected to these because on most Of
them the copyright had expired, and
could be bought In the retail stores for
40 or 80 cents.
Wen. what in the world did Putnam
mean by selling the State books at
these exhorbitant prices?"
Il can't answer that"
Did you ever call Mr.. Kcnnedy's at
tention to this?'
ooh, yes, sir"
What did he say to that?"
He seemed to think we were getting
books at proper figures"
DO you buy all your books from
Putnam?r
Yes, sir; he is our agent"
elias Mr.. Kennedy any connection
with Putnam other than this?"
II know nothing OF my own knowl-
edge"
did you ever hear that an offer had
been made Mr.. Kennedy by the Put
MANS to write them n history Of yir-
ginia?"
II nave heard 1T talked OF in the
library, but nothing from Mr.. Kennedy"
Heard About History.
"Didn YOU hear that. Putnam had
offered Kennedy a certain sum to vito
this history, and had sent him a check
for s50o?"
II did hear it,
Did YOU hear Kennedy say thls?',
Il did not. Mr.. Kennedy has never
made a confdant OF mo. We only dis
cuss matters relating to my department."
Have all the books contracted for
been delivered?"
Not all on the last purchase
When was this order given?',
II think Mr.. Kennedy went to New
York the first week in October.r
What do you think of the policy OF
allowing one New York concern TO fur
n.sh all the books without allowing
competitive bids?"
II have not had enough experience
in book buying to answer intelligently.'
Witness said. although he had COM
planned to Mr.. Kennedy as to exhorbitant
prices, he thought that subsequently,
bills then due had been paid In full.
He pointed out instances Of what he
thought were over charges, and practi-
cally said that in many instances the
State was paying retail prices for books.
Assistant Evans.
Assistant Librarian E. S. Evans now
testified. and was asked II his attention
had ever been called to high prices being
charged the Library by Putnam, and he
said it had in several instances.
Where does the Library get it's
books?''
Mostly from our agents, Putnam &
Company"
IBID you ever nave any conversation
with Mr.. Kennedy concerning an al
legged offer by Putnam for the writing
OF a history"
Mr.. Kenndy told several Of us that he
had had such a proposition. and tina
Putnam had offered him $500 to do the
work"
Did he say Putnam had sent him a
check for 5000
HE did, but said he had returned the
check"
Did he say why he returned the
check?''
He said he did not know yet whether
or not he could undertake the work"
Another Attache.
DR.. II. J. Eckenroad, who is connected
with the Library, testified, and he cor
roborated the testimony of Mr.. Evans,
except that he did not recall that Mr..
Kennedy mentioned Putnam's name. He
did say a publishing house had offered
him $500 to write q history OF Virginia,
and had sent him a check for 500 as a
oiid H
Did he say why the check had beer
returned?"
II think he said he had not yet deter
mined whether or not he could under
take the work"
did he say anything about the prob
able improperly Of writing a history for
a concern which was furnishing all the
books for the Llbrary?'
He did not"
The next witness was Mr.. F. l.. scho-
field, manage of Hunters book store,
n his testimony was largely in cor
roboration of that of Mr.. Bell.
Ibid You examine the invoices of the
purchases made Of Putnam by Mr.. Ken
nedy?" Mr.. Byrd asked.
81 did"
Can you take this list and point out
~~