The Washington times., 1916-02-01
CHANCE NOMINATION
GETS COMMITTED 0. K.
Commissioner Newman and
Others Before District Com
mittee on Library Bill.
Continued from First Page.)


the johnson bill to broaden the powers
of the Juvenile Court.
Chief attention was given to the Com
missioners proposal to assume tull
jurisdiction of the Public Library. Com
missioner Newman, appearing tor the
board, argued that inasmuch as the
commissioners are responsible for the
appropriations for the Library. and they
IL - name the board OF trustees, the
powers OF the commissioners over the
brary board should be compIetv. -.
Opposing this view was Theodore W.
Noyes, president of the board of trus-
tees, who argued that the present sys-
tenn Is working admirably. and should
not be changed, Under this system,
name the trustees and the trustees
name teh librarian, who has executive
control over the library and Is respon-
sible to the trustees.
Congressman Wheeler asked Commits
soner Newman why theer should be
a change in regard to the library.
Since the Commissioners have the
responsibility. they should also be giben
accompanying authority" said Mr.
Newman.
Commissioner Newman went over
many of the arguments advanced two
weeks ago when the Commissioners
appeared before the Lloyd subcommit-
tee in favor of their bill to take over
system. TIE same arguments he said
applied to the library as to the schooi
system.
George +. Bowerman. library. was
in attendance ~ the bearing to answer
any questions relating to the practical
MANAGEMENT of the library.
Congressman Lloyd asked Commis-
sioner Newman if 1t would not be well
to authorize the president to mare the
officials and employees of the library.
II would doubt the advisab'lity of
such change" said Mr.. Newman.
IL, en,I h1 hn ma do r.
oestion merely to empha size the fact
that nobody knows the library needs
| better thon those actively concerned IN
! its management
/ Congressman Wheeler suggested that
/ the board of trustees would be Tse-
| less body under the proposed change
CONGRESSMAN Pinkham asked II munlcl-
pal activities ought not to be encourages
| because of the fact that residents OF
We ashington have little participation in
| their government, and such boards are
| adv lisa BILE. ,
| Commissioner Newman argued that
members on a board of this kind Is a
! poor substitute for real participation
| in government. The present board of
! trustees is less effective that If it had
/ less detail of administration to attend
| to and more time to formulate poll
cies.'
Congressman Lloyd observed that
| members of the board of trustees are
working in the public interest absolute
, ly and deserve great credit, even more
credit than paid commissioners deserve.
Trade Board Opposed.
In addition to appearing as president
| ot the board of trustees. Mr.. Noyes also
voiced the sentiment of the Board OF
! Trade in opposition to the change in the
| present library system. The board re-
| Gently went on record as opposed to the
| Commissioners plan. which is part oil
| the geenral scheme for centralized
| authority" in the Commissioners over all
| mLnici pal administrative affairs.
| Congressman Page was heard in ad-
| vocacy OF his bill that would allow
pawn brokers and note brokers to
| charge per cent per month on loans
instead of per cent. The Page bill
! however, has "A provision that would
! break up the practice of negotiating for
| loans in the District of Columbia, and
then obtaining such loans at the Vir-
! driven from Washington by the l pei
| cent law.
| Mr. rage told the District Commit
! tee he believed "A 2 per cent rate was
! fair to the lenders and the borrowers.
| While before the committee Mr. Page
| incidentally urged the report of his bill
! to have an annual license charged
against automobiles and an abolish the
| present personal tax on machines.
! The District Committee heard brief
| arguments by Judge j. w. Latimer of
| the Juvenile Court in support of the
| johnson bill broadening the powers
of the court and making it more rep
| resentative as a children'S court for
the adjudication of a. matters con-
cerning children. Judge Latimer was
accompanied by Miss Julia Lathrop.
chief OF the Federal Chldren's Bu-
| reau.
| Under the Juvenile Court bill the
! House Of Detention would be placed
under jurisdiction of the court in
! stead of the Police Department and
| the court would become also an
| equity court not hevoting itself espe-
| cially to criminal charges filed
| against children.