OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE ASSOCIATION OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
=a
The New Columbus
“Let us recognize the fact that there are still many new worlds to dis-
cover for men’s good, new institutions to establish, new levels of civilization
to attain and new goals to reach. It is the challenge of good citizenship,
responsive to every summons to a higher and more courageous service and
responsible for,the attainment of more elevated standards.”
Governor Herbert H. Lehman
October 12, 1937
~ OCTOBER, 1937 10 Cents per Copy VOL. 6 Number 7
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
October
@ A STAR HOTEL
in New York
%& for BUSINESS...1 block from
‘Times Square, 3 blocks from Sth
Ave. 8 minutes to Wall St. Under-
ground passageway toall subways.
& for DINING...3 fine restaurants
.. the Coffee Shop, the Tavern
Grill and Bar, and the BLUE
WALDORF FOR
Top Hat, White Tie and Tails
To Hire
NEW
TUXEDOS
$2.50
Complete with Dress
ie, Studs 93-50
Dress Suits, Cutawavs to Hire
Waldorf Tuxedo Co.
“Men's Formal Weor Faziusiocis®
ROOM with dancing.
458 Bro!
Phi Opp, Fostotice
Open tilt 6130. ‘Later ty Appeintsseat
& for RECREATION...69 fine thea
tres within 6 blocks. 1 block from
Broadway...4 short blocks to
1400 large rooms...each
vee i sn _— Madison Square Garden. Get Your
ervidor and radio... /rom
for QUIET SLEEP...Our 32 stories Associati i
50 $50 ih seed anshing erace ecidtion Pina
—— 50¢ Each
SINGLE DOUBLE
FRANK W. KRIDEL 5
TWO-ROOM SUITES from $7.00 Managing Director at Association Headquarters
Special Rates For Longer Periods
Hotel LINCOLN
44TH TO 45TH STREETS AT 8TH AVENUE - NEW YORK
JOHN T. WEST, Manager
Hundreds are already
being worn by
Association members
BEER, ALES AND PORTER
rick, Pi Bros. Q
Simon, Stanton, Utica Club, Valley Forge
ALES— Amsterdam, Ballantine, Beverwyck, Car
ling’s, Burke's, Dobler, Fitzgerald, Gene-
see Twelvehorse, Hedrick, Pabst, Quandt,
Ramshead, Stanton, Tam 0’ Shanta, Utlos
Club, V. F. Stock, Standard Rochester,
Old Shay—Half & Hi
Bass (Imported) Ale and Guinness (Imported) Stout
B. J. E. MULLEN
Famous Soft Drinks
AGERS OF GINGER ALE FOR OVER ¢0 YEARS
4-2204—Phone—4-2268
Morton Ave., Onera Terrace AND CATHERINE St.
NEW YORE
Similar low fares, convenient service to
Boston, Binghamton, Syracuse, Buffalo, and
FOR JERSEY
pre He
rma oot
all parts of America.
GREYHOUND TERMINAL op CENTRAL
350 Broadway Phone 4-6165 Trip
DAIRY
YHOUND
ste
THE STATE EMPLOYEE is pub-
lished monthly except May, July, and
August. Publication office 2 Norton St.,
Albany, N. ¥. Editorial and executive
offices Room 156, State Capitol, Albany,
N. ¥. 10c a single copy, $1.00 per year.
Entered as Second-class matter, July 19.
1934, at the Post Office at Albany, N.
Y., under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Letters to the Editor, contributions,
news items, applications for member-
ship and application for advertising
rates should be sent to Executive
Headquarters, Room 156, State Capitol,
‘Albany, N. Y, Members of the Asso-
ciation receive THE STATE EM-
PLOYEE upon payment of member-
ship dues.
THE STATE
EMPLOYEE
Official Publication of
The Association of State Civil Service Employees of the State of New York
Room 156, State Capitol, Albany, N. ¥.
Editor, Cuartes A. Baixo, Jr.
Art Editor, Rocer Stoxenouse
Business Manager, Joserx D. Locuxer
OFFICERS
Cuartes A. Brinn, Jz. President
Cuantes L. Caw
Eart P, Prannenecxer, Treasurer
PRELL, Vice-President <>
Joun T. DrGrarr, Counsel
Mary H, Ausxx, Secretary
Josern D. Locuwer, Executive Secretary
VOL 6.
OCTOBER, 1937
—=
NO. 7.
Election of Officers for 1938
The Board of Canvassers appointed
by the Executive Committee at meet-
ing October 5th, to canvass and count
the ballots properly cast for the pur-
pose of electing officers and members
of the Executive Committee, reported
at the Annual Meeting, that the fol-
lowing candidates for officers were
elected, receiving practically a unani-
mous vote.
For President, Charles A. Brind,
Jr., Dept. of Education.
For Vice President, Charles L.
Campbell, Dept. of Civil Service.
For Secretary, Mary H. Ahern,
Dept. of Education,
For Treasurer, Earl P. Pfanne-
becker, Dept. of Tax.
The Board of Canvassers also re-
ported that the following received
the majority of votes cast vy em-
ployees of their respective depart-
ments and therefore constitute the
Executive Committee of the Associa-
tion for the ensuing year.
William F. McDonough, Dept. of
Agriculture & Markets.
Charles W. Swim, Dept. Audit &
Control, State Retirement Fund.
Elizabeth Staley, Dept. of Banking.
Linda J. Wharton, Dept. of Civil
Service.
Arthur S. Hopkins, Dept. of Con-
servation.
Charlotte P. Farrington, Dept. of
Correction.
Dr. Riley M. Little, Dept. of Ed-
ucation.
John T. Higgins, Executive Dept.,
Div. of Standards & Purchase.
Clifford Shoro, Dept. of Health.
Davis Shultes, Dept. of Insurance.
John W. Henry, Dept. of Labor.
Francis C. Maher, Dept. of Law.
Dr. Horatio M. Pollock, Dept. of
Mental Hygiene.
George Kehoe, Dept. of Public
Service. .
William R. Arnold, Dept. of Pub-
lic Works.
William C. Hinckley, Dept. of So-
cial Welfare.
Harold A. Fisher, Dept. of State.
John A. Cromie, Dept. of Taxa-
tion and Finance,
Annual Meeting — Program for Future
The Annual Meeting of the Asso-
ciation was held in the Auditorium
of the Albany High School, Albany,
on Tuesday, October 5th, at 7:30
P. M. Representatives and dele-
gates from Association Chapters,
state offices, department and insti-
tutions throughout the State at-
tended. Employees from every de-
partment in Albany were present.
The hall was practically filled +o
capacity.
Reports of officers and commit-
tees were presented and accepted.
Report of the President and Treas-
urer will be found on another page
of this issue. A report was ren-
dered by the Committee on Consti-
tutional Amendments which will al-
so be found herein. The Board of
Canvassers appointed by the Ex-
ecutive Committee to canvass and
count the ballots cast for the vari-
ous candidates for offices of the
Association reported as to the elec-
ted officers for 1938, which is also
contained on another page of this
issue. The Report of the Legisla-
tive Committee and Counsel were
printed in the June issue of this
magazine and will not be repeated
here.
A summary of the more impor-
tant resolutions adopted at the meet-
ing follows, as space does not per-
mit printing these in full, together
with the basic program of the Asso-
ciation for the ensuing year.
100% MEMBERSHIP
Resolutions were adopted urging
100% membership of all eligible
State employees in this Association;
and giving employees joining the
Association after October Sth as
new members, full membership for
the balance of this year and all of
1938. These resolutions are printed
in full on the back page of this
issue.
CIVIL SERVICE MATTERS
The Association will endeavor:
1. To secure increased appropri:
tions for the State Civil Service
Department enable more ef-
ficient administration of that
agency.
2. To establish a classification unit
in Civil Service Department effi-
cently and sufficiently manned to
investigate into duties and re-
sponsibilities of positions, and
to correct misnomers in title so
that incumbents of such posi-
tions may be correctly and ade-
quately compensated under
terms of new career law.
3. To establish an appeal board em-
powered to hear cases of dis-
missed employees in the com-
petitive or non-competitive class,
and to reinstate such employees
who may have been dismissed
without sufficient cause.
Continued on Page 5
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
October
Annual Report of President Brind
(Presented by President Charles A,
Brind, Jr., at Annual Meeting of
Association, October 5th)
Last year at this meeting those of
you who were here will remember
that I presented in brief form a sum-
mary of the outstanding achievements
of the Association for that year, A
new year has now rolled around and
in retrospect that year has also been
a red-letter year in the annals of our
Association. Never before has the
spirit of unity been more apparent;
never before have the officers re-
ceived more wholehearted support
from the active membership through-
out the State than the Association
year, October 1, 1936-September 30,
1937. It is this sense of unity, this
type of cooperation which urges your
officers and committees to new en-
thusiasms and which carries over to
the Legislature, to the Governor,
heads of departments, and, yes, to the
taxpayers of the State, the full im-
port of the strength of this Associa-
tion and its idealism, Notwithstand-
ing this great enthusiasm the pres-
entation of Association matters at all
points has been carried on with great
dignity and for that reason the As-
sociation has received the allied sup-
port and the thorough sympathy of
kindred associations and with those
with whom the Association deals.
This year T have determined to di-
vide this report into two parts. First,
I wish to parade in review some of
the things which the Association fas
brought about and then I wish to
present my recommendations upon
which we may well bend our efforts
in the future.
I speak first of membership be-
cause after all the effectiveness of
your Association depends in a large
measure upon its membership
strength, In 1910 this . Association
was organized, Its membership va-
ried but remained under a thousand
members during the years from that
time until 1930, In 1930 Bill Mc-
Donough took over the Association
and at that time the membership did
not exceed 500, Bill had a vision and
he also had the ability and force of
character to get that vision over.
While the Association had prior to
that time been successful in obtain-
ing the retirement system and had
toyed with other reforms, yet its
membership was not of sufficient size
to make it effective State-wide in
bringing them to pass. Under Bill’s
leadership the membership jumped
from 500 to 10,700 in 1934. Beulah
Bailey then took over the reins and
during her term of office the mem-
bership increased from 10,700 to 12,-
000. Last year this record was again
increased. This year we have now
over 15,000 representing an increase
of over 3,000 members, the largest
single gain during any one year with
the exception of the year 1930-31.
With a membership of over 15,000
your Association assumes the lead-
ership in size of any association in
the United States consisting wholly
of the employees of a State govern-
ment.
Last year the outstanding achieve-
ment of the Association had to do
with the abolishment of the twelve-
hour day, This year our efforts were
bent toward the enactment of the ca-
reer law, a statute which established
mandatory salary schedules for State
employees. While the Association has
been talking about salary schedules
and adequate pay for State employees
for many years, nevertheless for the
first time our ideas were reduced to
writing in bill form and so fair was
its provisions and so necessary was
the reform that taxpayers, reform or-
ganizations, and other contemporary
organizations united with our mem-
bership in importuning the Legisla-
ture and the Governor to bring about
the enactment of this statute. You
are all familiar with its provisions.
The Standardization Board created
by that act has not reported. We
stand in great hope of a new day for
employee service for the State of
New York.
The Association has felt for many
years that the Civil Service Commis-
sion was not adequately staffed nor
provided with adequate funds to fully
carry on its work as mandated to it
by the Constitution and the laws of
the State. We therefore specifically
asked that additional funds be pro-
vided and through our efforts an ad-
ditional appropriation of $50,000 was
given to that Department.
We have had much to do with the
continuance and the putting into ef-
fect of the eight-hour day, Of course
we realized in enacting the law the
preceding year that this process would
be slow. Many situations had to be
adjusted. The reduction of twelve
hours to eight with the consequent
problem of increased staff, housing
facilities, additional meals, etc, for
new employees could not be brought
about overnight. Our committees
and counsel have had many questions
to present to the departments affected
and much has been done to secure
the benefits contemplated by this law.
New legislation was needed in some
instances. I refer particularly to the
legislation secured extending the
eight-hour day to the kitchen and
dining room employees of State in-
stitutions.
Our magazine, The State Em-
ployee, has been published each month
at the accustomed time and we think
it has been of real service this year
in providing our membership with
information concerning our activities.
I feel that the magazine has been im-
proved. We have added to our staff,
Art Editor Roger Stonehouse, who
has added materially in presenting
artistically, pictorially and pungently
matters of immediate import. Nine-
teen thousand copies of this magazine
are now being printed. In addition
to the publication of our monthly
magazine, bulletin boards throughout
the State have been continually bom-
barded with information concerning
the work of the Association and the
progress of legislation and other mat-
ters of import.
The Association has been instru-
mental in securing for institutional
employees the right to accumulate
days off duty and to use them all to-
gether up to seven days, It has also
been instrumental in furthering the
appropriation in the Governor’s bud-
get of approximately one million one
hundred thousand dollars to care for
the payment of commutation allow:
ances to institutional employees where
due. In this connection through our
counsel this Association conferred
with the Mental Hygiene Department
and obtained a definite interpretation
of “head of family” commutation al-
lowance and those who would qualify
under the same. This resulted in
many employees being eligible for this
type of allowance who were not pre-
viously eligible.
Over 5,000 members of our Asso-
ciation have joined the group acci-
dent and sickness plan. A report has
Continued on page 12
October
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
Association Program For The Future
4. To extend the competitive class
in civil service to as many of
the 50% now outside this class
as possible. The Constitution
of the State provides that all ap-
pointments to civil positions be
made as far as practicable upon
basis of merit and fitness.
To recommend that if the mini-
mum of a position as established
under the new career law is
above salary being paid to pres-
ent employee having same title,
that the new appropriation be
given to the present employee.
6. To dispense with title “Special
Attendent” as used in State in-
stitutions and give titles and sal-
aries to conform with duties per-
formed. In this respect, vacan-
cies in institutions should be
filled from eligibles on civil serv-
ice lists or by definite promotion,
rather than employees in a low-
er grade being designated to per-
form the duties.
7. To make every effort to see to
it that practicable promotion ex-
aminations be held rather than
open competitive examinations,
and that the Civil Service Com-
mission publish all requests for
open-competitive examinations
at least twenty days before such
examinations are advertised, so
that employees may make proper
request for promotion examina-
tion.
HOURS OF WORK
1. To extend the eight hour day by
statute to all employees of State
institutions not now enjoying
same.
2. To secure additional appropria-
tions in budget to provide for
eight hour day for employees in
institutions for which the shorter
day has already been established
by statute,
To establish at least a six day
week for State employees now
required to work seven, such as
Canal employees, bridge employ-
ees, etc,
SALARIES
1, To give continued attention to
the improvement of the Feld-
Hamilton Civil Service: Career
Law.
2, To establish the principles of the
Feld-Hamilton Civil Service Ca-
5.
bad
Continued from page 3
reer Law for all State employees
not now enjoying same, as was
the original intent of the Asso-
ciation.
LEAVES OF ABSENCE
Sick Leaves and Vacations
1. To establish reasonable mini-
mum sick leave for employees of
all State institutions.
2. To secure six-month leave of ab-
sence without pay to employees
of State institutions upon re-
quest.
3. To see to it that every employee
in State service receives a va-
cation, and that vacation leaves
in effect before emergency per-
iod be restored.
RETIREMENT
To protect stability of retirement
system.
To request that employee repre-
sentative be appointed to the N.
Y. State Retirement Board.
3. To obtain retirement at age 55,
after 30 years service, without
any additional cost to employee.
4. To secure transfer of funds from
State Hospital Pension System
to N. Y. State Retirement Sys-
tem,
TIME SERVICE
1. To secure the lifting of penali-
zation of time service due to the
moratorium, (1932 to 1935.)
2. To see to it that accumulated
time service for ward employees
be continuous.
COMMUTATION
1. To secure additional appropria-
tions in Budget to enable pay-
ment of all commutation allow-
ances where due.
2. To see to it that no employee
living outside of institution be
compelled to eat more than one
meal a day while on duty, and
such employee to be compen-
sated with $8.00 for each meal
per month not taken at institu-
tion.
3. To secure amendment to law re-
lating to payment of commuta-
tion allowances so that ihstitu-
tion superintendent may cétify
that “adequate” living accomoda-
tions are not available and em-
ployee may live outside of insti-
tution,
4. To see to it that age of minors,
with reference to head of family,
2.
be considered as under 21 years,
unless such minor is employed.
REIMBURSEMENT FOR
EXPENSES
1. To see to it that expense ac-
counts be paid semi-monthly.
2. To arrange so that if a perma-
nent employee of any department
be transferred to another part
of State, that he be reimbursed
for transferring himself and fam-
ily effects to new location.
3. To secure full expenses for trav-
el to and from field work for
employees of Highway Division
of Public Works Department.
STATE-WIDE GRIEVANCE
COMMITTEE
To establish a state-wide griev-
ance committee to hear and ob-
tain correction as far as practic-
able of all grievances of Associ-
ation members.
CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION
1. As a State Constitutional Con-
vention is to be held in the
spring of 1938, that a committee
be appointed to examine the civil
service proposals in new consti-
tution and acquaint the members
of the Association with such pro-
posals,
COOPERATIVE
ENTERPRIZES
1. To continue expansion of coop-
erative enterprizes such as group
insurance, hospitalization, credit
unions, etc.
2. To develop social, recreational
and educational program for
State Workers.
CODIFICATION OF
BY-LAWS
1. To see to it that By-Laws of
Association be codified and pub-
lished.
COOPERATION WITH OR-
GANIZED EMPLOYEES
1. To continue friendly cooperation
with all other organized employ-
ee groups.
Editor's Note: COOPERATE; if
an employee in your office, depart-
ment or institution becomes EN-
GAGED, report it to your magasine,
and send a snapshot of the employee.
If an employee becomes MARRIED,
or is blessed with CHILDBIRTH, do
the same thing.”
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
October
THE
MEMBERS’ P
AGE . : ‘ :
A Name Story
By Thomas R. Nardozsi
State Dept. of Public Works, Buffalo
(Editor's Note: Perhaps many em-
ployees of the State Department of
Public Works will readily recognize
the characters in this story. They
should. The words in caps should be
very familiar to them. If this looks
easy, take the names of the employees
in your office, department or institu-
tion, or some of them, and see how
you could incorporate them into a
story, and send the results in to your
magazine.)
There lived on a NILAND a
YOUNGMANN who was reputed to
be a great HUNTER. One day he
decided to cross the WATERS and
go to the mainland where many
MAMOTT animals roamed SCOTT-
free. So he put on his WULLEN
coat, kissed his wife ANDERSON
and daughter good-bye and started
his boat toward the mainland. Sud-
denly a STORM arose. The NORTH
wind began to howl and the weather
became HALEY. Fearful his boat
would be dashed against a PIALL
of rocks by the howling winds he
turned toward home. “WATT will
I do,” said he. “My family must
have food and I must KEIR for
them.” So, with a BEBEE gun un-
der his arm he started to roam
through a forest of HUGHES trees,
mostly OAKES. While he was
SCOUTEN around a brown and
white HARRER jumped out of a
BUSH and dashed in front of
him. Before he was aware of its
presence his FOOTE stepped on its
SCHNECK. The HARRER turned
BLUE and its heart was PHALAN
to function. The hunter became ex-
cited, DENNIS face grew pale and
he picked up the HARRER and
started to WALKER down the
LANE toward home.
On his way he met his NABER, an
old woman who MAEDER living
selling fish. He offered to trade the
HARRER and a NICOL for some
fresh HERRING. After the offer
was accepted and the DIEHL was
closed, DENNY went on his way.
When he arrived home his wife
was busily GRATON cheese. An
aroma filled the kitchen similar to a
CROSBYween a BEAN soup and a
burning double DECKER limberger
Civil and Otherwise
By “Caduceus”
Frank Roosevelt, former Albany
boy, is making good in Washington,
we hear, as head of a big humani-
tarian movement. Nice work, Frank-
lin!
The Insurance Department exam-
iners, who have to make long visits
to the larger cities of this State, re-
port that ascending tariffs for hotel
rooms are causing the level-rate ex-
pense allowance, current since the de-
pression, to invade the salary check.
“We could eat in the Busy Bee
Lunch,” they complain, “but with no
Rooms-for-Tourists in the big cities,
where can we sleep?” Well, boys,
how about a department trailer, last
man up in the A. M,, to make the
beds in the P. M.?
“Just let one of those birds who
think State jobs are soft, follow me
around any day,” invites Frank
O'Hara of the Herkimer County
road repair gang, who had just put
in five hours swinging a heavy
scythe in the hot sun and three more
shoveling sand in a cold rain.
“We just got in by air,” reported
the two bank examiners who reached
Main Street, Buffalo, via the Bound-
ing Bus, which goes to town over a
three mile route with all aboard sus-
pended between the seat and ceiling.
sandWICK on a PARKERhouse roll,
His wife was a BRILLiant COOKE,
yet something was wrong. He was a
bit timid to ask for fear he would
get under ERSKINE. “And the chil-
dren, HOWARD they been,” asked
he. “Well, just before you came in
they broke the phonoGRAF record
of ELLIS in Wonderland, and it had
to MAHER what would have been a
perfect day,” said she. “My sister
came over while you were away to
borrow MAGOWAN and it FITZER
perfectly. She is going to the barn
dance tonight with Burt. Imagine
how she will HURLBURT around.”
‘Tie table was set and she rang the
dinner BELL, A clamor of feet and
LAUTH laughter was heard in the
HALLway, as the children came run-
ning in. They all sat down and
PRATTically enjoyed a very good
supper.
Editor’s Note: As a result of an
article in the September issue, titled
“WANTED, 15,000 REPORTERS,’
many worthwhile contributions have
been received. Many of these are
printed herein, and although space
does not permit printing all contribu-
tions received, the editor of this mag-
azine wishes to thank all contributors,
and urges their continued efforts.
Your Association offers
A New Service
and has prepared
in connection with the
State Civil Service
CLERICAL
EXAMINATIONS
ember 20, 1937
A Compilation of
Previous Questions
With Answers
Price Complete $1.00
Association Headquarters
Room 156, State Capitol, Albany
Editor's Note: DON’T FAIL to
keep us advised as to EVERY SO-
CIAL OR RECREATIONAL AC-
TIVITY in your office, department
or institution. Write it up, send pic~
tures, give names of employees at-
tending. Let us announce your com-
ing social events.
October THE STATE EMPLOYEE 7
| BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY
State employees are urged to give special consideration to this directory, arranged alphabetically, of business
and professional firms and to patronize those listed herewith. When patronizing them, mention that you saw their
advertisement in THE STAT!
EMPLOYE:
BEAUTY SHOPPES
Lido Beauty Salon
Specializing in Permanent Waves
Soapless Oil Shampoo and Wave 85c
105 No, Pearl St., opp. Strand Theatre
‘Telephone 4-2518
CURTAINS AND VENETIAN BLINDS
‘The Curtain Shop
Curtains—Spreads—Draperies
95 So, Pearl St. — Tel. 3-4534
GREETING CAERDS—KODAKS
Kodak finishing 2c per print, any size
roll, Sizes 127-120-116-118, 130-124-122.
Lawyer's, 39 Maiden Lane, formerly
106 State St.
JEWELERS
John A. Regan & Co., Jewelers
Diamonds, Watches, Jewelry. Expert
Watch Repairing, Temporary Address,
Discount to State Employees 518 Broadway. Phone 3-0566.
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES KODAKS
Champagne’s Radio Store
Radio — Frigidaire — Hlectrical ae
Appliances
41 Beaver St, — Tel. 8-D417
Expert Repair and Service
Kodaks and Photographic Supplies
35 Maiden Lane, Albany
J. Harry Kane. Shelvador Refriger:
ors. Radios, Washers, Vacuum Clean-
ers & Sewing Machines. Repairing
and Servicing. 170 N. Pearl St. (Next
Palace Theatre). Tel. 4-2010.
FLOOR COVERINGS
Clark Carpet Co.
Floor Coverings Specialists
112-114 No. Pearl St., Albany
Phone 5-3418
FLORISTS
Danker’s
New Location—121 N. Pearl St.
Just above Orange St.
Phones—3-4250, 3-4258 and 3-4259
FURNITURE
John B, Hauf, Inc,
“The House of Quality." 175 Central
Ave. Phone 4-2104. Furniture that
adds distinction to any home,
MUSICAL
RIDING EQUIPMENT
Army and Navy Store
90 So. Pearl St, Albany
Riding Habits and Boots for men,
women and children—Cut Prices
SHOE SPECIALIST
T. Arthur Cohen
M. W. Locke Shoes
New Adare:
81 Chapel St.
STAMP COLLECTORS
Albany Book Shop, Inc.
7 Steuben St. — Phone 5-9295
Collections of all kinds, U. S, an@
Foreign, Finest stock avatlable,
Modern Music Shop
and Studios
86 No. Pearl St. — Tel. 3-9500
‘The latest popular sheet music, player
rolls and records.
Band and orchestra instruments,
Instructions on all musical instru-
ments.
OPTICIANS
Louis J. Berben
Dispensing Optician
35 Maiden Lane — Phone 3-0568
8 Doors Below No. Pearl St.
PAINTS, WALL PAPER
Sherwin-Williams
Paint and Wall Paper Headquarters
480 Broadway — 3% Central Ave.
Albany, N. ¥.
GirTs
The Linen Chest,
Inc,
Linen — Lamps — Gifts
Ask about our Layaway Plan
87 Maiden Lane — 4-3216
PICTURE FRAMING
STAMP EXCHANGE
U. S, Br, Col. Foreign Singles, Blocks,
Sheets, Rarities, Finest stock in north-
ern N. ¥. Approvals—want lst filled,
61 Columbia St., Albany.
STATIONERY
C. W. Lewis
Office Supplics
91 North Pearl Street
Tel, 4-3615
NIFORMS
Doyle's Uniform Shop
Nurses’ Uniforms, Maids’ Uniforms,
Smocks for Men and Women, Broad-
way Arcade. Phone 4-8520,
WINES & LIQUORS
Capital Glass Co.
Attractive modern mouldings and
frames at reasonable prices
355 Central Ave. — Phone 5-9711
Winchell & Co., Inc,
Wine and Spirit Merchants
59 State St, Albany
Prompt City Delivery — Phone 4-8616
Rochester Chapter
Election
The Annual Meeting and election
of the Rochester Chapter of this As-
sociation was held on September 27th.
The officers reelected to serve an-
other year were:
President, Paul L. Ryan, Dept.
Public Works, Rochester.
Vice President, Joseph F. Mc-
Mahon, State School, Industry.
Secretary, Margaret Eustace, Dept.
Labor, Rochester.
Iu Memoriam
Etta B, Stimson, attendant at the
Syracuse State School for thirteen
years, passed away Sunday, Septem-
ber twenty-sixth at Saint Joseph’s
Hospital after a three-month illness,
—Friends at School
8
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
October
New York City Chapter Victory
By J. Earl Kelly
Executive Secretary, N. Y. C. Chapter
On Saturday evening, October 9,
1937, the Association's New York
City Chapter tendered a Victory Din-
ner celebration and Testimonial to
Governor Lehman, Senator Feld and
Assemblyman Hamilton to commem-
orate their labors on behalf of the
Feld-Hamilton Career Service Act.
The dinner was held in the beautiful
new roof ballroom which was taste-
fully decorated with autumn foliage.
Prominently displayed, as a fitting
background for the honor guests,
were the national and state flags and
the Governor's flag.
Governor and Mrs. Lehman, Sen-
ator and Mrs. Feld, Assemblyman
Ostertag, who attended the dinner as
Assemblyman Hamilton’s proxy, oc-
cupied the places of honor on the
dais. Flanking them on both sides
were the following distinguished
guests :
Hon. Elmer F. Andrews
Hon. Doris I. Byrne
John T. De Graff, Esquire, the As-
sociation’s Counsel
H. Elliott Kaplan
Hon. Mark Graves
Hon, Louis H. Pink
Hon. Charles Poletti
Hon. Grace A. Reavy
Hon. Abraham S. Weber
Charles A Brind, Jr., President of
the Association
Milton Schwartz, President of the
New York City Chapter
The Honorable John J. Benett, Jr.,
Attorney General of the State, as
toastmaster, contributed in a large
measure to the enjoyment of the seven
hundred guests who attended the din-
ner. He was introduced by Mr.
Charles J. Conklin, Deputy Commi:
sioner of Motor Vehicles and chair-
man of the Dinner Committee.
The speakers were Governor Leh-
man, Senator Feld, Assemblyman Os-
tertag, who read a message sent by
Assemblyman Hamilton who was, un-
fortunately, prevented from attend-
ing by reason of ill health, Mr.
Charles A. Brind, Jr., Association
President, and Mr. Milton Schwartz,
President of the N. Y. City Chapter.
The speeches of Governor Lehman,
Mr, Brind and Mr. Schwartz appear
in other columns of this issue.
‘The entertainment was provided by
several of the well-known Broadway
ie loca eit nf tanienty op
ay of September 1937,
Bihereas
dis Sectunés ROE tpaeel Governor of the State of New
Pork, the Honorable. -S pencet Keld, member of the Mew York
Senate and the Wonorable Maucens MN. Fiamilton, member ot the
Hew Pork Assembly habe
Pes fap Seg
‘State Civil Service Emplopees
Ponorable A. Spencer Feld and to the
- - Honorable Laurens fA. Bamilton
Le coe marr Oe ek ere tt ta Ae Dork,
Witeodk
eee oe
Facsimile of illuminated resolution presented by the New York
City Chapter of this Association to Governor Herbert H. Lehman,
Senator A. Spencer Feld, and Assemblyman Laurens M. Hamilton
at the Victory Dinner Celebration of that Chapter, held Saturday
evening, October 9th, at the Hotel Astor, New York City.
radio and stage stars and the music
for dancing during and after the din-
ner was furnished by Jerry Alexander
and his Columbia Recording Orches-
tra,
Bouquets of American Beauty roses
were presented to Mrs. Lehman and
Mrs. Feld on behalf of the Chapter
by Miss Elizabeth E. Lewis of the
Department of Education, who is the
Chapter’s Second Vice President,
This was the first dinner to be spon-
sored by the New York City Chapter
and its success was so marked that
already hundreds of the employees of
the New York City area have ex-
pressed the hope that it shall be the
beginning of a series of annual din-
ners,
Mr. Conklin, the chairman of the
Dinner Committee, is to be abundantly
congratulated for this complete suc-
cess. He and his Committee provided
our New York City members and
friends with a thoroughly enjoyable
evening.
October
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
Dinner Celebration and Testimonial
Remarks of Governor Lehman
Speech of Honorable Herbert H. Lehman, Governor of the State of New York, at the Victory Dinner Celebration
held by The Association of State Civil Service Employees, at the Hotel Astor, on October 9th, 1937.
Jack.Bent.ett, Senator Feld, Mrs.
“Feld, Assemblyman Ostertag,
Mr. Brind, Mr. Schwartz and
fellow workers in the Civil
Service of the State of New
York:
I am very glad indeed to have
the privilege of being here tonight
as your guest. The very first din-
ner that I attended after I arrived
in Albany nine years ago was the
annual dinner of the State Civil
Service Employees’ Association. At
that time—correct me, Mr. Presi-
dent, if I am not giving the right
figures—at that time, I believe the
Association had only about 600
members. You have heard tonight
that at the present time it has 15,-
000 members. The growth of the
Association has been gratifying. The
growth of the New York Chapter,
which I understand has increased
its size from 400 to 1400 within a
relatively brief time, is also most
satisfying and gratifying to all those
who have the interests, not only of
the Civil Service, but of the service
for the State of New York sincerely
at heart.
This occasion is a celebration of
the passage and enactment of the
Feld-Hamilton Bill.. I believe sin-
cerely that the bill, with which
you are familiar, will do much for
the Civil Service employees and
much for the people of the State
generally. It has always been my
point of view, frequently expressed
to your officers, and frequently ex-
Pressed to representatives of other
groups, that a legislative act to be
sound and good must be not only
in the interests of a special group,
but in the interests of all the peo-
ple of our State.
SPEECHES AT N Y DINNER
Space does not permit printing in
this issue remarks made at the Vic-
tory Dinner Celebration by Charles
A. Brind, Jr., President of the Asso-
ciation, and by Milton Schwartz,
President of the New York City
Chapter. These remarks will be
contained in the November issue.
The reason I think this bill is
Sound and good is because I am
convinced that it is not only in the
interests of this particular group,
or the 30,000 other members of the
State Civil Service, but to all peo-
ple of our State, wherever they may
live and whether they are connected
in Government service or not.
I want to congratulate you, Sen-
ator Feld, and Assemblyman Ham-
ilton (through you, Mr. Ostertag,
as his proxy) for the introduction
of this bill and for the loyal and de-
voted work which you did in behalf
of the enactment of the bill.
I want to congratulate you, Mr.
President, and your associates for
the manner in which you studied
and surveyed the situation and made
your findings available to the Legis-
lature and to the Governor.
I remember very distinctly, and
with great satisfaction, the meet-
ings I had with your representatives,
the officers and executive board of
this Association, and particularly
one long session, lasting for four or
five hours. Your representatives
called on me in the executive cham-
ber and went over with me the
provisions of this bill. At that meet-
ing, my counsel, Judge Poletti, and
I, made certain suggestions which
we felt would greatly strengthen
the bill and would insure its consti-
tutionality. I determined then that
the bill was in the interests of your
Association and in the interests of
the people of the State. And when
it was finally passed and came to
my desk, I was happy to sign the
bill and thus enact it into law.
I also want to express apprecia-
tion to the members of the Tempo-
rary Salary Standardization Board
(to say “Temporary Salary Stand-
ardization Board” is almost as good
a test of sobriety as saying “Sister
Susie’s Sewing Socks for Soldiers”)
for that Board, consisting of Mr.
Lutz, Dr. Tolman (who did yeoman
service), Mr. Arnold, Mr. Maher
and Budget Director Weber, have
worked literally day and night for
a period of three or four months to
whip the salary and classification
schedules into shape. I have not
seen the result of their work. I
have no illusions. I am quite con-
vinced, as you must be, that when
that report finally comes out, there
will be some dissatisfaction; there
will be some disappointment,
You never at the first trial can
gain perfection in any important un-
dertaking of this character. But,
knowing the devotion with which
this Board has worked for a period
of several months, I think you, as
well as I, can be deeply appreciative
and grateful for the sacrifice that
that work has entailed. Their ef-
forts were in addition to their regu-
lar duties,
In recent years we have enacted
in the State of New York many
other measures that, I believe, have.
been of great benefit to the Civil
Service employees of the State. The
Eight-Hour Day for institutional
employees, introduced by Assem-
blyman Ostertag, and the bill that
made possible the submitting to a
referendum in this city of the Three-
Platoon System for firemen (which
I am happy, as you are, was adopted
by the people) are outstanding ex-
amples of what has been accom-
plished by the Legislature and the
Executive of the State of New York
during the past few years.
I believe that the interests of
Civil Service have been greatly ad-
vanced in our State in recent years.
The principle of Civil Service has
been safeguarded in every new State
agency that has been set up. As
you know, efforts were made to
bring large groups into the State
service outside of the Civil Service.
In every instance those efforts were
nullified by my vetoes.
Your President was good enough,
a few minutes ago, to present to me
and my colleagues a resolution ex-
pressing appreciation for our efforts
in behalf of Civil Service in this
State. I claim no credit for any-
thing I have done. What I have
done is only what was my duty as a
conscientious public servant and as
the Executive Head of the State. It
was only rendering service to the
loyal body of men and women who
Continued on page 10
10
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
October
Governor Lehman
Continued from page 9
are serving the State three hundred
and sixty-five days in the year. I
claim no credit, and there is only
one boast that I can make, and
that is, that I believe that in the
five years I have been Governor
I have not knowingly signed any
bill that was antagonistic to the in-
terests of Civil Service of the State
of New York.
There is one type of bill that I
think your Association must always
have in mind and must determine to
oppose for the purpose of safeguard-
ing the Service from real danger.
I refer to bills that may attack the
integrity and the validity of the pen-
sion and retirement systems of our
State. Our State system is com-
pletely sound at the present time.
Many of the pension and retirement
systems of this and other states are
unfortunately not sound,
From time to time, bills are in-
troduced, and sometimes passed by
the Legislature, in the interests of
special groups or individuals. That
kind of a bill is always harmful to
the integrity of Civil Service. It is
necessary, my friends, for you to be
alert at all times. Any yielding to
the importunities of individuals or
groups which might make special
classes within the service of the
State would inevitably weaken the
system of pensions and retirements,
and in time might even lead to their
breakdown. That is a matter that
I want to bring to your attention as
forcibly as possible, because I be-
lieve that the danger is always there,
and the danger over a period of
years can only be avoided by eternal
and constant vigilance.
I referred a minute ago to the res-
olution which was presented to me
here tonight, and I want to say that
I appreciate with all my heart the
consideration that has been shown
to me. I value beyond anything I
can ever tell you the expression of
your good will; but what is more
important in my heart even than the
printed word which you have so
kindly presented to me here tonight,
is the fact that in the five years
that I have been your Governor, the
Executive Head of our State, I have
always had the constant, the un-
Treasurer’s Report
The following is a digest of the financial report submitted at the Annual
meeting, October 5th, by Frank O, Bauer, retiring Treasurer of the Asso-
ciation.
Balance on Hand, October 6, 1936.........++sseseeeee $11,017.08
Receipts during perio
Dues . + $15,059.00
sdeertiniives » 1,534.66
Interest, City Savings Bank. * 80.22
Interest, State Bank of Albany. 30.94
Total Receipts ..... o 16,704.82
27,721.90
Expenditures during period:
Printing “The State Employee” 3,928.48
Printing, Miscellaneous ........... . 662.25
Stock for Multigraph and Mimeograph... 402.46
Multigraph Supplies .. 43.63
Mimeograph Supplies . 49.80
Eliott Addressing Machine Supplies. 141.60
Office Supplies ........2seeeee0e 213.61
Postage—Executive Headquarters i 1,006.42
Postage—“The State Employee” 333.00
Telephone .. ... 216.20
Telegraph... ..... 92.62
Surety Bonds .... 37.50
Legislative Index 100.00 2
News Clipping Service 38.45
Advertising Fees ... 354.50
Miscellaneous .. .. o 53.65
Expenses of Officers, Representatives, and
all Committees, including all traveling
expenses ..... secessceeees 2,913.40
Salaries:
COMNKED 16:0 newensicaiensie 1,800.00
Executive Secretary ...... 2,016.00
Other Office Help .. 1,276.00
Office Equipment and Furniture
Purchase of Mimeograph . 433.50
Purchase Office Furniture 147.25
Purchase Office Floor .. 120.90
Purchase Office Lights . 19.59
Purchase Office Sign 9.12
Purchase Office Partition . . 48.00
Purchase Addressing Stencil Files... 64.71
Total Expenditures oo 16,522.64
Balance on Hand, October 5, 1937............00005 $11,199.26
The above is a summary of the complete report submitted which
recorded every receipt and expenditure during the Association year just
closed. Owen E. Maxwell, Chairman of the Auditing Committee audited
the accounts of the Treasurer and approved them. The financial statement
was accompanied by affidavits sworn to by officials of the various banks as
to balances of Association funds which they had on deposit.
failing, the ungrudging cooperation
and help of the men and women who
make up the Government of the
State of New York.
‘Whatever success I have attained
as the Executive of this State has
been made possible only through
that cooperation. On my own be-
half and on behalf of your fellow
citizens of the State of New York,
I want to thank you sincerely and
heartily for your assistance, your
cooperation and your encourage-
ment.
October
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
11
3 Employees Killed
250 Disabled
During the past few weeks three
State employees met their death
through accidental means. Fortu-
nately, one was covered by the
group plan of accident and sickness
insurance sponsored for members
of the Association, Unfortunately,
every State employee is not a mem-
ber of the Association, and is not
a policyholder of this group insur-
ance plan.
How many State employees were
disabled by accident or illness we
do not know. There must have been
many, because over 250 State em-
ployee members of the Association,
who had the foresight to avail them-
selves of the low-cost-broad-pro-
tection offered by the group plan,
were paid cash indemnities for ill-
ness disability of all forms.
We all know that illness and
accidents come without warning,
and while we hope not, YOU may
be next. If you are, we hope that
you have already become a policy-
holder in our group plan, This is
your opportunity to prevent possi-
ble economic distress. Send in your
application for this insurance today.
Our organization does not bene-
fit financially from a member's par-
ticipation in the plan, and neither
does it wish to paint a blue picture,
or scare its members. It sponsors
this plan solely for the economic
welfare of its members. Our As-
sociation became aware of the tre-
mendous medical and hospital ex-
penses connected with disability,
and the possibility of discontinued
income in case of prolonged disa-
bility, and provided this form of
protection to prevent financial em-
barrassment when misfortune hits
home.
Your consideration of the Asso-
ciation’s group plan of accident and
health insurance is urged. An ap-
Plication for the insurance is at-
tached hereto; fill it out and send
in envelope also attached, which re-
quires no postage. The insurance
will take effect when your applica-
tion is approved by the Company,
and you may pay your initial prem-
ium after the November Ist pay
day. Act today and enjoy the peace
of mind and contentment from
knowing that financial security will
be yours during disability periods.
Superiority of Group Plan
Your plan of accident and sick-
ness insurance is superior to all
others because of many reasons,
some of which are:
1, Costs only 1/3rd to 1/2 of
individual policies. See reverse
side of attached application form.
(Please note here that there are
many so called cheap accident and
sickness policies which are Very
limited and cover only specified ill-
ness’ or accidents, having many
loop-holes, selling at prices from
$10.00 up, which should not be com-
pared with your group plan.)
2. There are no exclusions as to
coverage, except suicide and limit-
ing air-travel. There are no limiting
riders attached to any individual
policy, except on Class “B” em-
ployees, which excludes occupation-
al accidents, but Class “B” employ-
ees can obtain this coverage for a
small additional premium.
3. The individual policies are
non-cancellable. This is endorsed
on each policy.
4. Its policies cover pregnancy
and child-birth, paying up to four
weeks disability on this coverage.
5. Its policies do not require
house-confinement,
6. Thirty-one days grace allowed
after date for premium payment,
7. It offers broad hospital bene-
fits at slight additional cost.
8. Contains non-disabling acci-
dent benefit, whereby policyholder
may be reimbursed up to 1/4th of
monthly indemnity for medical ex-
penses incurred because of non-
disabling accident.
9. It covers during leaves of ab-
sence not in excess of one year and
during vacation periods.
10. Our insuring clause reads,
“accidental bodily injury”, and not
“accidental means”, as is found in
many policies. For example, if you
lift a desk or table and strain your
back that is covered by “accidental
bodily injury”, but probably is not
covered by the “accidental means”,
clause, but if you slip when you lift
that object it is probably covered
by both clauses. This gives greater
coverage.
After You H Tried Others
For Real Value
Try
HOTEL CAPITOL
Garen Sr. orr State
Tar Room
YOU MAY BE
423 State Street
BUY YOUR GROUP
ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS
POLICY—TODAY !
$50.00 per Month Benefits Cost $4.05 each 3 Months
Fill Out the Application in this Magazine
Enclose It In Envelope Attached and Mail Today—No Postage
Required—Pay After Nov. Ist Pay Day
Insurance effective as soon as application is approved by the
Company
If You Are Already Insured Hand Application
To Another State Employee
BENEFITS ALREADY PAID TO STATE EMPLOYEES TOTALS
OVER $75,000
3 State Employees Killed Recently
Over 250 Receiving Benefits Every Month
NEXT... ... DO IT NOW
Ter Bush & Powell, Inc.
Schenectady, N. Y.
12
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
October
Report of President Brind
just been issued containing a “break
down” of the benefits of this plan to
employees. The plan is extremely
commendable and has been of defi-
nite financial benefit to those who
were unfortunate enough to need its
assistance,
The Association has been active in
assisting State employee groups
throughout the State in establishing
and developing credit unions. Nearly
30 such groups have already been es-
tablished,
In Albany and surrounding en-
virons the Association is acting as re-
mitting agent to accord to interested
Association members an opportunity
to participate in the group hospital
plan which provides hospitalization
for citizens of this community. While
this places additional burden upon
headquarters with no remuneration of
any kind, nevertheless we deem it a
very valuable asset to the work of
the Association. Without the Associ-
ation State employees as such could
not participate in a group hospitaliza-
tion plan in Albany.
The Association cooperated with
the Red Cross in its drive to relieve
the mid-west flood sufferers, The re-
sult of a careful and complete or-
ganization such as ours is very ap-
parent in emergencies such as this.
Within a few kours our representa-
tives were on the job and all State
employees had the opportunity of ex-
pressing their sorrow financially in
the dire distress of those in the af-
flicted areas. Over $3,500 was con-
tributed and presented to the Red
Cross on behalf of State employees
from the members in and about Al-
bany.
This year over 250 bills affecting
the interest of State employees—sal-
aries—hours of work—days of work
—sick leave, vacations — retirement
and civil service were introduced in
the Legislature. These bills had to
be analyzed, committees had to ex-
amine them, our counsel had to con-
tinually represent our interests in or-
der that the civil service of the State
and the well-being of the State em-
ployee be properly protected and built
up.
Financially it is with relief that I
report that we have kept within our
income. The report of the treasurer
will be presented in full and I see no
Continued from page 4
point in discussing that subject here.
We have continued to improve
headquarters. Our office in the State
Capitol has been used more by em-
ployees during the preceding year
than, I think, any of all the years back
to 1910 put together. In addition to
our very efficient Executive Secre-
tary, Joe Lochner, we added last year
permanent position of stenographer
which has been held very successfully
by Ruth St. John.
The Annual Dinner of the Asso-
ciation was held February 27th. While
each dinner in the past has been a
momentous event, this dinner I feel
eclipsed all preceding ones in inter-
est and certainly in the number of
members present. It is to be regretted
that Albany has not a large enough
dining hall to house all of the As-
sociation members who would like to
attend. The number of tickets to this
dinner had of necessity to be limited
and many more would have attended
had tickets been available. The Gov-
ernor of the State and most of the
Department heads and many leaders
and members of the Legislature at-
tended this function.
It is impossible to convey to the
membership in any adequate way all
the details of organization, of efforts,
and of work carried on by your com-
mittees during the last year. Suffice
it for me to say that never before
have we had such full cooperation
of the entire membership, never be-
fore has there been such close co-
hesion with the members residing in
Albany and those residing in the in-
stitutions and those affiliated with our
chapters. While the year was very
strenuous and much work has been
done, it was a happy one for your
President and at its close I wish on!
behalf of myseif and those of you
who have labored to express to the
entire membership our full apprecia-
tion for the splendid spirit of help-
fulness and assistance which we have
received.
I now come to some suggestions
for the program for the ensuing year.
First in connection with membership.
It is true as I have pointed out that
we have over 15,000 members. How-
ever, in the competitive and non-com-
petitive service we have over 30,000
employees eligible to be members of
this Association. We have so far col-
lected but one dollar as the annual
dues. If we had a full 100 per cent
membership and the consequent re-
turn of $30,008, the work of the As-
sociation could be greatly enhanced.
I deem it very important that some-
thing be done to increase the value of
our monthly magazine. It would seem
to me that this magazine should be
brought out semi-monthly or even
weekly, that the form of it be changed
to that used now by the tabloid news-
papers. In such a publication full
information could be given concern-
ing all pending civil service examina-
tions, both open competitive and pro-
motion, all appointments, and other
general news «concerning the civil
service. More attention could be
given to immediate news concerning
the activities of the Association rela-
tive to pending legislation, etc. Fea-
ture articles of all kinds could be in-
corporated and more attention could
be given to local chapters and news
concerning individuals and their ac-
tivities. Such a newspaper could be
a powerful organ for good and would
place the Association very definitely
upon the map. To have such a news-
paper, money is essential. To print
the newspaper every week and to edit
it, will necessitate a paid staff on full
time. If the Association were sup-
ported 100 per cent by those eligible
to join it, I feel that this could be ac-
complished almost within the mini-
mum of a dollar which is now being
contributed. If it is not possible that
all State employees support this or-
ganization 100 per cent, then as I
visualize it, in order to obtain such a
publication, an increase in the dues
will be necessary. I do not recom-
mend, however, that the dues be in-
creased at once. I think a great ef-
fort should be made on the part of
to see what we can do to have every
State employee join. If the response
all our members and representatives
in membership seems to warrant it, I
will recommend to the Executive
Committee that the form of the mag-
azine be immediately changed in or-
der that we may try out such a news-
paper upon a semi-monthly basis. We
are preparing at headquarters a mem-
bership folder and I ask all of you to
appoint yourself a committee of one
to see to it that each person in your
Continued on page 13
October
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
13
Pres. Brind Reports
Continued from page 12
office is affiliated. We need the dol-
lar to function anywhere nearly 100
per cent, There is no other organiza-
tion that I know of carrying on as
your Association is carrying on at
anything like this sum.
In connection with membership I
would caution State employees con-
cerning the activities of many out-
While it is the
prerogative of any member of the
State to belong to any organization he
side organizations.
sees fit, nevertheless the organization
that is looking after the interest of
the State employee solely is this or-
ganization. It has now an exceed-
ingly enviable reputation for being
square and for advocating the things
which are reasonable. While we have
no quarrel with any other organiza-
tion, nevertheless you may rest as-
sured that no other organization is in
a better position to serve your inter-
ests than this Association. No other
association has a record of accom-
plishments equivalent to this one. No
other association expects as little from
its membership and gives as much as
does this organization. If you doubt
these statements, investigate the facts
before you become affiliated with any
other group to the exclusion of your
own State-wide organization. They
speak for themselves.
My main reason for accepting the
honor conferred upon me by your
nominating committee in re-nominat-
ing me to serve as your President for
the ensuing year is to continue the
policies established in connection with
the Feld-Hamilton Career Bill. The
principle is established by this stat-
ute. The report of the Standardiza-
tion Board is not available, When
received this report must have care-
ful scrutiny. The Association no
doubt will have much to do next year
with the Legislature in continuing to
maintain the principles established by
that law and to correct any flaws
which may appear. We must be right
on the job also to reject suggestions
for amendments which will invalidate
the fair principles of this law. I
think one thing that the Association
will need to advocate very strenuously
at the next session is an amendment
which will place with the Civil Serv-
ice Commission a bureau or division
whose particular duty it will be to
correct the many titles of position
which are wrongly classified. In view
of the fact that under the Feld-Ham-
ilton Law salary is dependent wholly
upon title, it is essential that a per-
son be properly classified as to title.
There is no doubt but that in the
State service at the present time many
people are wrongly classified and I
deem it essential that there be such a
division or bureau whose sole duty
it will be to correct this situation,
I think the Association should have
a State-wide grievance committee.
While this will not change in any
sense the obligations assumed by the
Association in respect to this matter
in the past, I am sure it will have the
effect of relieving our counsel to
whom all grievances have been re-
ferred of the tremendous duty of sift-
ing grievances to determine whether
there is any actual merit to them.
Such a committee will assist the
counsel in being able to present in
proper form to the proper authority
cases which merit the Association's
attention. The fact that there is such
a grievance committee may also serve
to bring to the attention of employees
that the Association as such stands
ready to enforce the provisions of
the statute in respect to the merit sys-
tem and to that end will assist in-
dividuals in securing redress if it ap-
pears that any rights accorded them
under the Constitution or under the
statute of this State in respect to civil
service have not been accorded them.
In connection with the eight-hour
day, I think the time has come for
the appointment of a committee of
the Association whose duty it will
be to act as a clearing house for mat-
ters affecting the enforcement of this
statute. There is still much to be done
to bring about the full realization of
the eight-hour day 100 per cent.
This report to you has grown much
more lengthy than I had anticipated
in originally preparing it. In my rec
ommendations I have merely at-
tempted to mention some of the high
spots as they occur to me. The As-
sociation has many other duties to
perform, We have been working
upon a group life insurance policy and
I hope that the next year will see the
organization and the putting into ef-
fect of such a plan. I think the As-
sociation should continue to organ-
ize more thoroughly by the formation
of chapters. It would seem to me
proper for our Executive Secretary
to do more traveling and to visit our
representatives and groups throughout
the State and where the formation of
a chapter is desirable to cooperate
with the membership to bring this
about.
Editor's Note: Your’ magazine
would appreciate receiving letters at
any time from members giving their
opinion on the program or work of
the Association for printing herein.
‘
.at the
LEE SCOTT
and. AisOrchestra
Sak, « Z 4
“hing ovely MAXINE HOWE
Playing nightly at DINNER
and at the SUPPER DANCE
Friday and Saturday
E Wirt CLInToNn
Albany
14
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
October
Report of Constitutional Amendment Comm.
The following report was pre-
sented by Chairman of the Consti-
tutional Amendment Committee at
the Annual Meeting, October Sth.
Motion was made and adopted to
accept the report as read.
“At the annual meeting last year
a motion was made to amend our
constitution, The motion was re-
ferred to the Committee on Consti-
tutional amendments consisting of:
John A. Cromie, Chairman, Tax
Dept. Albany
Dr. H. M. Pollock, Mental Hy-
giene Dept., Albany
Arthur S, Hopkins, Conservation
Dept., Albany
W. F. McDonough, Agriculture &
Markets Dept, Albany
Milton Schwartz, Insurance Dept.
New York City
Leslie Wood, Education Dept.,
Rochester
Rufus Jarnigan, Education Dept.
Buffalo
A. H. VanAuken, Labor Dept,
Utica
and a copy of the proposed amend-
ments was printed in the October
issue of THE STATE EMPLOY-
EE. During the twelve months
since these proposals were presented,
numerous suggestions have been re-
ceived by this committee and we
wish to submit the following report
based on our study of the various
proposals.
“It is apparent that our present
constitution no longer fits the needs
of our rapidly growing association
which now has in excess of 15,000
members. Our present constitution
calls for an annual meeting of in-
dividual members but no hall is
large enough to hold even a small
proportion of our membership.
Members outside of Albany are un-
able to attend in sufficient numbers
to give them representation at annu-
al meetings in proportion to their
members. It is evident that some
change must be made to give more
adequate representation to our rap-
idly growing chapters, which are
now functioning very successfully
in New York City, Buffalo, Roches-
ter, Utica and Syracuse. To ac-
complish this objective the amend-
ments proposed at the last annual
meeting provided in substance for
a meeting of delegates rather than
of individual members. It was sug-
gested that each chapter should
elect one or more delegates who
would collectively be entitled to one
vote for each one hundred members
affiliated with the chapter. Mem-
bers of each department not affili-
ated with any chapter would be
represented by departmental dele-
gates on the same basis. It was
contemplated that the Executive
Committee would continue to func-
tion without substantial change in
its powers or duties and would be
made up, as at present, of the offi-
cers and a member elected by each
department.
“While our committee is in ac-
cord with the general purpose of
the proposed amendments, we have
come to the conclusion that the
scope of the proposed amendments
should be enlarged and that a num-
ber of procedural matters should be
definitely formulated before we
adopt the change from individual
voting to delegate representation.
“The problem of electing deic-
gates from a chapter is simple. The
proposed amendments provide that
such delegates should be elected by
the chapter itself. The election of
departmental delegates however, ‘s
more complicated. In the first
place, it would be necessary to place
some limit on the number of dele-
gates if they are to be truly rep-
resentative of the department in
which they serve. In a small de-
partment it is a comparatively sim-
ple matter to elect delegates in sub-
stantially the same way members of
the Executive Committee are elect-
ed, but in large departments like
Mental Hygiene, Social Welfare,
Correction and Health, where the
employees are located in over forty
different institutions throughout the
State, the problem of obtaining ade-
quate representation by department-
al delegates is more difficult. We
think, therefore, that the proposed
amendments should be enlarged to
contain a provision whereby insti-
tutions having fifty or more mem-
bers may elect their own delegates
to meetings of the Association and
that, in this way, they will have
more adequate representation than
if delegates were elected solely on
a departmental basis.
“Our present constitution does
not prescribe any method for the
election of members of the Execu-
tive Committee other than that it
shall be by majority vote in each
department. Our Committee is
now considering a proposal that
members of the Executive Com-
mittee and delegates be elected by
ballot at the same time and in sub-
stantially the same manner as offi-
cers are now elected. We are also
considering a proposal whereby in-
dependent nominations may be
made by the members in the de-
partments so that the names of
nominees for delegates and for
members of the Executive Commit-
tee may be printed on the ballot.
“These, and many other proposals
must be very carefully considered in
order to accomplish the purpose of
the proposed change in the struc-
ture of our organization which con-
templates, in substance, that the
general policies of the Association
be determined by delegates at reg-
ular and special meetings of the
Association and by the Executive
Committee when delegates are not
in session, Our Committee there-
fore, recommends as follows:
1. That no action be taken on
the proposed amendments at the
meeting tonight.
2, That the motion to amend the
constitution be remitted to the
Committee on Constitutional
Amendments for further study,
3. That all members desiring to
submit specific proposals or pro-
posed amendments make such sub-
missions in writing to the Commit-
tee before January 1, 1938.
4. That the Committee, after
study of all proposed amendments
submitted to it, prepare and pub-
lish in the official magazine the text
of the proposed amendments recom-
mended by the Committee.
5. That a special meeting of the
Association be called by the Prest-
dent for a date not later than June
1, 1938, to act upon the motion to
amend the constitution.”
The following motion to amend
the Constitution was presented in
proper form, signed by ten mem-
bers of the Association in good
standing, in accordance with Arti-
cle XI, Section 1, of the Constitu-
tion, at the Annual Meeting:
“Motion is hereby made to amend
Continued on page 15
October
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
15
Counsel Appeals on Discontinued
Service
Under date of September 29th,
Hon. John T. DeGraff, Counsel of
the Association wrote Commissioner
Parsons of the Mental Hygiene De-
partment as follows:
“My attention has just been
called to Departmental Bulletin
No, 3389 issued on Sept. 15, 1937,
which provides in substance that
the time service increments pro-
vided in Section 61 of the Mental
Hygiene Law shall be deferred if
the employee is absent with leave
but without salary for more than
fifteen days in a six months peri-
od, I am informed that this is
contrary to the practice that has
heretofore been followed in at
least some of the institutions. It
would seem to me to be particu-
larly unfortunate if the provisions
of Section 61 authorizing incre-
ments for continuous service,
were to be interpreted to deprive
employees of the increments pre-
scribed by statute during the pe-
riod they were unavoidably absent
due to illness. This is particularly
true because the great majority
of State employees are given a
leave of absence with pay under
the uniform sick leave rules is-
sued by the Governor’s Cabinet
on July 1, 1933, These rules, I
understand, have been followed
throughout the State service ex-
cepting only the institutions in
your department. Consequently,
the employees in the institutions
not only lose their salary for the
period they are unavoidably ab-
sent because of illness, but under
the ruling above referred to they
are also penalized by having their
statutory increments deferred be-
cause of such illness.
“The departmental interpreta-
tion of Section 61 seems to be
contrary to the decision of the
Appellate Division, Third Depart-
ment, in the case of Weiner vs.
Greene, 239 A.D., 652, a copy of
the material parts of which is en-
closed. While this decision had
particular reference to the. com-
putation of seniority under Sec-
tion 31 of the Civil Service Law,
the reasoning seems particularly
applicable to the interpretation of
that portion of Section 61 of the
Mental Hygiene Law which pro-
vides for increments based on
continuous service. The Court
holds that absence on leave for
less than a year would not con-
stitute a break in the chain of
continuous service, and as the
Court points out, there is no basis
for a distinction whereby a per-
son, who is absent with pay, is
given credit for continuous serv-
ice while another who is given a
leave of absence without pay is
discriminated against. This case
would seem to hold that absence
due to illness, whether with or
without pay, should not deprive
an employee of the increments
awarded for continuous service
under the Mental Hygiene Law.”
Commissioner Parsons in reply
advised that the departmental bulle-
tin was issued pursuant to rules on
this subject established by the Dept.
of Audit and Control, and that that
department would be the correct
place to appeal to. Counsel De-
Graff, has since appealed in the
same form to the Dept. of Audit
and Control, and as this issue goes
to press no reply has been received.
H. R. S. H. News
Officers of the Hudson River State
Hospital Employees’ Association in-
stalled at a meeting of the Associa-
tion held Wednesday, October 6th at
the amusement hall of the hospital,
were: President, William E. Hel-
mer; vice president, Grenard G. Kipp;
secretary, Mary E, Belton, and treas-
urer, Mary V. Manna,
Reports of annual meeting of As-
sociation of Department of Mental
Hygiene were read. Credit union
services for the Association were dis-
cussed by Raymond A. Joyce, Treas-
urer, and George Magee, chairman
of the local credit committee. Miss
Belton, local representative of the
group plan of accident and sickness
insurance made her report. The
H. R. S. H. reported a membership
of 685 in the State-wide Association.
Retiring officers reported that a trust
fund of $5000 had been set up. They
were extended a vote of thanks by
the Association.
Retiring Sept. 29th, after 28
years’ service, Patrick McGlynn,
steamfitter at H. R. S. H., was feted
by fellow members of the engineering
department. , He was presented with
a smoking set, a radio lamp and a
floral bouquet. The gifts were pre-
sented by George McGee, chief en-
gineer, Addresses were made by
Steward Andrew Delaney and Chap-
lain, Rev. Charles A. Roth, S. J.
Over 50 attended.
John Livingstone represented H. R.
S. H. employees at the dinner of the
Executive Committee of the State-
wide Association and out-of-town
representatives at the Hotel Welling-
ton, Albany, and later at the Annual
Meeting held in the Auditorium of
the Albany High School. He reports
that a most interesting meeting was
held and that he thoroughly enjoyed
the dinner.
Report of Constitutional Amendment Committee
the Constitution of the Association
of State Civil Service Employees
of the State of New York to pro-
vide for vote by delegates at regu-
lar or special meetings of the Asso-
ciation, to revise the method of
voting for officers, members of the
Executive Committee and delegates,
and to make such other amend-
Ments as may be necessary to meet
Continued from page 14
the present and future needs of this
Association,
“And it is further moved that all
members desiring to submit pro-
posed amendments make such sub-
missions in writing to the Commit-
tee on Constitutional Amendments
before January 1, 1938; that the
Committee, after study of the pro-
posed amendments submitted to it,
Prepare and publish in the official
magazine the text of the proposed
amendments recommended by the
Committee and that a special meet-
ing of the Association be called by
the President not later than June
1, 1938, to act upon the motion to
amend the Constitution and to
adopt such amendments as may be
advisable.”
The following resolutions were unanimously adopted at the Annual Meeting of this Association.
on October Sth:
100% Membership
“WHEREAS, this Association of State Civil Service Employees of the State of New York
is the only State-wide, all-State-employee organization functioning in this State, and
“WHEREAS, every improvement in salaries, retirement, hours of work, vacations, sick leaves
or working conditions generally of State employees, as well as any increased efficiency in civil
service functioning, has been achieved as a result of the efforts of this organization, and
“WHEREAS, many services such as fully equipped permanent headquarters in the State
Capitol, permanent counsel, monthly magazine, frequent bulletin board statements, group insur-
ance, credit unions, etc., are continuously being rendered members, and
“WHEREAS, from a 600 total membership in 1930, our organization has grown to its present
15,000 total paid membership, with members and loyal and unselfish representatives located in every
State office, department and institution throughout the State.
“THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that through the efforts of its officers, committees and mem-
bers throughout the State, that this Association, beginning as of this date, sponsor a continuous
membership campaign to enroll 100% every eligible State civil service employee as a member, and
“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President, under whose direction the drive will be
carried on, is directed to send a copy of this resolution to every present member of the Association,
through the columns of THE STATE EMPLOYEE or otherwise.”
New Members Join for 1937-38
“BE IT RESOLVED, that eligible State employees who join this Association after this date
as new members shall be admitted to full membership for the balance of this year and all of the
year 1938.”
Renew Your Own Membership and Secure at
Oe
BOF
Least One New Member TODAY ! =
co
. oe s E
Use this application To- to
day. Renewals for 1938 “"" Print ‘Last Name Above °° °"°""°"""" Firat Name “°7°°° °° 7°77" initial” See
membership will be ac- By
fipted at this ‘tite, | “RESIDENCE cscecen cece mmnccsmmnsnsincescenememerenneerens re
Simply detach applica- *
fea boreuils, aa deat WORK ADDRESS........002.00ec0eeeeeeceeeseeceseeeeeeeeeeeeee dz
with $1.00 Annual Dues INSTITUTION OR! DIViencossnsesycsmpecccs saree . g
to your local Chapter,
Representative or to DEPT. EMPLOVED wscscssesccsacwsnwnssaed TITLE awsescawswannwes
eee ten nau’ THE ASSOCIATION OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES
wide, all-State-employee of the State of New York
Association TODAY. Room 156, State Capitol, Albany, N. Y.
Membership Application.........
$.50 of which is for a yeai
