Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-25
ORDERS HEARING
OF LIBRARY FUSS
MAYOR CALLS FOR PUBLIC
INVESTIGATION
EARLY DATE IS FIXED ON
Miss Mary L. Jones and Members Of
the Board Who Discharged Her
VIII Appear Before Chief
Executive

The woman's club organization" has
done its work.
Mayor McAleer has surrendered to
the strong minded" members Of the
fair sex.
The club woman's victory came yes
terday when Mayor McAleer issued a
proclamation to the library board in
forming them that he would begin an
investigation of the board and of the
causes and reasons for the dismissal OF
Miss Mary L. Jones as librarian OF the
public library.
'I have been carefully considering
the question and investigating for my
SELF" said the mayor yesterday, land
1 have come to believe that when the
charter says an official may be dis
charged for good cause that cause
must be shown. Therefore / have or
dered this investigation
Immediately after the issuance Of the
proclamation there was a rush of
library directors to the mayors office,
where behind closed doors the question
was discussed. Before the meeting
adjourned Charles f. Lummis arrived
and entered the inner sanctum.
The library directors declare one ana
all that they are not afraid Of an in
vestigation.
Miss Jones spent a part Of the day at
the library as usual yesterday and was
more than pleased when told of the
mayors decision, and said: II am gla1
the investigation is to be held and that
1t Is to be public one, as l object to
star chamber sessions. I will be on
hand with all my evidence on Thurs
day evening. I want to thank the
women of the Friday Morning and other
clubs for what they have done. 1t has
been entirely impersonel as I am not
acquainted with many Of them"
Calls for Investigation
Mayor McAleer's letter calling for a
public investigation of the library ques-
tion follows:
July "a, 1905.
To the Honorable Board Of Directors
| VI tnc L4iDi oil
Gentlemen-On June 21 your board,
by vote of A to 1, adopted resolution
dismissing Miss Mary L. Jones from the
position of librarian, which she had
held for period of about five years.
While, according to the terms of the
resolution, the action of the board was
taken "for good cause" and upon
numerous general grounds, stated in,
the resolution, yet it appears that there
was no hearing or investigation by the
board and that no opportunity was
given Miss Jones to make a defense or
to show cause why she should not be
removed. The charter confers upon the
board the power to remove the librarian
'for good cause" The question has
arisen whether, under the law, the
board was required to give Miss Jones
a notice and hearing before removing
her, but, whatever view may be taken
words "for good cause" inserted in the
charter by the people must, in any
event, be held to mean that the power
of removing the librarian should only
be exercised in a manner and upon
grounds which the board is willing to
submit to the people. whose servants
we are.
That the people of this city are in
terested in the question whether Miss
Jones was, in fact removed ''for good
cause" cannot, think, be doubted in
the face of the emphatic and persistent
demands for an investigation thereof
made by numerous prominent and in
fiuential men and women of the city,
expressed in the form Of petitions ad-
dressed to the mayor and council and
through the public press and in other
ways. Under these circumstances I
am convinced that such an investiga-
tion should be held. The council has
seen fit to take the position that, since
the mayor is the appointlve power as
regards the directors of the public
library an investigation of this matter,
IL held at all, should be conducted by
him alone. While I should be glad to
have the assistance or committee
from the council in this matter 1 fee!
that ought not to make its refusal
to participate reason for not holding
the investigation asked for.
1 therefore beg to notify you that
will begin public investigation of this
matter in my office on Thursday even
ing next at o'clock and I hereby re-
quest that the members of your board
will be present at that time prepared
to submit all the facts connected with
the boards action in removing Miss
Jones. Very respectfully
OWEN McALEER. Mayor.
Club Women Are Happy
The club women who have been maxi
ing such strenuous fight in the in
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