Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-20
GIVE ULT|MATUM
TO Mr.. DOz|ER
CIVIL SERVICE HOLDS UP
AUTHORSHIP
If School Board Does Not Conform to
Commissions Rules, Dozler's
Certificate Will Be
Withheld

School Director Melville Dozier was
yesterday given the alternative by the
civil service commission of Influencing
his associates on the school board to
enforce the civil service rules in their
board or to lose his certlfcation as as
sistant auditor of the Los Angeles
auueduct board. He has passed the
latter examination but has not taken
charge of the place allotted to him.
Commissioner Young delivered the
ultimatum yesterday afternoon and the
other commissioners gave silent as
sent.
Mr.. Dozier had been sent for IN con-
nection with the case of Miss Minnie
Brown. She is assistant bookkeeper In
the board rooms and has been acting
under an emergency appointment and
paid out of the county funds, which
are also availab BILE to the school board.
This fact has been bitter pill to
the commission, which looked upon this
diversion of funds in paying the en-
ployes not in the civil service as de-
fiance OF, commission rules.
Miss Brown the Issue
Miss Brown has won the commenda-
ton of her superiors, has passed the
examination and was eligible. but not
until the two ahead of her on the list
had been certified, tried and found
wanting by the board. In other words,
she has no present standing with the
commission.
Late yesterday afternoon the situa-
! tion was stated to Mr.. Dozier as
| chairman of the civil service commit
tee of the board of education. He was
! told that the board had been guilty Of
| various infractions of the rules, ec-
pecially in naming janitors, and had
made matters worse by paying the nom
! service employees out of county funds.
| This action was viewed in the light of
open rebellion by the commissioners.
Director Dozier said he regretted that
this view was taken. He had come to
! the conclusion that because the en-
ployes outside of the civil service were
not paid out OF city funds that no
prejudice could be held up against
the service; that janitors when selected
outside the service were of the small
nay class who would not take an ex-
animation under any circumstances,
some receiving only SIT month, and
finally those who had been named so
had proven themselves competent en-
ployes.
Dozier Agrees to Act
Under sharp questioning by Com
missioners Young and Edelman Di-
rector Dozier agreed to lay the situa-
ton before his colleagues and to state
the views Of the commission, hoping
to change the school policy on appoint
ments.
In conclusion Commissioner Young
said:
"Mr. Dozier, this board has the high
est regard for you, and since you are
subject to this commission it is up to
you to see that its rules are enforced.
That is the view OF this board.
"You may tell the board Of education
members that your certificate as as
sistant auditor Of the aqueduct depends
on their action. 1t is nothing personal.
We want to enforce the rules"
us that the reason my certificate
has been held up?" asked Mr.. Dozier.
That is the reason" said Commiss
sioner Young.
Mr.. Dozier has for several days been
considering whether he can remain as
board OF education member and also
serve the aqueduct board at $3.50 a
month. In a verbal opinion City At
torney Hewitt has declared ne cannot
! hold two offices. A written opinion Is
expected in a day or two.