The herald., 1895-03-26

has been the practice to pay eastern bills
by passing demand in favor OF the clerk
OF the board, to whom is entrusted the
duty of collecting the money from the
creditor a bank draft for his claim-the
clerk holding written authority from
the creditor for that purpose. Periodical
expert examinations of the books and
vouchers have been made, and l would
recommend the continuance of that prac-
tice. The librarian is also required to
give bond for the faithful discharge Of
her duties.
The present Council has sanctioned an
appeal to the citizens to vote for the issu-
ance of bonds to the amount of $50. 600. to
be expended in the erection Of library
building. While the sum asked for, II
voted. will not be sufficient for the pur-
make a start, and | may express the hope
that the memb ers of the incoming board
will use every effort in their power to Sc
cure the necessary vote for these proposed
bonds.
When the first board took office six
years ago. among the troubles it encount-
cred at the start was the annoyance of
being besieged at all hours by applicants
and their friends who urged their claims
for appointments. These claims were
based mostly on the grounds of friend.
ship. politics or business influence, and
SeluOm upon tuo uJueSS anu dDlllty Vi tuo
applicant for library work. TO oe rid of this
unjust annoyance and to do justice to
the trust committed to its charge, the
board instituted a system of examinations
and later, library training class, the pu-
pills in which were required to give six
months time gratuitously to the library
in the prosecution of their studies, and If
successful in passing the final examina-
ton they were promised appointments in
case of any vacancies occurring, the I'M
Outstanding being that such certificated
pupils should have the prior right to en-
ployment. Under this system SO candi-
dates have appeared at the entrance ex-
aminations. 81 have been accepted, and
"a have been successful in obtaining GER
tifcates; Is of these are now employed on
the library staff. One graduate of our
training class is now in charge OF the
Redlands Public Library, and has received
the warmest praise for her successful
management.
1t is my earnest desire, in which my
colleagues concur, to see the system Of
civil service. which has worked so adj
mirably. continued in force. l have re-
ceived the assurance of the chief execu-
tive that he, too, is In sympathy with
this system of administration, and
have, therefore no reason to doubt that
you gentlemen will continue it also.
The Los Angeles public library stands
today as an acknowledged important
factor in our educational system. 1t has
grown to be regarded as an indispensable
adjunct to the public schools, and
through the hearty cooperation of the
teachers it has achieved splendid results
in assisting their everyday work.
Speaking for myself individually de-
sire to tender my heartiest and most sim
cere thanks to my colleagues in office, and
especially to the one who has by his learn
ing and experience and the devotion of
his time rendered such signal service to
the public interest in the six years during
which we have been members of this
board. To Miss Kelso and Miss Hasse for
their able work and intelligent conduct of
the details of their profession, l record
my tribute of grateful appreciation, and
earnestly trust that the spirit of pride in
the success of the library which has always
animated every member of the entire staff
and has kept them contented and faithful
workers, sometimes under discouraging
circumstances, may continue and grow
nnder the new administration.
The new board then organized by elect
ing Major George H. Bonebrake presi-
dent who nominated the following COM
mittees Books and donations, O'Mel-
veny and Storrs; rules and administra-
ton, Storrs and O'Melveny; printing and
supplies, Flint and Stewart; auditing and
finance, Stewart and Flint; attendants,
Storrs and Stewart.
The board then adjourned until Friday,
March % at 40 n m