Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-05-19
CARNEGIE MADE MAYOR
AND ALDERMEN SIGN IT
Contract Was Made Bind
ing as Possible.
Claimed Library Board
Stands Same as Board
of Education.

The liability of the city under its
contract with Mr.. Andrew Carnegie
is the subject of considerable dis
cussion throughout the city. Every
body is more or less interested in all
developments concerning the public
library now used by some members OF
nearly every white family in the city,
and the outcome of the renewed agl-
tation in the city council is sure to
be awaited with more than ordinary
interest by the public generally.
At the meeting on next Wednesday
night Alderman Allen will have in
readiness a brief of all the facts con-
nected with the securing of the $780,
600 from Mr.. Carnegie for the erection
of the library building. He will then
lay before council the correspondence
and the official acts of council, lead
ing to the donation of the money for
the building.
There seems to be no doubt that the
city, in an official way, and by the
united action of its council, solemnly
cevenanted with Mr. Carnegie to re-
ceive $4,000 from him, to erect IL
brary building Herewith, and to do
nate every year $4,000 from the city
treasury for the maintenance and
operation of the library.
1t appears that council first adopt
ed a resolution to this effect which
was sent to Mr. Carnegie, signed by
the city clerk This, it is understood,
was returned with the statement that
it was not satisfactory paper, that
there must be official action by the
city council, lawfully assembled, and
signed by the mayor and all of the
aldermen, before Mr.. Carnegie would
consent to make the donation.
In compliance with this the necessary
resolution, requesting the donation OH
conditions set forth by Mr.. Carnegie,
was adopted and sent to Mr.. Carnegie,
signed by Mayor Hawkins and each
of the six members of the aldermanic
board, and attested by the clerk, with
the seal of the city attached
The contract was made as legal
looking as possible, and was exactly
Ike any other contract into which the
municipality enters, it is stated.
The city, it is true, had assurances
before this from parties interested in
bringing about the erection of the Ii
brary building that the municipality
would probably not be called upon for
much, if any, of the $4,000 it guaran-
teed would be expended on the libra
ry every year. 1t was understood that
the greater part would be raised by
contributions from the public.
1t is claimed by some that it is not
Necessary to put the title to the lot and
library building in the city govern
ment, that the library can occupy tue
same position as the public schools,
the directors being elected by cou1-
Gil, receiving funds from the city, ex-
pending them just as the Board of
Education does the money turned over
to it. The title to the school build
ings is vested in the Board of Educa-
ton, not in the city government, and
so the title to the Carnegie Library
could be vested in the chartered libra
ry association, the directors of which
would be elected by council.
All these points will be threshed out
next Wednesday. What the outcome
will be no one can tell.