Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-05
RESOLUTION TO BE
INTRODUCED FOR A
LIBRARY COMMISSION

A resolve will be introduced shortly
in the Legislature calling for the
appointment of a library committee
to investigate and report to the next
Legislature in regard to plans, esti-
mates and specifications for a State
Library building.
Included in the Governors contin-
gent fund is $4,000 of lasped APP
preparation from the last Legislature.
which the members of that body vot-
ed in good faith for the investigation
and plans looking to the erection OF a
new State Library building.
The substitution in the final draft
of the resolve of the little word
may" for the "shall' OF the original
resolve, however, made the use OF
this money for the purpose INTENDED
by the Legislature optional with the
Governor and Council.
The commission designated TO car
nv out the provisions of the resolve
was not appointed to Governor BaH-
ter. The $4,000 provided by the re-
solve lapsed into the contingent fund,
as is shown by the summary of pay
ments in which the Governor and
Council exercise their discretion as
set forth by the Governors message
to the Legislature upon the State
contingent fund.
The text of this resolve passed by
the 1921 Legislature follows:
Resolved, that a committee OF
four may be appointed by the Gov
crnor to investigate and report
to the next Legislature in regard to
the plans, estimates and Speclhca-
tions for a State Library building.
The committee, subject to the ap-
proval of the Governor and Council,
may employ such assistance and in
cur such, expense as it deems neces-
sary, not exceeding $4,000. The COM
mittee shall serve without pay. but
shall receive it's actual expenses. Inc
Governor shall be chairman and
member of the committee eX-officlo."
Representative Moody of York, the
House chairman of the library COM
mittee will, within a few days, in
trOduce a resolve similar to that
passed by the last Legislature except
that the sord "shall" will take the
place of the word may" in the old
bill. Mr. Moody says that he will
also examine very carefully all of the
various drafts and stages of tie new
resolve as it goes on to enactment
and make sure that the all-important
word "Shall' is not ditchcd on the
road of the measure to enactment.
The present crowded condition of
the library is emphasized by tie fact
that many surplus books and pamph-
lets have to be stored in the rotupda
of the State House. OF this practice,
which can hardly be avoided under
present conditions, the Cole COM
mittee, which investigated tho work.
ings Of the various departments dur
ing the recess of the Legislature,
says: we strongly condemn the
practice of storing surplus books and
pamphlets of the State Library in
the attic and rotunda OF the State
House, believing that the storage or
so much combustible and heavy ma
terial is not only a fire menace, but
carries much danger because of it's
excessive weight
A new building for the library,
large enough to be made also the
headquarters of the State Depart
ment of Education, is suggested as
future solution of the library hous-
ing problem which would do away
entirely with the hazard ,us condi-
ton to which the Cole committee re-
fCrS