Los Angeles herald., 1905-06-22
LIBRARY BOARD
SELECTS LUMMIS
AUTH0R-J0URNALIST CHOSEN
LIBRARIAN
REMOVES WOMAN INCUMBENT
Miss Mary L. Jones Declines to Re-
sign and Charges Are Preferred
Against Her, Resulting In
Removal
REMOVES WOMAN INCUMBENT

CndTleS n. LunlIllS, JHe eiiliileuI du-
thor Journalist of the southwest. was
chosen last night as librarian Of the
Los Angeles public library by the board
of directors to succeed Miss Mary l..
Jones, who was removed by the same
commission.
The board of directors decided some
time ago that In their opinion it woulo
be to the interests of the library to have
a man in charge, and Miss Jones was
asked to resign. She declined in a
letter to the board. in which she called
attention to the fact that since the
adoption of the present city charter. the
library had been presided over by wo-
men and conducted by staff composed
exclusively of women.
The stat ement of DR.. Herbert Put
nam. librarian Of congress. was also
quoted to the effect 'ItUhe library has
a reputation which makes 1t stand out
very large, due to the efficient libra
rians which. have been in charge"
Upon the reading of the letter. Di-
rector White offered a resolution re-
moving Miss Jones from the position Of
librarian. stating several charges
against her, among which were the fol-
lowing:
Charges Against Miss Jones
Unauthorized and unnecessary ah-
sence from the library; inability to
maintain proper discipline among the
attendants; insubordination; repeated
ly expressed threats to resign as libra
rian unless the board would take fa-
vorable action as to matters affecting
or connected with the library, and sug-
gested by her; and as to which the
board declined to accede; and, in par
ticular recently made threat to re-
sign and to seek for another position
when opportunity offered
Director Rodman objected to the
resolution on the grounds that no hear
ing of the charges had been held and
that they had never been proved. On
they4Sfl call his was the only negative
vote, the other four members voting
for the resolution.
Director Dockweler then presented
resolution appointing Charles F..
Lummis to the position of librarian.
Director Rodman objected on the
grounds that no vacancy existed, but
the resolution carried. Director Rod
man stated that he had nothing but
admiration for Mr.. Lummis, but that
he believed the board was acting il
legally.
Subsequent to this action the first
assistant librarian, Miss Celia Gleason,
control of the library until Mr.. Lum-
mis- takes charge.
Salary Discussed
Director Dockweiler, Ia answer to a
question by Director Rodman. stated
that Charles F. Lummis had said he
would accept the position should 1t
be offered to him. The question Of the
salary to be paid Mr.. Lummis was not
openly discussed, but it was rumored
that he would have to be paid consid-
erably more than S150 per month,
which is the amount now paid the IL
brarian.
The city charter says the librarian
may be removed by the directors for
good cause. Once before a board has
removed librarian and the city at
torney has ruled that sufficient cause
was not shown. Just what she will
do Miss Jones has not yet decided
The directors of the library believe,
however. that she will demand hear
ing and the charges will have to be
proved.
Miss Jones said after the meeting:
This is one of the things which 1t
seems must come up about every so
often in the library. 1 will think the
question over carefully before decid-
ing what my course shall be-