The herald., 1895-04-03
Director Flint's Opinion of the
Public Library
THE BOARDS MEMBERS TALK
How Miss Tessa Kelso Brought About
an Issue
Director storrs Doubtful as to What the Result
VIII Be-A Consensus of Opinion From
the Trustees on the Situation

Several members of the board of library
trustees were interviewed yesterday by a
Herald reporter and asked to explain the
meaning OF their action on Monday in ac-
cepting Librarian Kelso's resignation,
voting to elect her successor, and then
asking her to withdraw 1t and as finale
expunging the minutes.
Director Flint said:
"When l attended the meeting OF the
board on yesterday it was with the un-
derstanding that it was called for the
purpose OF electing librarian and assist
ant librarian. l was not instrumental in
making the cali, but was in sympathy
with the movement, and was prepared to
act in the premises. When l accepted the
office of director it was with the OPT MON
that the people desired a change in the
management of the library. l have had
no reason to alter that opinion, and went
to the meeting prepared to vote for the
change. l was opposed to the resolution
placing Miss Kelso and Miss Hasse on
probation until the end OF the fiscal year,
feeling that if they were to be removed
they should know il, and not be kept in
uncertainty, and that, upon the other
hand, if it was desired to retain them the
vote of the board should indicate that
fact and the matter be finally settled.
Both Miss Kelso and Miss Hasse pre-
sented to the board their designations.
Those designations wer, accepted, and
in my opinion the offices OF Librarian and
assistant librarian are now vacant.
think 1T is the duty of the board at its
next meeting to elect librarian. and
shall insist on vote being taken at that
meeting.
"To the expunging of part of the record
of that meeting | was opposed. because
in my Judgment when the officers ten
dered 10 the board in session their resig-
nations, and they were accepted. va
cancy was thereby created. 1T is possible
that, had the board seen fit to reconsider
the action accepting their designations.
the conditions of affairs might have been
changed, but as it remains now, in my
opinion the city is without a librarian or
assistant.
The suggestion that these ladies
withdraw their designations after they
had been presented and accepted by the
board, in my opinion, was idle. They had
no designations then under their control
to withdraw, and certainly the expung-
ing from the minutes OF the action of the
board would not destroy the effect of what
the board actually did do. Ny under
standing of the law is that the action of
any board may be established, notwith-
standing the record is silent upon the
subject.
ter, whatever. My actions have been and
will be guided solely by the interests of
the library, and in the furtherance of my
understanding of the demands of ma
iority Of the people. In SO far as apply
ing civil service rules to the management
of the library, I am haertily in accord
with such proposition, but think that
Al.
employees of the library should be kept,
and that promotion should be based en-
tirely upon these percentages, and, per-
centages being equal, that preference
should be given in all instances to the
eldest in time of service
Major George H. Bonebrake, president
of the Los Angeles National bank and
also president of the library trustees,
said: CAN l have to say is that Miss
Kelso forced the issue herself by resign
ing, and of course we had to act upon her
resignation. We endeavored to select her
successor, but the vote was tie. Di-
rectol Storrs holds the balance OF power,
and it rests with him whether Miss kel-
SOS successor will be selected at an early
date or not.
H. E. Storrs. the director who had
voted for Professor Brown on Monday,
where if he had voted for either of the
other applicants, one OF whom was Miss
Kelso herself, choice would have been
had, said: Miss Kelso's resignation
came suddenly and l did not consider
that l was sufficiently familiar with the
library workings at that time to elect Miss
Kelso's successor. For this reason [ sup
ported Professor Brown and did not vote
for Mrs. Fowler, with Directors Bone
brake and Flint. Had / known any
thing concerning the young lady's quail
fications it might have been different.
but as it was | could not act differently
from the way did.
II did not like Miss Kelso's action in
resigning. and forcing the issue and for
that reason favored accepting her resig-
nation. AS matters now stand the resolu-
ton offered by Director Stewart that no
changes be made for ninety days is in
force and Miss Kelso is on probation, ,
as she expressed it and which she OBJ
jected to SO strenuOusly.
II cannot say at this time what action
will be taken at the next meeting or
whether Miss Kelso will remain or not :"
Director O'Melveny was also seen. He
explained his position and said that Miss
Kelso forced the issue, and that when her
successor could not be elected he thought
it best to request her to withdraw her
resignation and thought the directors
had right to act as they did.
A. A. Eckstrom has removed to 324 South
CIV inv ctr ttxifl ,, htc -Nfx oil