Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-11
WHO'S WHO
IN LIBRARY
MANAGEMENT
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
WANTS TO KNOW
WOMAN EMPLOYEES REFUSE TO
BE PROMOTED
Summary Dismissal of Attendant Who
Insisted on Rights Raises
Debate over Au-
thorlty

Because MISS Parker, a library at
tendant, took the advice of the civil
service commission she is now out III
The cold. She has been dropped from
the Los Angeles public library en-
Iloyes' list.
She had turned down the advice OF
the library directors, took an eXamina-
ton for promotion, got the place. ana
exercising his prerogative with pro-
dictionaries, Librarian Charles F. Lum-
mis-, it is alleged, dropped her soon af-
terward on the ground that her serV-
ice was unsatisfactory.
Two other young women library en-
pioyes appeared before the civil serv-
ice commission yesterday on request,
were asked why they did not accept
promotion which. awaited them, and re-
piled that they were contented where
they were and would resign If the COM
mission insisted or their taking pro-
motions.
"Commission PowerIess"
Chairman D. w. Edelman declared
that conditions were such in the library
that he had thrown up his hands. The
library board through the librarian eX-
Ircised all the functions it pleased ana
the commission was powerless to in
terfere.
Now it develops that DR.. John r.
Haynes of the civil service commission
has asked his colleagues to present sug
g6stions to the charter revision commits
sion, of which he is member, asking
that the civil service be more complete
~ extended to library employees.
President Isidore B. Dockweiler of
the library board will, on the other
tn hp
revisionists, urging that the city's civil
service be withdrawn from the library
ard that a special library promotion
system be installed
Says Librarian Dictates
"As the library situation stands we
ere practically separated from author
ity there said Chairman Edelman to
ltic fellow commissioners. ''We are liz
position where we are powerless.
There is no system about the ap-
Iointments there. If employees do not
satisfy the librarian, he drops them.
If their salary does not suit, he raises
Il. Unfortunately those employees who
have been there the longest do not get
the most solary.
II do not say that fayoritism exists
o. that politics IS played, but the board
iisurps too many functions, as l see it.
"Mr. Lummis wants to do the pri-
lrary examination and handle every
tting himself" interjected Commits
sioner Haynes. This commission is
stultifying itself by emitting it,"
I'D like to look into it, said Com
missioner Morton.
"You go 10 it." said Chairman Edel-
man. with a smile. 81 will delegate
you"
DockweiIer Defends
President Dockweler finds fault with
civil service examinations. He says
they are too mild for the class of work
required OF employees in the Los An
geles library.
I'VE have tried out persons sent to
us by the commission and they failed
20 come up to our standard" said Pres
ident Dockweiler I'VE had to hold ex-
ira examinations in self-defense. Thai
is our privilege. If the applicants fail
to meet our standard, why We drori
them. The commission is at liberty o
keep on holding examinations and send
ing us eliglples, but they must be fitted
for the work.
Around the city hall it is current gos-
SIP that employees of the library have
taken the cue from Miss Parker's case
however, and invariably take hints
from headquarters.
Miss Parker's Loss
Miss Parker was entitled to a vacancy
IN the order of promotion. but some one
else was destined for the place she
sought. She appeared before the COM
missioners to complain and they told
her to stand firmly on her rights.
She was given the place she wanted
hut on March / was dropped DR. Edel-
man says Notwithstanding this the COM
mission has no official information OF
Miss Parkers summary dismissal as
yet.
The two young women who brought
about last nights debate declared that
tLey were contented where they were,
even though promotion awaited them.
l. appears that they are drawing the
salary of the higher positions awaiting
them, though doing other work, hence
do not suffer financially by the stua-
ton.
Commissioner Ona Morton will look
into the Details but Or. Edelman saia
last night that if the civil service COM
mission interfered the press and people
would say that politics We're being liz
1ected into the public library and that
II was all plan to give the control to
the city council, SO that daughters and
friends of the latter could get the,
rlums.