The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-24
CIVIL SERVICE RULES
TO GOVERN APPOINTMENTS TO
CITY POSITIONS
WORK OF CHARTER MAKERS
City Employees In Office When Charter
Election Takes Place to Be Re-
tained-Freeholder Meet

There was q full meeting Of the free
holders last night. President Lee was IN
the chair. and Messrs. Hazard, Garland,
Millard Morgan, Davisson, Newmark.
Graft, Crutcher, Groff and O'Melveny were
present
Mr.. O'Melveny presented the report on
civil service. This provides for board
of civil service commissioners to serve one
for three. one for two. and one for one
year from appointment. They are to clas-
sify all the officers and places Of employ
ment, no appointment to such places is to
be made except under the rulsS Of the COM
mission. They are to see that all appli-
cants for places are examined and these
trials shall be competitive and free to all
citizens. From the report Of these tests
of the commission shall prepare regis
ter of each grade, of position, of the per-
son whose standing on such examination Is
not less than the minimum fixed by the
commission. Heads Of departments. when
vacancies occur shall notify the commits
sion, and the latter shall then certify not
more than three candidates, disregarding
sex, and the department head shall fill the
vacancy from the names.
The places under the charge Of the COM
mission are to be the following:
Department of the city clerk, fire de-
partment, city attorneys department,
treasurer's department, police department.
auditors department, school department,
health department.. department of build
| ings water works department., public IL
brary. park department.
The city engineers department. including
o1a
| both office and field. and the members of
their field corps, four men and inspectors.
! All boards or departments controlling
public utilities.
The following deputies. clerks and en-
ployes in said offices and departments are
to be exempt from the article:
Mayors clerk. chief of police. chief dep
uty of the treasurer, chief deputy Of the
city engineer, city superintendent OF schools
| and his deputies, first and second assist
ants to the city attorney. chief engineer of
the fire department, superintendent Of
buildings, all physicians by or on the board
of health; all qaborers are to be selected by
lot.
The report provides that no employe Of
the classified list shall be removed except
| for cause, and that only after trial by the
commission. Full provision is made for
the machinery of the commission; 1t IL to
be given "chief examiner" to superintend
| the examination, who will act as sec
rotary. Provision is also made to protect
applicants from any unfair treatment, or
from using any undue influence with the
commissioners.
At the conclusion of the reading Of the
report Mr. Hazard proposed an additional
clause to the effect that all employees of the
city at the time the charter takes effect
shall be continued in office. being regarded
as having filled the requirements. He In
| troduced this to prevent departments from
| being disorganized by a complete change.
The men In the positions are qualified for
| the work; the trouble now Is. he claimed,
that the employees are under the swing Of
| pull" but II that Is removed the ap-
pointees now in position would be capable.
Mr.. O'Melveny supported the motion as
Just, and one that would not interfere with
the workings of the civil service principle.
| Chairman Lee called attention to the fact
that the city officers elected in the spring,
If the charter should be adopted. would
be thus enabled to fill all the offices for the
life of their appointees.
On a vote, however, Mr.. Hazards mo-
ton was adopted. BY this all employees or
appointive officers of the city who are in
office at the time of the adoption Of the
charter will be able to hold their places as
long as they are capable.
Mr.. Newmark then raised the question
of having a board OF public works. Mr..
Crutcher had been on that committee, but
on investigating he became SO opposed to
the plan that he had declined to make the
report and had asked that 1t be referred
to some other committee. Mr.. Crutcher
showed that such board could do little
or nothing, as almost all OF the matters
supposed to come in Its purview are made
| by the state laws specifically the Duties of
| the council or certain officers. and moth
| ing in a charter would change the law.
He and Mr.. Morgan of the committee were
60 adverse to such proposal that they
asked to be released and the matter was
passed over until Judge Stephens could be
heard from. The board then adjourned.
Ward Boundaries
Ex-Mayor Hazards committee on bound