Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-06-24
Mr.. SOMMER
AGAIN ADJUSTS
SCHOOL PUZZLE
Explains to Committee How to
Straighten Out "Clerk"
Controversy.
"clVIL SERVICE BOARD Is
RIGHT; AXE PLACE CLEAR"
Committee Suggests Trying
Out New System of School
Administration.

When is a clerk not clerk? This
question aroused considerable feeling
among members of the committee on
instruction and educational supplies
OF the Board of Education last night.
For two months the committee has
been at odds with the Civil Services
commission, which has held up the
pay of a teacher clerk" The sug-
gestion of Commissioner Frank H.
Sommer that proper designation be
made was taken and a committee
named to adjust the controversy. The
mere suggestion that the committee
settle the controversy by admitting
to the Civil Service Commission an
error had been made by the commit
tee was frowned upon. Commissioner
Charles P. Taylor appeared TO voice
the majority sentiment of the com
mlttee when he said:
L move that our counsel be en-
powered to act in the matter, but not
to make an apology"
In January last Miss Minnie
Llpschitz, a teacher, was appointed
administrative clerk at the Central
High School. This was brought to
the attention of the Civil Service
Commission by disappointed appli-
cant for position as stenogra pher
The commission notified the board
that Miss Lipschitz could not be con-
tlnued in the position of clerk, be-
cause that position was in the COM
petitive class of civil service.
several communications on the sub
Ject received from the Civil Service
commission in the past two months
were ordered received and placed Oh
file by the committee on instruction.
Last month came a notice from City
Treasurer Elmer A. Day that the
Civil Service Commission had ordered
him to hold up the pay check due
Miss Lipschitz for the month of May.
The case was reviewed at the meet
ing last night by Charles M. Myers,
counsel for the Board of Education.
lie suggested the matter could be
Strengthened out with the Civil Ser
vice Commission merely by a letter
from the committee admitting its own
error. This error consisted in class
ing Miss. Lipschitz as a clerk and
stenographer, while she is actually
teaching, in addition to the clerical
work.
President johnson Against Apology.
Judge Frederic L. Johnson. presi-
dent OF the board, said he was anxious
to secure for Miss Lipschitz her back
pay, but he for one did not propose
to have the committee make any sort
of an apology to the Civil Service
Commission.
1T seems to me that the Board of
Education and not the Civil Service
Commission has the right to say how
the schools shall be rum" said Com
missioner Taylor. Il move the mat.
ter be referred to counsel with power
to act. but not to apologize.
Commissioner Frank II. Sommer
then poured oil on the troubled
waters by asking
What is this position of admins
trative clerk, or whatever you call it?
If her duties are not clearly defined il.
the rules of this board, then certainly
the Civil Service Commission is right
in its objection. Also, the Civil Ser
vice Commission is absolutely right in
holding up the young woman's salary
until you have made her position
clear"
Mr. Myers then sought to drive
home his argument that Miss Lip
schitz is not clerk and stenographer,
but a "stenotypist.'
"She does not take dictation and
knows nothing about shorthand"
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