The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1941-05-03
OSCAR BAKER


in Caro- she has four small chill
dren. and two Of the children are
IN a boarding home
1t was after the superintendent
at Pontiac hospital had refused to
accept Mrs. M,Cully that she wrote
10 inc civil Service Commission.
Anderson responded 70 her letter
as follows
Under the provisions OF the *
isting civil service rules. appoint
ing authorities are emitted 20 make
choice from among the names OF
the first eligible three who are
willing 10 accep' ar appointment e.
given position The appointing
authority may base his choice on
any reason he NAV desire. and this
Commission has no authority TO ac-
cuse him o. unia choice
so Said Mr.. Anderson
After stating thar it VAS Tho pol
ICY Of the Commission 10 treat all
applicants for examination with
out regard to race Anderson said
we cannot. however. force an ap-
pointing authority 20 appoint any
one person. even though Il might
be shown as his refusal 70 do so Is
based ON racial reasons. It's there
fore. not possible for US to take any
action in response TO your request"
After calling Anderson atien
ton TO the Civil Rights Inv which
was passed by tho same Legislature
which created the Civil Service
law and the civil Service Com
mission. Mr. Baker points 10 the
decisions of lhe state Supreme
Court in constituting the Civil Rights
law.
"As a native horn Mchigander.
wrote Mr. Baker was outraged by
your letter Of April H. 1871 10
Mrs McCnlly and the sentiments
therein expressed hv YOU IN be-
half OF the Civil Service Commits
sion. As large taxpayer as
citizen OF Mchiean I do not think
that there Is anv place IN the pub
lie service OF Michigan for YOU on
any. commission or group that YOU
represent 10 serve in a public ca
pacity a. representing all the peo-
pie OF Michigan, regardless OF race
or greed.
Grosbeck On Commission
1.-TWO OF the members OF your
Civil Service Commission are
George Burke a lawyer. former
president OF the state BAR OF Mich
igan. and Allen j. tifosbeck. law
yer former governor of the state
Of Michigan would be Interested
In knowing whcihef these two emf
nent. fair-minded lawyers agree
with your viewpoint a. expressed
n your letter Of the 18th inst 10
Mrs McCully.
My client Mrs McCully who
has passed the civil service exami-
nation with score ~ eighty per
cent. the twelfth highest rating in
the state desires ~ be transferred
from the caro- State hospital. Caro-.
Mich. 10 the Pontiac hospital. Pom
tlac. Mich. and have been told
advised that the superintendent Of
the Pontiac hospital refuses n con-
sent 10 this transfer Of Mrs. McCnl-
ly based solely on her color. and
the color OF an individual Is some
thing that the Almighty controls II
YOU can under the Civil Service Law
discriminate on account 81 color
then creed aud religion could be
an objection. and where would We
hnallv end Nour commission err
roneousv rules that won cannot
control discrimination based on
color.
~ that Is 90 be the future siii-
tude OF the civil Service Comm g
sion Of Michigan. in view OF the
statutes prohibiting discrimination
and the decis onseof our Supreme
Court hereunder then ! say 10 YOU
that tho present personnel ~ the
civil Service Commission Of Michi-
gan should he removed or volun-
tprily resign"
In the meantime Mr.. Baker has