THE OMAHA ILLUSTRATED BEE.
Powmber 2", 1!VM.
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The Speakership
B W INDHAM OT CABS COUNTY.
COMPLY with your request to
writ omething for The Illus
trated Bee regarding "The Speak-
fSrw-l ershlp of the House Iu Powers
ITS and Pilvllegees. Its Trials and
Tribulations." I do this In compliance with
your request because from your newspaper
standpoint It may, perhap. at this time be
somewhat of Interest, and not because I
think I cn iv add much to what is generally
known of the office, or because I am ex
actly qualified to write of It. When one
ha once occupied such a position I rather
think it In true he Is a trlfln unfitted to look
at it In the abstract, and is likely to apply
to It hi own personal experiences and
conclusions as a sum total of Its attrib
utes, Partiality for the Hons.
I am partial to the house as compared
with the senate, for several reasons, one
of which Is that I have never been a mem
ber of tho senate, while I have for two
terms been a member of the house, and for
one session Its presiding officer. Were that
not enough, I might add that the senate Is
so small a body, with so naturally good
South Omaha Public Library Ready
r,aaTTlT.V there are few thing
PI which Interest a reader more than
I th. ti(tnrv nf movement that
has succeeded. The smaller the
beginning of a public enterprise
the more honor and thanks should be given
to the farseelng persons who think of it and
are willing to work for it and enlist other
in the cause.
With few exceptions the early history of
a public library is the same In every city.
Sixteen years ago. In the spring of 1K89,
when A. M. Wlnebrener came to South
Omaha with a proposition to establish a
subscription library, he met the same prob
lems and faced the same difficulties that a
pioneer In any field must always overcome.
The outlook for. a library was dubious,
but Mr. Wlnebrener talked with the repre
sentative men of the place and they en
eouraged him, some of them giving dona
tion of books. E. C. Lane, so long and so
well known a a prominent lawyer of South
Omaha, Interested himself especially In the
library, and William G. Bloane, who was
for many year mayor and one of the
ablest business men of the city, did all he
could,traivrd establishing the library which
formed the embryo of the present publlo
library:
Mr. W ner succeeded in establishing
a Ubr aMatlon, which waa maintained
by I fre to be paid annually by each
subscriber. When a person Joined the as
sociation he was entitled to a membership
ticket, and upon presentation of It at the
library could draw books for home use.
Beveral men and women, anxious that the
library should succeed, took a number of
hare In the association, although the fee
of $2 gave all the privileges of the library.
It was understood, however, that If the
library for any reason should fall the
stockholders could recover the volumes pur
chased by their money. Selection of books
was made by the members nf the associa
tion, and the volumes were secured through
Mr. Wlnebrener.
First Home of Library.
The matter of a home for th library now
became a question of some moment, as
there waa no money available to pay rent
for a library room. B. F. Johnson, who
waa at that time In the drug business at the
corner of N and Twenty-fifth street, of
fered shelf room In his store, and agreed to
care for the books and act as librarian. His
offer was accepted and May 22, 1889, when
the 210 volumes the first purchase of the
Ubrary association arrived, they were
pven over Into Mr. Johnson's care. He de
cided to leave South Omaha a few months
later, however, making It necessary to find
a new home for the books. -
J. C. Collins, who had a music store on
Twenty-fourth street, near N, was willing
to shelve th books and they were taken
there. For a long time Mr. Collins and hi
wife attended to the want of th library
patron, both of them giving their ser
vices and th shelf room gratis. Consider
able Interest was taken In the project at
this time and valuable additions were
made to the book list by gift from various
ouroea. A the work of caring for the
book and serving the patrons Increased,
Mia Anna Glasgow assisted Mr. and Mra.
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FRONT TIEW Of THH TfWV?"
' -jHf-,if-- ". vwo '- v-;. - -'- v"--el .',:'-
Portraits ot the Men Who. Are. Aspiring to Fill
W. H. WILSON OF PAWNEE COUNTT.
an opinion of Itself and dignities that as
a rule it Is easily managed by a presiding
officer like my friend Harrison from Grand
Island, and a few others; but over In the
other end of the capltol building there is
a glorious democracy that is self-asserting
from all quarters, that adds Interest to
'the body as a proposition, and refuses to
be considered as of the routine or the
humdrum. Unconsciously and without such
Intent, but as naturally as water tries to
seek Its level, gradually the Import of
the toga makes Itself mnnlfest In the bear
ing of the senator towards the humbler
legislator of the house, while the feeling of
the plebeian as surely manifests Itself In
return, in ways of protest and determina
tion not to be outdone In Importance, and
after the senate has sat down on house
bills In one, two, three ordf r for a whl'e, nn
sometimes occurs. It is expressed Jn plain
AnRlo-Raxon on tfce floor of the houre.
This does not hurt the senate ard It does re
lieve the house somewhat. Again, the house
being the larger body' to talk to, and
containing a larger number of or.itors, the
American habit of riot weakness, but
long suit, If such a term haa aught of
BRUCE - M'CT'LTX)CTT, PRESIDENT OF
SOUTH OMAHA LIBRARY BOARD.
Collins ,ln the work, also donating her ser
vices. In the winter of 1894 the library was
moved from Mr. Collins' store Into a small
office building owned by Dr. Glasgow,
Just" north of the old poetofflce. This
room was kept open to the publlo from
6:30 to 10 p. in. on week days, and from 1
to 6:30 p. in. on Sundays. Just previous to
this move the Library association had been
reorganized and a constitution adopted. Up
to this time affairs had been managed by
the stockholders and there was no special
board of control. According to the con
stitution adopted at this time the library
was to be managed by a board of trus
tees, six in number, to serve one, two and
three years, two members being appointed
for each of the terms respectively. The
membership fee to this association was
S3 per yenr (changed January 29, 185 to
t2) and members of the association had the
privilege of taking book for home use, but
the use of the reading room was free to
all. .The first board of trustee of this
association was as follows: Prof. A. A.
Monroe, president; Prof. W. J. Taylor,
secretary; Miss Hattle Moore, treasurer;
Mr. E. C. Lane, Mrs. Emma L. Talbott and
Rev. H. J. McDevltt.
First Librarian la Chare.
May 27, 1S94, the library was moved
from the room rented from Dr. Glasgow
to the building occupied by the Associated
Charities, and for the first time some one
was regularly employed to take charge of
the library. George McBrlde was ap
pointed librarian, and the library rooms
were open from S to 6 p. m. and from
7:3ff to 10 p. m. '
The winter of 1895 found the library In
.bad shape financially; the fees from mem
bers of the association not being sufficient
to carry 'on the work. The trustees de
cided to employ some one to canvas the
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CARNEOTB UnnANT AT SOUTH OMAHA Phete by a Staff Artist,
of the House Its Powers and Its Prerogatives
. J. H. CASEBEER OF OAOE COUNTT.
definition In it when arrayed against weak
nesspublic address Is more Indulged in,
and, I believe, with greater powes than
In the senate aa a whole.
So, for these, and perhaps, other reasons,
I am partlat to the house.
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Importance of the Office.
The speakership Is .the greatest office
of the state during the semlon. Ths
speaker Is charged with naming the mem
bership of the standing. committees, soma
forty-four; and of referring bills and reso
lutions to the committees; of naming the
employes of the house; usually of naming
special committees'; of assigning to mem
bers their right to the floor; of seeing that
the house Is called to order at the ap
pointed time, and generally of seeing that
the proceedings are orderly and properly
conducted Compared with the powers of
either the lieutenant governor as presid
ing officer of the senate, or the president
of the senate pro tempore, the powers of
the peaker are more numerous and
weighty and normally more lmpresive on
the results of the session.
city for subscriptions. Mr. Coimbs later
signified her willingness to solicit funds
for the library and $110 wes secured In
this way. It was also deemed advisable to
ask some of the societies of the city If
they could not help the library caue. The
King's Daughters responded to the re
quest for help and donated SS0, the pro
ceeds of an entertainment which they
gave, and the women of the VVonsn's
Christian Temperance union also cave S:.G
t this time, the receipts of a lecture by
Fred Emerson Brooks. Not long after this
the Associated Charities completed tl eir
work In South Omaha and the library
trustees decided it would be best to tox
their books and not try to keep a reading
room open during the summer.
In the autumn of 1&93 the library board
was called together by President Lane
(the personnel of the board having
changed slightly) who reported that the
Board of Education of the public schcolj
had granted the use of the Board of Edu
cation room to the library. It was de
clJed to accept the offer of the tchojl
board; Prof. Munroe, superintendent of
schools, was appointed Ubrariin, and tab ei
and book cases were given for the room.
Mr. Paul McAuley made two neat cave
for this purpes?, and the book were moved
to the Board of Education rooms at the
high school building. Several of the high
school Instructors assisted Prof. Munroe
In caring for the books and attending to
the wants of patrons during the school
year, and some of the women members of
the association kept the library open dur
ing the summer.
The little library, added to from time to
time by gift of books and donations of
money, lived on through many vicissitudes,
but there came a time when this course
of culture and education waa almost ex
tinguished. The books remained at the
High School building and for some months
were kept In circulation, but th general
public used them less and less, and finally
they were stored and not used at all.
New Ufa foe the Library.
There were changes on the library board,,
the president was called to rest. Prof.
Munroe, Prof. Taylor and Rev. McDevltt
left the city, only two of the trustees re
mained. It was decided by the two who
were left (Mrs. Talbot and Miss Moore) to
call a meeting through, the papers to all
Interested In a publlo library. , This meet
ing occurred November 24, 1S99, and waa
convened at th home of Mr. Emma L.
Talbot, secretary of the, board. Eight peo
ple responded to this call and they ad
journed to a later date. On December t,
lv99, another meeting was hold and a new
board of trustees was made up as fol
low. Mr. Joaephine Carroll, Mr. James
Hastings. Miss Hettl Moore, Mr. J. T.
Nolan, Mrs. Emma L. Talbot and Mr. J.
A. Beck. At a meeting of these trustee
December 12, Mr. Talbot was elected presi
dent'. Miss Moo.e secretary and Mrs. Car
roll, treasurer.
Shortly after the organisation of thl
board Mr. J. F. McReynolds, proprietor of
the Stott Stationery company on Twenty
fourth street, offered to house and take
charge of the library free of cost. ' Mr. Mo-
M.
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the Speaker's Choir ot the Impending Session of
EL B. PERRT" OF FURNAS COUNTT.
Generally speaking, no one should ask
for or receive the speakership without ex
perience as a member. on the floor of the
house at a former aeaelon. I do not say
thla intending In any manner to Intrude
the Idea on the prospective organisation.
Neither would 1 say It but for the fact
that I received the speakership during my.
first term. Before the session was through
at which I held the office I ao concluded,
and so stated that I had made a mistake
In asking for the office and receiving It.
It Is not a matter of fair knowledcge of
parliamentary practice, or having tact,
even as a presiding officer. The speaker
to these qualifications should add also a
practical knowledge of the actualities of
a session as a necessiry and final require
ment. He also should have a knowledge
of the affairs of the Mate, and the affairs
of a state of a million people are great
beyond the Ideas of the new member. As
one out of I he arena of politics, I desire
to say . that our people should keep their
members who are useful longer In the
legislative service. Perhaps the most use
ful members are thoss practical business
Reynolds' offer was accepted and the books
taken to the Stott store.
Carnegie tomes In.
By this time the name of Andrew Car
negie, in connection with library buildings,
was becoming known. He had given un
Impetus to the library cauje all over the
world by donating library buildings to
towns and cities. The trustees of the
South Omaha library hoped to Interest him
in their needs and so enlisted the aid of
Congressman David H. Mercer and the re
sult of this effort Is shown by the follow
ing letter, a reply to one written by Mr.
Beck:
WASHINGTON, D. C, Dec. 28, 1S99.-J.
A. Beck, Esq., South Omaha: Friend Keck
Just before Christmas I wrote Andrew
Carnegie at New York, suggesting that lr
he waa anxious to make a Ouistnias pres
ent to a good, live town he might place $75.
(XO in South Omaha for a public library
building. 'Mr. Carnegie and I nave had cor
respondence hertotore with reference to
the library which he donated to Washing
ton, and knowing that he has been quite
fenerous in the distribution of money for
Ibrarles throughout the United States I
thought I might Interest him in South
Omuna. Perhaps some day my request
upon him will be granted. He wrote me,
however, at this time. In view of the fact
that the city of Lincoln had lost Its library
by Are, he had concluded to present that
city with 176,000 for a building, and for the
r resent that amount must do for Nebraska,
n view of the fact that Lincoln Is the
capital city of our state and waa unfor
tunate In losing Its library. I think the peo
ple of South Omaha and Nebraska wll re
joice that he remembered Lincoln as he
did. I am sure that If It had not been for
the Are at Lincoln that South Omaha would
have gotten a nice Christmas present.
Your truly, DAVID H. MERCER.
The letter was a disappointment to the
library board and the residents of South
Omaha, although every one was glad such
good fortune had come to Lincoln. Mr.
Mercer did not give up the Idea of a Car
negie library for South Omaha, and again
communicated with Mr. Carnegie, and re
ceived the following reply from his secre
tary: SKIBO CASTLE. ARDOAY. N. B June
22, 1901. Hon. David H. Mercer, Washing
ton, D. C: Dear Sir Have consulted Mr.
Carnegie about you-s of April 1 On ac
count of Mr. Carnegie having been (ravel
ing It could only now be taken up. If the
city of South Omaha will furnish a suitable
site and pledge itself by resolution of coun
cil to maintain the library at cost nf not
lese than M.ftOO per year. Mr. Carnegie will
provide M0O0O for a free lihrarv building.
The mstter of architects and other details
are left to the community to manage, Mr.
Carnegie thinking that outside parties are
not fit to do that If you will submit sketch
of proposed hulMlnr however, to Mr. An
derson of th Carnerle lihrarv. Pittsburg,
he will be glad to give bis opinion on It,
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WAIff ENTRANCH, SHOW7NO THB DELTVERT DEB hT. Phete by a Staff Art!t
JAMES A. DOUGLAS OF POLK COUNTT.
men who, by hard committee work and In
quiry into the state's affairs, have under
stood the state's needs and are able to
apply their business Judgment. Our best
lawyers, also, should be retained In the
ervlce to a greater extent than haa been
the habit.
Trials Maart Trlbnlattnas None.
The trials of the speakership are many;
of its tribulations, there need be none.
The membership of the house individually
Is good, of a good class of our people,
meaning well for the state, and the ma
jority and minority members looking out
for an opportunity to make a red rd for
themselves and their party and to spoil
the reco.d for the other side. At times
that motive Is given too much of a charge,
and recoils and hurts and hs the opposite
effect to what was intended.
As a rule the majority will stand by the
speaker on party questions, be he right or
wrong, and the minority will be ferninst
with equal enthusiasm. The minority at
times has been known to hold meetings
and organize to make It hot for the speaker
to Move
which will be greatly to your advantaga
Verv resDcctfuIly yours.
JAMES BERTRAM,
Private Secretary.
Arranging to Accept Gift.
In order to accept this gift It was nec
essary that the Library board be organ
ised under the state laws by the city coun
cil, and also conform to a new city char
ter which had recently been adepted. Th
state law provide for nine members on
the board, who elect their president and
secretary, the city treasurer being named
la the ordinance creating the board, as It
treasurer.
The Library association conferred with
the mayor, A. R. Kelly, in regard to the
matter of a reorganization of their board
and found him thoroughly In sympathy
with tho move to secure a Ubrary build
ing for South Omaha. Conforming to plan
considered with member of the Library
association, the city council passed an or
dinance creating a Board of Library Trus
tees, defining their duties and providing
an anual appropriation of S5.000 for th
maintenance of the library. Mayor Keily
submitted to the city council the name
of the four ladies acting In the directory
of the old association, together with the
names of five gentlemen selected and rec
ommended by th four ladles. Later this
board was confirmed by the council, and,
pursuant to the suggestion of Mayor Kelly,
on March 3. 1902, these appointees assem
bled In the council chamber at 3 o'clock
and effected a temporary organisation. On
March 10 the new board met again and
proceeded to the election of officers for
the permanent organisation. The list of
members of this first Board of Director
of the South Omaha public library was
as follows: Bruce McCutloch, president;
W. S. King, vice president; Mrs. Etmfna L.
Talbot, secretary; Rev. D. W. Mortar ty,
Mrs. Josephine Carroll, Mrs. Ella M.
Sloans, Rev. R. L. Wheeler and Dr. W. 8.
White. Rev. R. L. Wheeler declined to
accept the appointment, and at an early
council meeting the name of W. B. Cheek
was presented by the mayor and confirmed
and this gentleman thus took the place
made vacant.
Purchasing; the Site.
The Library board met on March 14, and
decided to advertise for bids for a site for
the building. On April 2 the bids were
opened and the board took a recess and
looked at several sites, and at the next
(he Nebraska Legislature
W. W. ROUSE OF HALL COUNTY.
and the majority, and the majority has re
sponded with Interest. This, of course, can
have no relation to the coming session,
which seems to be without a minority.
Moat Important Doty,
One of the most trying duties that de
volves on the sreaker is to arrange the
hundred members Into the forty-four com
mitters, so that ench will bring to bear
his best services to the session. The mng
n'tude of this task c.in only be appre
ciated by one who haa under taken it. An
other Can get some approximate Idea by
recalling the fact that the members are to
a large extent unknown to each other till
the tlm. of orjnnizatlon. in performing
this task the speaker must consider the
party, business capacity, age, location,'
prior servlov, and many other questions
that bear on not only each member, but
also on the remaining members of the
committee being lil.ed. and also the fact
of other committee service to which the
member is bring assigned.
Influenr of th
position 'of the
e Speaker,
The
speaker is trying
Into Its New Home
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MISS JANE ABBOTT, LIBRARIAN OF
SOUTH OMAHA PUBLIC LIBRARY.
meeting of the trustee it was decided to
purchase for $3,500 from the Glasgow estate
a plot of ground 70 by 90 feet on the north
west corner of Twenty-third and M streets,
on which to erect the library.
At a meeting of the trustees on April 7,
1902, the following communication was re
ceived: SOUTH OMAHA, Neb.-To the Members
of the SUth Omulia Library Board: At the
last regular meeting of the trustees of the
buulh Omulia Llurary association, now
come to an end by reason ot your appoint
ment under the law, tiie following inoilou
was made and carried, Mr. Hastings hav
ing made tiie motion:
"I move that all books, records, effects
and property owned by this association be
freentd and given to the South Omaha
ibrary, and that this association do now
come to an end and adjourn slue die."
Now, therefore, in compliance with the
foregoing motion, we present you with all
the property of every kind and nature of
which trie association Is possessed, Includ
ing all recoids of this body.
We enclose an Inventory of these said
books, records and property, including fJ.07
cash on hand.;
We suggest, "that the said records contain
ing a history of the association, co-extensive
with the history of our city, may at
some time be of some local himorical In
terest. toUgued by the Board of Trustees.
THOMAS J. NOLAN.
JAM KS W. HASTINGS,
'' . MARY C. LANE.
, . . JObEPHINU C'AitROLL.
" KLLA M. SLOAN E.
EMMA L. TALBOT.
- These properties were accepted by the Li
brary board with thanks, and it was de
cided to rent a library room and place the
things received from the South Omaha Li
brary association In It, and hold future
meetings there. Two rooms In the Murphy
block on Twenty-fourth street were secured
and the books taken to them shortly there
after. '
HtSrt on the llolldlna.
A committee on construction was selected
by the Library board and on April lti, 11)-,
Thomas R. Kimball of Omaha was em
ployed as architect for the new library.
Plana for the building were adopted and
the construction was begun in June, 11HU.
Work progressed slowly, as great care is
VIEW IN THB STACK ftOOiL BUOWINJ
a Staff Artist.
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N. D. JACKSON. ANTELOPE COUNTY.
In this, that he must have constantly In
mind the fact that the session over which
he presides will be one of usefulness or
otherwise largely as he aids or hinder,
as he nets Independently for the best or
surrenders himself to th lobby or viclou
Influi nee.
The re'attons of the presiding officer of
the house are as a rule most pleasant and
agreeable. A uniform courlesy is extended
by the members and employes to th
speaker. The spet'.kcr Is consulted often
by the governor and other state officer
and pers ins Inter, x'e l In legislation. Al
together, the speakership of the Nebraska
legislature in something that any member
can rightfully lojk forward to as the cul
mination of a high and proper ambition,
and In which, If attained, to, he can in a
very lnrge measure s rve the interests of
the more than l.OOO.OuO of our population,
who are of the bist of the world's popula
tion, and wlx.se needs at this time require
all of the tact, attainment and experience
tosseesed by the perfect speaker.
W. O. SKATtfl.
Speaker of the House, Twenty-Seventh
Nebraska General Assembly.
necessary In the erection of a thoroughly
fireproof stone building.
In the spring of 1!M tho library building
being well along towards completion, the
board decided to elect a librarian In order
that the books might be purchased and
prepared for circulation, to be in readlnec
when the building was opened to the pub
lic. Miss Jane H. Abbott, nn experienced
librarian, was chosen for the position and
asked to assume her duties the first of
June. At the same time the assistant li
brarian, Mrs. Grace rinnell was elected,
her duties to be assumed when needed by
the librarian.
The Library board having at Its disposal
about I1.5M), which had accrued from the
tax levied under the state law for the
maintenance of public libraries, selected
books to that amount and the work of
preparing them for the shelves was at
once begun.
, All this tin the library bonrd, as api
pointed by Mayor Kelly,' had remained
about the same, a few changes only oc
curring as terms expired or members of ths '
board left the city. The trustees at ths'
present time are: Bruce McCulloch, presi
dent; W. S. King, vice president; Mrs.
Emma L. Talbot, secretary; Mrs. Ella M.
Sloane, Mrs. Mary McCrann, Dr. W. 8.
White, Rev. James Ahcrne, Rev. Joseph
Chundelak.
The present mayor, Frank Koutsky, ha
at all times co-operated with the library
board, and has been Interested In the
progress and success of the work in hand,
Description of the Balldlng-.
The building as now completed Is an ar
tistic structure of butt Bedford stone,
Romanesque in style, with Byzantine de
tails. If has a frontnge of seventy feet
on M street, is two stories high, with a
commodious basement.
The main floor Is very convenient In it
arrangement and complete in it equip
ment. To the left as one enters, is the
reading room for adults. It ls-a spacious
room, a wide grate and carved stone man
tel lend beauty to It, while the plate win
dows, reaching to the floor and opening aa
doors on the front and side, afford ex
cellent light. The childt en' room Is to th
right, and the main feature of this room
are the same as the adult reading room. '
All the wood work on this floor Is antique
quarter-sawed oaft, the panneled entrance,
with Its pillars at each side of the passage,
giving a substantial as well as graceful
finish to the Interior. Tables, chairs,
benches, book cases, etc., are all made of
the Same weed, and accord with the rest
of the equipment In style and finish..
Directly In from the entrance, passing
the delivery desk, one come to the book
room, which Is fitted with metal stacking
and has a capacity for 8,(n0 volume. To
the left of the delivery desk. Just baolc
of the adult reading room, Is the libra
rian office, fitted with appropriate fur
niture, a Sieel book lift from the unpack
ing room below being one of the con
venient featuies. Opj ordie the librarian's
room is a commodious store room, and
off the passage leading to the children's
room Is a small toilet room, with looker
for the use of the librarian and her as
sistants. Two small reference rooms, one
opening from the adult reading loom, anl
(Continued on Page Seven.)
THS STEEL BOOK LirTS.-ThOte t
