The herald., 1898-11-05
APPOINTIvf OFFICES
LIBRARIANS NOT UNDER CIVIL
SERVICE RULES
MRS. WADLEIGH CENSURED
Trustees Object to Minutes Of Meetings
Being Interspersed With Com
ment-Resolutions

In order to correct an erroneous statement
in which it was said that the board OF library
trustees Is inclined to ignore the civil SER
vice rules which govern the library employees,
the board held special meeting yesterday
and passed resolutions setting out clearly
Just what positions in the library come
under the civil service.
| The announcement that in order to fill the
position of assistant librarian, made vacant
by the marriage of Miss Daisy Austin, the
| board intended to appoint a lady outside of
the library was denied by the board, al
though it does not deny it's power to do so
| If it sees fit.
| This false statement had its birth in news
furnished by the librarian, Harriet G. Wad-
leigh, and for this indiscretion that lady
was censured yesteday in the following res
olution:
| Whereas, The librarian has recently
handed special report to this board;
and,
Whereas, Said report has by her in her
capacity OF clerk of the board been given
| publicity before it had come before the
board for consideration; and,
| Whereas, Said librarian has given to
the press her views upon said report
before it had come before said board
tor such consideration; and,
| Whereas, Its premature publication
has resulted in misapprehension on the
| part OF the public, whom we serve;
| therefore, be it
Resolved, That we deprecate the indis-
cretion on the part of the librarian in
| permitting this premature publication,
and insist that in the futre no document
! intended for the consideration of the
board shall be furnished to the press
until the same has been duly presented
to the board and properly brought be-
fore it for consideration.
In order that in the future no wildcat
publications without foundation will be
made on the distinction between the posi-
tions of librarian and her assistants and
the attendants of the library, the following
resolution, on motion of Director Burbank,
was adopted:
Whereas, Some misapprehension
seems to have been caused by recent arti-
cles in the public press as to the matter
hereinafter referred to; now, therefore,
| be it
Resolved, That the positions of
| librarian, first assistant and sec
| ond assistant never have been and
are not now assigned to any of
the four classes to which the
attendants of this library have been
assigned as a result of the civil service
examinations held about year ago
| under the civil service rules heretofore
adopted by this board, and that such
| positions are not now and never have
| been subject to such rules for the rea-
| son that they are deemed administrative
| positions.
| As an amendment, so that no mistake
might be made as to the exact meaning of
the above, Director Rodgers offered the fol
lowing, which was adopted:
| Nothing in this resolution, however,
should be construed as indicating the
sentiments of the members of this board
| that merit and service among the at
tendants in this library will not be rec
ognized in making appointments to the
| positions referred to- but simply as in
| dicating that the positions do not come
| directly within the province of the rules
| heretofore adopted.
President Dockweiler said that it should
be understood that in case the directors
| should decide to make appointments from
| the list of attendants to administrative posi-
tions in the library, it will do SO on the
theory that it is not bound to such an act
by any rule.
"We much prefer to give the position to to
be remembered that at the time of our civil
service examinations the librarian and the
two assistants were each exempt from such
examination. In consequence, objections
were made by some of the attendants in the
library upon the ground that fair treatment
was not accorded to all and that exceptions
were made IN the case OF rev. Inc ans
| wer of the board to such objections, and the
position as to relieving the librarian and
the two assistants, was that the librarian
and the assistants were executive and ad-
ministrative officers of the library, and
should not be, and were not, classed with
attendants. These officers hold the same
positions as the postmaster and assistant
of the city, These men are appointed and
the carriers, ETC., are under the civil SER
vice"
The attention of the board was again
called to the librarian, this time to mistake
in her minutes. 1t appears that she did not
conform to the requests made by the board.
but interjected opinions of her own. She
was requested to confine her report and min
utes to just what the board asked for and
nothing more.
To make this clear Director Burbank Of
| fered the following:
Resolved, That the report submitted
| by the librarian at the last meeting be
returned with instructions to esubmit
| to this board report in accordance with
the resolution adopted Oct. 8th, and
that such report be confined strictly to
| the matters in question.
| This was adopted and the board adjourned
The regular meeting will be held today.