THE
STATE EMPLOYEE
Volume 3
JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 1934
Numbers 1-2
The Civil Service
System Necessary to
Good Government
Richard Washburn Child writing
recently about growing Federal ac-
tivities, stated: “It is not so much
the drain upon the taxpayer’s pocket
as the multiplying of dangers of cor-
ruption, of intrigue, and popingjay
control of those who know nothing
about the business. Let us have qual-
ity in public servants rather than
quantity.”
Here is a direct invitation to ap-
ply not only in the State but in the
Nation the principle laid down in the
New York State Constitution that
“appointments and promotions (in
public service) be made according to
merit and fitness.”
No emergency in Nation or State
is so great that the merit and fitness
of public workers can be passed over
lightly or hastily, Selection through
well organized civil service depart-
ments is not a difficult or long drawn
out process, and it is only in this
way that equal opportunity of every
citizen to serve his Country or State,
regardless of race, religion or polit-
ical party, is safeguarded. In addi-
tion, every civil service department
has at hand lists of eligibles from
which may be recruited even more
quickly than through routine exam-
ination highly efficient forces for
every possible emergency.
The cry against bureaucracies is
raised largely because of fear of in-
capable servants to run them. Such
servants where they exist are
the result of failure to utilize the
sound principles of employment in-
herent in the civil service system.
The civil service system has a dual
virtue in that it supplies an efficient
personnel and frees the appointing
officer from deference to the “spoils
system.” In Lincoln’s day before
the advent of the civil service plan,
the great Emancipator once said of
the “spoils system,” “Here is some-
thing which in the course of time
will become a greater danger than
the Rebellion itself.”
The success of the civil
Continued’on Page 8
service
FEBRUARY 12
FEBRUARY 22
Holding High the Torch
Washington and Lincoln will stand throughout the ages as the great
exponents of government as the practical medium leading to the
progress of humanity in its pursuit of happiness.
Their accomplishments still readily visible to the present generation,
and recorded in many volumes, touched upon practically every subject vital
to individual, family or national endeavor.
It is pleasing to record here, and we know there will be no dissenting
voice, that every word and act of George Washington and Abraham Lin-
coln marked them as the ardent apostles and the practical defenders of
the application in public’ service of the civil service principles for which
this Association of State Civil Service Employees stands so earnestly
today.
Page Washington, page Lincoln, if you will! They will answer in a
thousand ways that they stood for—
High standards in public employment
Selection of public servants on basis of merit and fitness
Equal right for every citizen regardless of race, religion or political
or personal favoritism to qualify for civil or military service
Stability of employment
Fair hours of work
Adequate compensation
Just right of appeal =
February brings to us their birthdays. But every day brings to us
the inspiration of their lives, their hopes and their accomplishments. Let
us not disappoint them. They wished the Nation to endure. They labored
and sacrificed and died that it might stand for unselfish, humane ideals.
Public service affords still the greatest opportunity open to mankind
for high achievement and noble living. We have but to remember that
|“He who would be the greatest among you-must be the servant of all.”
Simplify and Clarify
This Law
Wherever it is necessary to cir-
cumvent wrong or injustice, or,
to put it in a positive way, to as-
sure that right shall prevail, a
clear, simple law is plainly the best
remedy which society knows how
to apply.
The civil service law, following
out the good employment princi-
ples of thousands of years, sets
it down as just that when it be-
comes necessary for economic or
other reasons to abolish a position
that the old and faithful employees
who have borne all of the vicissi-
tudes and trials of building up an
office or a bureau or a department
and who have sacrificed most to
attain high efficiency to serve shall
be the last to be dismissed. In
other words, the State through
this law recognizes the age-old
principle that seniority in service
coupled with loyalty and efficiency
should win the reward of contin-
uity of service.
State departments
stress of economy are
through the ordeal of many
changes in personnel, changes
which involve not only dismissals
but demotions. In the matter of
demotions, the letter of the pres-
ent law is silent as to seniority.
There is not the slightest doubt
in the mind of any thought-giving
person but that the spirit of the
civil service law founded upon uri-
versally good practices in per-
sonnel administration, public and
private, justifies the application
of the principle of seniority in de-
motions as well as in dismissals.
Without such an interpretation the
black hand of religious, racial,
political or personal intolerance
reaches in to replace recognition
of faithfulness with unfair privi-
lege and special favor. Appeals
to the courts would, we are sure,
uphold the Association’s conten-
tion that seniority is the only
proper basis for demotion as it is
for dismissal. But appeals to the
courts are costly, ‘There is mo
Continued on Page 5
under the
passing
2
STATE EMPLOYEE
Forward or Backward?
C. C. Colesanti, President, State
Hospital Employees
The State of New York can no
more stand still and fill its niche
in the ways and duties of govern-
ment than can the individual fail
to develop to meet his responsi-
bilities in the things of life. In
government as in life it is a case
of progress or disintegration.
Is the State of New York op-
posed to the New and Square
Deal? Does the State of New
York wish to take the position of
an obstructionist in relation to the
principles involved in National Re-
covery? Is the State of New York
to stand with reactionaries, in the
matter of institutional hours of
labor?
The question—“Shall the State
of New York take the socially
good, economically sound, and
morally right action and provide
definitely in the law of the State
that men and women shall not be
required to work abnormally long
hours in State institutions?” is
now squarely up to the Legisla-
ture through bills introduced in
the Senate and the Assembly at
the urgent plea of this Associ-
ation. And in their treatment of
these bills the Legislature says yes
or no to the fundamental question
as to the position of the common-
wealth on the proposition of a
square deal for labor generally.
Senator Wagner's clearcut
statement on another page of this
issue exposes the actual hypocrisy
of public laxity in this matter.
Warden Lawes’ practical viewpoint
contained in last month’s issue is
important because it comes from
a man with as great experience in
and as patriotic loyalty to State
service as that of any living cit
zen. Senator Desmond and As-
semblyman Ostertag have called
for an aroused public interest and
expression because of the apparent
justice and wisdom of the plan as
a State policy.
We are beholding monumental
efforts by the President and the
National Administration along
lines actually necessary to pre-
serve our Democratic form of gov-
ernment. Wilson declared war
“To make the World Safe for
Democracy.” Good citizens are
now engaged in a fight to make
the United States safe for Democ-
racy. No one of rational sense
doubts the seriousness of the is-
sue.
In the truthful analysis of pres-
ent hopes, unselfish statesmen of
the need for starting at the base
of society if we are to build for
permanent good. It is again the
individual, the family, the com-
munity, that must be made pros-
perous if the larger structure of
business and industrial life is to
serve its honest purpose. And the
prosperity of “the forgotten man”
and the forgotten man’s family
will not be complete or ever per-
manently useful until it is certain
that those in positions of power
seek consistently and progressive-
ly to promote rational living con-
ditions and opportunities for bet-
ter and better home and social
life.
The long day in State service is
unfair to the State, and a dis-
tressing example to business and
industry. With thousands of citi-
zens without work and with mil-
lions being spent to assure them
employment, other thousands of
citizens work twelve hours or
longer each day, and have not suit-
able home or social life. Marriage,
children, desirable home conditions
and the maintenance of decent
standards of family life, are made
difficult or impossible.
This Association believes that
the money voted by the people
for unemployment relief will afford
such relief if used for permanent
construction at State institutions
and thus make possible the estab-
lishment of a maximum eight hour
day, with the permanent employ-
ment of several thousand worthy
citizens at an additional insignifi-
cant annual outlay. Every cent ex-
pended by the taxpayers in this
work would return to them many
fold through increased purchases
and business activity within the
State.
The maximum eight hour law
is a vital necessity to the preserva-
tion of the honor and well-being
of the State. With the passage of
this bill, if it is deemed neces-
sary, let us have a planning com-
mission or agency composed of
progressive citizens, to study and
devise a suitable and economically
sound plan for home building for
institution workers. The two go
hand in hand. The facts are now
in the open. What will New York
State do about it?
ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS
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FOR MEN AND WOMEN
America’s Oldest Accident and
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Herman E. Light, Dist. Manager
all beliefs and faiths understand
869 Madison Ave. Albany, N. Y.
Expediency Must
Not Defeat Justice
This Association, while dedicated
primarily to things related to State
service, and holding firmly to this
principle, is pledged by the common
cause of salaried people in every
walk of life, public and private, to
raise its voice always for fair play
and humane and enlightened consid-
eration of employee interests.
The reorganization of government
now contemplated for the City of
New York cannot be truly successful
unless it is founded upon a decent
respect for the natural rights and the
economic needs of its own servants.
Because of its concern for the wel-
fare of the civil service, teachers,
firemen, policemen and other workers
of the City of New York, the Associ-
ation addressed a strong appeal to
every Senator and Assemblyman in
the Legislature on January 20th, and
has exerted and shall continue to ex-
ert all proper efforts, to safeguard
the incomes and civil service status
of these municipal workers. The let-
ter to members of the Legislature
follows :
“This Association looks with grave
concern upon any legislation relating
to the salaries of New York City
workers which does not contain spe-
cific safeguarding of fair and ade-
quate scales of pay.
“The rank and file of civil service
employees in federal, state, city and
county service, and the teachers, fire-
men, policemen and other employees
doing the everyday work of govern-
ment, have been paid very moderate
salaries generally during the past
years. As the years of high salaries
continued in private employment, at-
tention was given to increased com-
pensation of judges, heads of depart-
ments, and various other groups in
the higher grades of public service.
When the depression began, this at
tention had not yet reached the lower
paid public workers to any adequate
degree.
“For this reason, it seems to be
well within the province of sound
economy and just treatment of civil
service employees that in making
any necessary retrenchment in the
budgets of New York City or other
cities and units of State Government,
the civil service employees, the teach-
ers, the firemen and the policemen
should be exempted from salary re-
ductions, furloughs or other arrange-
ments which would reduce their in-
comes now so badly needed to sup-
port themselves and their families
and to continue the very substantial
aid which they are extending to many
thousands of the needy through per-
sonal care and contributions, as well
as generous help extended to public
charities. Nothing whatever can be
gained by Nation, State or City in
lowering the spending power of
moderately paid salaried and wage-
earning people. Taxes which
toward salaries of workers perform-
ing these essential services to so-
ciety are inconsequential in the econ-
omy which citizens are demanding.
The reduction of such salaries is di-
rectly opposed to the National Re-
covery program, the success of which
is vital to the actual preservation of
the fundamentals of our government.
“We earnestly protest the approval
of any legislation which does not as-
sure adherence to civil service prin-
ciples of protection of the stability
of employment, or which does not
provide definitely for adequate sala-
ries and sound pension plans. These
matters, especially at this time, may
not be left safely to hasty attention,
however well meaning, nor to the
mercy of political or personal exre
diencies. Dealing as they do with
the human clement and with the
compensation of carefully chosen, ef-
ficient and able public servants, these
considerations should be weighed
very carefully. To do anything that
would bring disrepute upon the State
or the City by reason of an unwise
employment policy would interfere
greatly with fair play for workers
in private industry also and react
unfavorably upon the whole plan for
recovery.
“Sincerely yours,
“w. F. McDONOUGH,
“President, The Association of
State Civil Service Employees”
Are ruinous
BARGAIN GLASSES
not suit your eyes unless by the merest luck.
Why experiment when you can have the
best, and the ability of an expert optom-
etrist at no greater cost.
HENRY J. EVANS
Optometrist — Eyesight Specialist
78 NO. PEARL ST.
to the eyes, for the lenses can-
PHONE 3-1707
STATE EMPLOYEE
The New-Deal for
Institution Workers
An outstanding friend and champion of fair play and sound social
policies in the United States, United States Senator Robert F. Wagner,
Chairman of the Labor Board, in a letter to the President of this As-
sociation on January 6th, 1934, gave unqualified endorsement to the
maximum eight hour day policy for institution workers of this State,
as advocated by the Association for the past three years.
reads:
The letter
“I cannot refrain from expressing briefly my interest in the reduc-
tion of the working hours of the State civil service employees in New
York and elsewhere. There has always seemed to me to be a funda-
mental incompatibility between the efforts being made by the Govern-
ment to induce private employers to reduce hours and the persistence
ot excessively long hours in the Government service. There is no rea-
son why any employee in the United States should have to work more
than eight hours a day. And I think that in the vast majority of cases
an even shorter working day should be speedily sought.
“IT assure you that I am always
ready to participate in any rational
campaign for the reduction of working hours.
Very truly yours,
“ROBERT F, WAGNER.”
A Successful Campaign.
Officers and members of the Com-
mittees and Counsel of this Associa-
tion, who labored so tirelessly to
prevent the cuts in salaries of State
employees receiving less than $2,000,
which reductions were urged by a
majority of the members of the
Budget Advisory Committees, were
highly pleased with the action of
Governor Lehman in recommending
to the Legislature that no reduc
tions be made below $2,000.
Members of the Association who
took a personal interest in seeking
to advise against such reductions,
and there were very many who acted
on advice contained in the Special
Bulletin sent by Association head-
quarters to every office and institu-
tion in the State immediately upon
obtaining copy of the Budget Ad-
visory Committee’s report, have
every right to feel that they ren-
dered a distinct service to themselves
and to every employee of the State.
When the thirty thousand em-
ployees of the State acting solidly
and unitedly, and aided by their fam-
lies and friends, exert themselves
on behalf of a sound or just pro-
posal or in protest of an unfair or
uneconomic public action, they can-
not fail to be successful to the de-
gree where success is possible.
Searcely a member of the commit-
tee of the Association which spent
three hours with the Governor argu-
ing against such cuts, and proposing
restoration of salaries reduced last
year and provision for increased liv-
ing costs during the seventeen or
eighteen months ahead, would have
been affected by the proposed six
per cent reduction in salaries below
$2,000, but this made no difference in
zeal and ardor with which they
fought this proposal. This is the
sort of accomplishment which is pos-
sible only where the State employees
everywhere throughout the service
and in every branch of the service
are united in spirit and in action,
not selfishly within the confines of
their own department, profession or
group, but singly and with one mind
for the good of all.
A single state-wide, all state em-
ployee association, with every em-
ployee enrolled as a member,
with an unselfish program devoted
to improvement of the fundamental
policies of selection, promotion, com-
pensation, retirement, continuity and
stability of service, and due protec-
tion against removal, is the intelli-
gent and only practical employee
way of meeting present and future
problems of State employees.
HOURS 9:00 to 5:30
249 STATE STREET
RAYMOND V, HEALY, Pod. G.
Chiropodist
Next to State Office Building
AND BY APPOINTMENT
Telephone 4-5030
“Will the Salary
Dollars Suffice?”
This headline is similar to one in
the last issue of Tue State Em-
pLovee, The question asked is just
as serious now, and it has not been
answered by the Governor's budget!
requests. The cost of living and
price trends covered in the Associa-
tion’s booklet issued in November,
have not changed materially as yet.
There is every indication, however,
that they will advance. Budget pro-
visions for salaries of New York
State employees cover a period of
twelve months from July Ist next.
“Will the Salary Dollar suffice?” or
in other words will it enable the
State worker to pay his bills, meet
his obligations, during the long
period ahead when under present
provisions he could not possibly get
any relief though the cost of living
doubled or trebled?
The Salary Committee of this As-
sociation urged upon Governor Leh-
man that he include in the budget a
sum of sufficient size to care for in-
creased living costs to the extent
that they might affect State workers,
permitting the Governor and heads
of the Legislative Finance Commit-
tees to increase the salaries of
workers by five, ten, fifteen or what-
ever other percentages the well es-
tablished and carefully compiled
indices of living costs showed to be
fair during the coming fifteen
months. Taxes would have to be
provided for this contingency fund,
but if the needs of the situation did
not demand increases, the State
would not have to expend any of
the sum so provided and there could
be no possible abuse or loss of
public funds to the State.
It is felt by the Association that
Governor Lehman left the way open
to legislative action along this line
when he cited in his message the
lack of power to foretell with even
fair accuracy what the price level
of commodities will be over the next
eighteen months. This frank obser-
vation on the part of the Governor
carries full appreciation of the con-
tention of this Association that the
arbitrary fixing of State employees’
incomes so long in advance is out
of line with common sense and with
any possible capacity to meet new
price or cost of living conditions.
The flexible contingent fund, to be
used only when required and justi-
fied, is a simple, straight-forward,
business-like way of meeting the
situation,
Your Salary Committee will urge
this plan with all possible vigor upon
the Governor and the Legislature
during the weeks that the Legi
ture is in session, The estimated
financial condition of the State is
such that the appropriation required
would not be burdensome. The plan
and the appropriation could be cared
for in a measure supplementing the
annual budget bill.
Useful Monuments
The present needs of State insti-
tutions call for a building program,
To care for an increasing number
of patients and a maximum eight
hour day, the State requires new
construction, Elsewhere in this
issue we have cited the desirability
of individual homes built by the
State, perhaps to be paid for by the
employees throughout their years of
service; homes which would make
possible good living conditions and
promote efficient service and a fine
community life,
But the pertinent point to this
article is the unemployment relief
possible through such building. In-
cluding the $60,000,000 approved by
the people at the last election, the
State’s total for unemployment
relief will reach $110,000,000. Lack-
ing wise planning and efficient direc-
tion of effort, this money will be
expended largely without any sub-
stantial permanent monument re-
maining. On the other hand, if
legal ways are provided, the needed
buildings can be erected and one of
the greatest practical needs of the
State satisfied. At the same time
skilled and unskilled workers in
great numbers will find employment.
Further than this it will be inspir-
ing employment; all workers will be
builders, creators, of useful and
lasting things.
Will the wording of legal phrases
or community selfishness deprive
the State of this splendid opportuni-
ty to use at least a part of the new
$60,000,000? We do not believe
that any citizen would wish this,
and we urge civil service workers
to contact their representatives in
the Legislature, and the Governor,
to plead for such utilization of the
funds as they are needed for state
institution building. This is of
especial importance to those workers
in the divisions of government
where the building activities would
bring additional employment and
where employees are now threatened
by lack of appropriations for State
construction. Your Association is
giving this matter earnest attention.
STATE EMPLOYEE
THE
STATE EMPLOYEE
Established 1929
Published by
‘The Association of State _Ciyil
Employees of the State of New
Service
York,
Room 156, State Capitol, Albany, N, Y.
OFFICERS
‘ANK O, BAU!
CHARLES’ J. TOBIN
JOSEPH D, ‘LOCHNE!
>_>
State Employees’
Retirement System
F. B. Holmes, Director, N. ¥. State
Employees Retirement System
There is considerable newspaper
talk at this time due partly to the
changes of administration in the
different — municipalities. These
changes have been followed by a
few retirements of higher paid
officials.
The granting of service rendered
prior to first date of eligibility to
membership in the Retirement Sys-
tem free of charge, which has hap-
pened when all systems were estab-
lished, is one of the material factors
in producing large retirement allow-
ances. Sometime in the compara-
tively near future all of the service
granted to members of all retire-
ment systems free of charge will
have become a thing of the past.
Some argue that those with large
salaries should not be eligible to
membership in the retirement sys-
tems. This seems to have no weight
when one will eliminate the free of
charge credit for prior service.
For example, let us say that an
employee is appointed by the State
at age 25, Some day he may be dis-
abled or become too old to work
and however remote that time may
seem when he commences work, the
State immediately begins to make
provision for it, Let us say that
his salary is $100 per month. Im-
mediately after appointment, he
must begin to contribute 4.37 per
cent of his salary to the Retirement
System to provide for his own re-
tirement. Immediately the State
begins to contribute 3,09 per cent
of his salary to provide for his re-
tirement. These two contributions
are paid to the Retirement System
and are set aside until he leaves the
service, If he resigns he is entitled
to a return of his own contributions
with interest but he gets no part of
the State’s contribution. If he is
disabled, dies or reaches old age in
State service, he is entitled to bene-
fits from the Retirement System.
The benefits vary in amount depend-
ing on the age of the employee, his
salary and the years he serves the
Circulation
20,000 Copies
public.
This shows that when the prior
service credit has all been paid for
and out of the way, the cost of
operating the New York State Em-
ployees’ Retirement System will be
about 7% per cent of pay roll, the
greater part of which is paid for by
the employee. This is not true
relative to all retirement systems
and for this reason all retirement
| systems are at the present time be-
fore the public eye and are subject
to criticism.
There are no retirement systems
in and for and about the state in
the municipalities operated at a
lesser rate per cent than the New
York State Employees’ Retirement
System. Some of the systems, if
they were on as sound a basis as is
the New York State Employees’
Retirement System, would cost any-
where from 15 to 30 per cent of pay
roll for operation, with such per
cent always on the increase. This
means that, sometime, the systems,
if they continue to operate, will
cost more than 100 per cent of pay
roll. Yet the New York State
Employees’ Retirement System for
member service costs 7% per cent
of pay roll, with no thought of the
same increasing but a definite plan
that the same will be reduced to
one-half the present cost. In most
of the localities of the state, studies
are being made of pension plans
that appear too expensive.
Our System, the State Employees’
Retirement System, can stand in-
spection and its reasonableness can
be defended at all times,
Relative to the talk about maxi-
mum retirement allowances, where
is the line to be drawn on salary
factors for retirement purposes? If
the member contributes 4.37 per cent
of salary himself on a $1,000 salary
while the State contributes 3.09 per
cent on the same salary and for the
same member, is it not reasonable
that a member on a $1,500 salary
should be permitted to contribute
his proportunate amount, and like-
wise on a $2,000 salary and a
$3,000 salary, and so on? Where
would the line be drawn? Further-
more, when it is a fact that only
one-third of one per cent of the
3,000 annuitants of the State Em-
ployees’ Retirement System receive
a retirement allowance over $2,500
per year, even a consideration that
salaries over $12,000 shall not be
used as salary factors in determin-
ing retirement allowance would have
such an inappreciable effect on the
appropriations requested from the
State that the expert would not
recognize that a reduction had been
made,
Give Non-Competitive
Class, Competitive
Class Protection
This Association believes that
whatever of virtue attaches to laws
and rules affecting the State work-
ers now listed in the Competitive
Class should apply to those in the
Non-Competitive Class. It has so
stated on previous occasions and
has sought support of this pro-
posal from civil service groups in
the various branches of the service.
Obviously, inasmuch as the pres-
ent situation exists and has ex-
isted for a number of years, there
are reasons why the non-competitive
tive class was first established ana
since continued.
The way to action is to bring all
facts into the open. The Associa-
tion has written to the State Civu
Service Commission as per the
following letter, and will advise
through these columns what steps
are taken and what aid can be ren-
dered by workers generally toward
extending greater civil service pro-
tection to the over 11,000 State
employees now listed in the non-
competitive class.
“State Civil Service Commission,
“Albany, N. Y.
“Dear Sirs:
“This Association believes that
all protective features of civil serv-
ice law and regulations should ex-
tend to all classes of permanent
civil servants of the State. The
large group of employees now
listed as non-competitive and with-
out protection of seniority rights
or any guaranty as to hearing or
opportunity to present their view-
point in cases of removals, indi-
cates an obvious shortcoming in
civil service functioning and one
at variance with seemingly just
general employment practices.
‘This is a plea for consideration
by your Commission of the pro-
posal to extend the good inherent
in the rules and administrative
practices now applying to the com-
petitive class to the non-competi-
tive class. If new laws are needed,
if new rules are required, will you
not initiate or propose them, to the
end that all civil servants of the
State may enjoy the maximum of
protection under sound employ-
ment practices, and the State be
placed in the forefront of progres-
sive employers both public and p:
vate with reference to all of its
civil servants.
“Sincerely yours,
“W.'F. McDONOUGH,
“President.”
Association Pleads for
Restoration ot Workers
Scales of Pay
A committee of the State Hospital
Employees Association including
President C. C. Colesanti, Middle
town; F. J. Keating, Vice President,
Central Islip State Hospital; Lucy
Baumgras, Secretary, Marcy State
Hospital; H. Redmond, St. Lawrence
State Hospital, and President W. F.
McDonough, conferred with Dr. Par-
sons, head of the Mental Hygiene
Department, and a number of
members of the Legislature, on
January 22 and 23,:with regard to
restoration of time service and
other mandatory increments in
hospital, social welfare, prison and
other services. Steps were also
taken to bring the matter again to
the attention of the Governor and
of the Director of the Budget. This
Association believes that these in-
crements constitute with present
scales the actual salaries of the
workers affected and that their
suspension as increases is not there-
fore sound, and in many cases with
these low paid employees it works
a severe hardship,
Sulphur Vapor Baths
and
Swedish Massage
REDUCE
(The Hollywood Stars’ Way)
Naturally - Scientifically
Harmlessly
Invigorating - Refreshing
ALBANY HEALTH BATHS
91 State St. Phone 3-7628
|Selling
OUT
OUR COMPLETE STOCK
$39.50 Secretary ......644. $19.75
| $45.00 Winthrop Desk .... $22.50
$45.00 Lounge Chair...... $18.75
$12.00 Desk Chairs........ $5.05
$135.00 Living Room Set... $67.50
4120.00 Gulistan Rugs...... $98.00
$110.00 Maple Bedroom Set $49.50
HARRY SIMMONS
81-86 NO, PEARL ALBANY
Publicity for
Public Good
With the firm belief that full
publicity of all facts relative to civil
service examinations, appointments
and promotions is a distinct aid to
good civil service administration,
this Association will answer all
questions as to reasons for appoint-
ments or promotions or manner of
selection or examination which are
addressed to it covering any such
matters from this time on. On re-
ceipt of any inquiries along these
lines, it will call upon the State
Civil Service Department to state
its reasons for final action in the
cases in question and will print the
statements of the State Civil Service
Department. in Tue Srate Em-
PLOYEE or in special bulletins issued
by the Association, The records of
the State Civil Service Department
are open to the citizens of the State
and there is no mystery surround-
ing any appointment, promotion or
examination held for State service.
Only inquiries relating to State
civil service positions will be con-
sidered and only those affecting
cases occurring from this time on,
Full, frank, accurate statements as
to reasons for examinations, ap-
pointments and promotions are
properly available. THe State
EMPLovEr goes into every library
of the State. Every citizen is in-
terested in the facts as to public
functioning and public servants.
High efficiency and high morale are
the particular aims of the civil
service system, They cannot be at-
tained by back-door, grape-vine,
fog-ridden practices, The best way
to preserve the best sort of public
service is to keep wholly in the open
all matters relating to the personnel
in public service, for it is upon the
human clement that the laws, the
regulations, the machinery of
government, and the ultimate suc-
cess or failure of these to minister
to public welfare, depend entirely.
Public Construction
The value to the State of a large
construction program both as to
buildings and highways is tremen-
dous. This Association urges in the
interest of every citizen of the State
the great desirability of permanent
construction in connection with
temporary unemployment relief
measures,
The Association is interested also
from the standpoint of civil service
employees in the various divisions
of State government whose employ-
ment and consequent social and
economic well being are dependent
upon such a program. No selfish-
ness attaches to frank and honor-
able approach to leaders and repre-
sentatives in Federal and State
Government in the interest of in-
creased appropriations to carry on
construction work of a necessary
and permanent character, and which
is as plainly for the interest of
public welfare as is this.
It is strongly urged that you write
or wire immediately to your repre-
sentatives in the U. S. Senate and
House of * Representatives urging
strongly that conditions warrant a
further grant for highway construc-
tion in the Nation of $40,000,000,
with allotment to New York State
on the basis established in the case
of the similar previous grant last
fall. This would enable the employ-
ment of very many unemployed per-
sons throughout 1935. Unless this
is done it is estimated that 1,000,000
men will be thrown out of work by
September Ist of this year.
This matter is of tremendous im-
portance to the engineers and others
engaged in highway work. In addi-
tion to your personal plea to your
United States Senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress, your ass
tion will file a similar plea at once.
All State civil service employees
may well join in this effort regard-
less of whether affected directly by
the final decision or not. This is
truly a great public welfare need at
this time and all should stand
unitedly for it.
Sj
&,
> Hes Yorks Mewrest Hotel
IN THE HEART OF TIMES SQUARE
1000 LARGE ROOMS
Each room contains a private bath, shower,
radio, circulating ice water, to closets, full
Tength mirrors . .
Roof Solaris
ROOMS from S9B5O a dey
. Sun-Ray Health lamps,
jum... air cooled restaurant.
Garage opposite hotel
STATE EMPLOYEE
Simplify and Clarify
This Law
Continued from Page 1
good served by obliging the work-
er to go to court to secure a natur-
ally recognized right.
The bill in question is an im-
portant one, exceedingly import-
ant. Without it the grape vine
route to dismissals is wide open.
Curtailment of State functioning art
present in progress in certain lines
but emphasizes the merits of the
bill, the important of
which reads:
section
“Whenever, for reasons
economy, curtailment of ac
ities or otherwise, a person
holding a position in the com-
petitive class of the state service
is, through no inability or fault
of his own, reduced in class,
rank or salary grade, such re-
duction shall be made in the in-
verse order of original appoint-
ment in the service and he shall
have his name entered upon a
preferred list, together with
those who, as heretofore pro-
vided in this section, may have
been separated from the same
or similar position or any other
position having the same or sim-
ilar requirements for entrance.”
State employees must get back
of this bill to insure that its im-
portance is understood.
of
DRINK
A noted Doctor says:
stipation may cause
it aggravates all
you have Rheumatic Aches,
Arthritis, Upset Stomach or
Excess ‘Acidity, Backaches,
Dull Headaches —caused by
improper elimination of body
wastes and poisons—get rid
of the eauxe.
TUNE IN
W. G. Y.
12 Noon each Wed. & Fri.
2 P.M. each Sunday
7 to 7:15 P. M. each Mon,
Tues, Thurs.
Crazy Water
Crystals Co.
Telephones
Albany 41197
Schenectady 4-8000
Troy 6923
Smart New
Hats
$1.98
Meet Spring half way in
one of these hats—and get
a new lease on life and good
looks! The new off-the-face
styles, turbans, brims, with
wicked little _ veils —how
they flatter. Black. High
shades!
Others $2.98 to $10
Sporborg’s
530 Broadway Albany
NOW
OPEN! !
TRAFFIC
RESTAURANT
MATT McCAFFREY, Prop.
4 SO. HAWK ST.
The Capitol District's Newest
and Popular Eating Place
Special Luncheon 35c
Dally 12 Noon to 2:00 P.M.
Beers, Wines and Choice
Liquors
Catering particularly to. Ladies
and Gentlemen employed in the
State Capitol and Educational
Buildings
Cocktail Hour 4 to 5 P. M.
AFETY
ERVICE
AVING
AUTO OWNERS!
GET OUR PLAN
BEFORE YOU INSURE
E. B. CANTINE, Ine.
Automobile Insurance
75 State St. 3-1251
Established 1890
MAIL COUPON
E. B. Cantine, Inc,
75 State St., Albany, N. Y.
Please send your plan on Auto
Insurance.
Name...
Address ....
Car...
6
STATE EMPLOYEE
A Splendid Get-
Together Dinner
Over one hundred and fifty
members of the Department of
Public Works staff of District No.
8, gathered in the Campbell House,
Poughkeepsie, on the evening of
January 24th, exchanged greetings,
enjoyed a good dinner, sang many
songs, heard praise of their work
from District Engineer Bixby, and
were urged to cooperative effort by
G. C. Noble, President of the local
group and W. F. McDonough, Presi-
dent of the Association of State
Civil Service Employees, in the
interest of good State service and
good employment practices general-
ly.
It is doubtful if any more intelli-
gent or progressive group of citizens
could be gathered together than this
Public Works Department group.
With the loyalty to public service
and to superior officers evidenced by
this large body of professional and
highly skilled workers, New York
State may be justly pleased.
Association Urges
Healthful Activities
Sincere praise is due to the pro-
gressive and energetic groups
throughout the State service whe
have sufficient initiative and energy
to organize and conduct the varivus
athletic activities conducive to good
health and that vigorous spirit at-
tendant upon wholesome physical
exercise.
In Albany and among many
groups of State employees through-
out the service, basket ball, bowling,
boxing and other sports are in
progress. An Association interde-
partmental basket ball league is af-
fording weekly pleasure to many
State employees. A picked team
representing the Association will
play the unbeaten Hudson River
State Hospital team on February
17th at Poughkeepsie.
In a spirit of constructive criti-
cism, the Association suggests that
executive and administrative leaders
of State work may benefit the
morale and consequently the fruits
of daily work if they will give ac-
tive support to the present limited
amount of athletic activity within
State service. Here is an opportun-
ity for investment in the employees’
field which will bring good results.
FOR RENT
PINE HILLS—771 Myrtle Ave. near
Main Ave. Modern lower fiat. 7
rooms and bath, 4 sleeping rooms, 3%
living rooms, hot water heat, front a
hes. Convenient ’to buses.
Education Activities
of Association Assure
Better State Service
Economical and efficient carrying
on of public functioning is the con-
cern of every State empl. yee. Any
organized effort on the part of
public workers that does not have
this goal as its highest objective,
fails in its vision and will fail ul
timately in any program for em
ployee betterment. Stability of em-
ployment, advancement in service,
adequate compensation, and desirable
working conditions are possible only
where the business conducted is on
a sound and efficient basis. The
State’s business is the business of
every citizen, but it is peculiarly
the anxicty of the State employee.
If the State employce will think and
act intelligently with regard to his
or her own efficiency in the operation
of the machinery of public service,
the happy results from the function-
ing of that machinery will not be
in doubt. Good government depends
upon the merit and fitness of the
entire personnel, and the personnel
depends more than anything else
upon its attention to advancement
and progress along the lines of
greater efficiency. The slogan in
the future as in the present, will be
“Quality in public service”.
This Association is proud of the
splendid response on the part of
hundreds of employees in the Al-
bany area toward the Syracuse Uni-
versity Extension courses established
by the Association and now entering
their second semester of the year.
It is likewise proud of the hundreds
of individuals throughout the State
who, hearkening to the urgings of
the Association, have taken up local
university extension courses or cor-
respondence courses to the end that
they may better serve the great
State of New York and more surely
merit the rewards which must even-
tually come to public and private
workers under a new and square
deal.
JOIN
the new uptown
Lending Library
HOWGATE’S
190 State St.
“Opposite the Capitol”
Uniform Sick Leave
As stated in the last issue of Tae
State Empioves, the matter of ex-
tending the uniform sick leaves
proposed by the Governor’s cabinet
to all branches of State service, was
referred to Governor Lehman in
conference with the Governor on
December 22nd, 1933, and cited in
communication left with him on
that date. The plea was made that
the uniform rules be established as
the minimum in all departments,
No action has been taken by the
Governor on this question so far
as the Association is informed. The
State Civil Service Department has
no jurisdiction as to sick leaves.
The matter is entirely in the Gover-
nor’s hands. The desirability of
some generally applicable minimum
sick leaves, with flexibility to permit
administrative and executive heads
greater privileges in extreme cases,
was apparently the motive inspiring
the action of the Governor’s cabinet
at the time the question was first
considered. One of the grave
shortcomings where there is lack of
uniform minimum sick leave allow-
ances is that single departments or
bureaus of State government may
actually reduce the salary of an em-
ployee to the extent that he is ab-
sent because of illness over which
he has no control,
SPEEC
STUDIO
HELEN B. CAREY
Training in speech and voice
defects—radio technique and
public speaking — assistance
in overcoming self conscious:
ness.
Phone 2-4670 for Appointment
688 Morris St. Axsany, N. Y.
EST. 1885
very little
abvic has a
FormutaA all
its own
tll
Our laundry way is so safe be-
cause each varying fabric, each
color, has been studied and its
correct washing formula worked
out by experts. And this same
care extends through every part
of our plant. Let us demonstrate
how well we can serve you.
HM
Watervilie Laundry,
Inc.
289 Central Avenue 5-241
Join the Association
NOW!
Telephone 3-3912
50 COLUMBIA STREET
Hoan TS
Cut Flowers and Plants for Valentine Day
“Say It With Flowers”
ALBANY, N. Y.
STATE EMPLOYEE
Next to the Public
School
Theodore Roosevelt believed that
the civil service system of selec-
tion and direction of public per-
sonnel was—“as democratic and
American as the common-school
system itself.” Grover Cleveland
thought likewise.
Are we ready to abandon the
civil service system? Does the
dark shadow of the “spoils system”
threaten the success of the Presi-
dent's great program? This fear
was expressed by the National
Civil Service Reform League in
June last. The January issue of
The Forum carries such subheads
in a long article on the subject of
bureaucracies and civil service ‘n
the National Administration as,
“Sabotage of Civil Service,” “Plum
Pudding” and “Planned Plunder."
When the civil service system
weakens, the Government itself
weakens. Luther C. Steward,
President of the Federal Civil
Service Employees wrote in No-
vember: “Serious inroads are be-
ing made into the merit system by
spoilsmen representing the largest
army of political job hunters in
the history of the Nation.”
Every man who applies for work
in the recovery activities is not a
Franklin D, Roosevelt. For this
reason an orderly system of selec-
tion of personnel on basis of merit
should prevail. The President,
Congress, well written laws, do
not create men. Only God can do
that. But men can select the best
fitted to do the work of our mil-
lions of citizens who wait help-
lessly the outcome of the recovery
program. The only known prac-
tical and successful way to select
the men and women who can ren-
der the highest type of service is
through a well planned, entirely
Politics-free civil service system.
Some of the greatest men in the
Nation's history worked long and
zealously to bring this great gift
to the people. There is no mys-
tery about the civil service system.
Thousands of instances in Nation
and State, and lesser jurisdictions,
have proved beyond a doubt that
the civil service system is the
common-sense, business-like, hon-
est way of choosing and directing
public personnel.
As citizens of New York State
we are still part of the United
States and as much interested in
good Federal administration in
Washington and other parts of the
country as we are in New York
State. And do not think that the
hand of greed and partisanship
may not reach out to stultify our
own State's civil service system.
Already there are threats and
rumors of it.
‘What can the State Civil Serv-
ice employee do about it? He can
prevent it if he will. He knows
the need of equal opportunity in
qualifying for public service. He
can point out this need to his fam-
ily, to his intimate friends, to his
neighbors, to his fellows in every
club and organization in the State,
to his church heads, to his repre-
sentatives in executive, legislative
and administrative branches. Every
single youth in the State has in
any weakening of civil service a
direct menace to himself and to
his government because the civil
service system well conducted is
the only known guarantee that ex-
ists that the young men and wo-
men of the State will have a free
and equal opportunity to qualify
for public service regardless of
their political affiliations, their ra-
cial inheritances, or the church in
which they worship. The civil
service system is the very founda-
tion of good, clean, honest, effi-
cient government. The stain of
scandal often found in public works
does not rest upon the civil serv-
ice group. The continuity of good
government in times of political
change depends entirely upon the
civil service employee. And only
the most uninformed of political
leaders will fail to recognize that
the civil service employee chosen
upon his merit and successful in
his work is the greatest political
asset that any political party can
possess.
Begin your personal campaign
today and take active part in sup-
porting the civil service system,
and the State Civil Service Depart-
ment, in the interest of good gov-
ernment and decent public person-
nel administration.
If our civil service system needs
improvement—and this Association
feels that it must be continuously
alert to the possibility for improve-
ment—or, if the administration set
up is not the most efficient form—
then let these matters be treated
openly and frankly by the friends
of good government and not in
the counsels of those who oppose
the civil service system because it
interferes with selfish personal o:
political ambitions.
Your constructive criticism on
these points will be of help to your
officers and committees. Let us
have them now.
We Invite You
To Visit With Us
And see how we work. Go into our
washroom and see how clean everything
is. Watch the new flat work ironers,
almost human in their ability. Note
for yourself the never ending inspection
that makes Killip Quality possible.
COLOR
Saves Color
Guards Fabric
For Service
Phone
3-3281
LOWERS.....
Birthdays Should Be Remembered .. . .
seeeeeeeeee Anniversaries MUST!
40-42 MAIDEN LANE
ALBANY, N. Y.
PHONES
3-4258 — 3-4259
Bonded Member of Florists’ Telegraph Delivery Association
* *
oy a 4 STAR HOTEL
in New York
for BUSINESS...1 block from
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room, tavern grill, main dining
room.
%& for RECREATION...69 fine
theatres within 6 blocks. 1 block
from Broadway...4 short blocks
to Madison Square Garden,
1400 large rooms...each with
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Single from $2.50
Double from $3.50
Special Rates for longer periods
Send for Booklet T
x for QUIET SLEEP...Our 32
stories of fresh air and sunshine
assure you quiet comfort at all
hours.
Breakfastfrom 30c Luncheonfrom 65¢
Dinner from 85¢
JOHN T. west, Manager
Stoel LINCOLN
44TH TO 45TH STREETS AT 8TH AVENUE + NEW YORK
STATE EMPLOYEE
Civil Service System
Continued from Page 1
system was recently attested by Pro-
fessor Lindsay Rogers, one of the
President’s advisors, who in an ad-
dress delivered in Albany, stated
that civil service employees might
well have been called upon to take
over many emergency functions to
which less well equipped men and
women were called. Commenting
editorially upon these observations
by Professor Rogers, The Albany
Knickerbocker Press said:
“There is a tendency to dispar-
age the work of civil service em-
ployees, of whatever rank or de-
partment. This is perhaps the
mental hangover of the era of a
complete spoils system, in which
competence was incidental to ap-
pointment. But the new require-
ments for given posts indicate that
most modern appointments follow
the application of fairly rigid ex-
aminations. The result is a gath-
ering of men and women whose
competence is beyond serious chal-
lenge. In the research posts, par-
ticularly in the Departments, of
Commerce, Agriculture, Interior,
Labor and Justice, professional
ability is of a high standard.”
“It is of particular interest to
have a member of the NRA, an
extra-civil service appointee, thus
pay tribute to governmental em-
ployees of the regular branches. It
is both a healthy and a decent
thing to do.”
Remarkable praise of civil service
employees was made by Judge Cole-
man in connection with a recent trial
for tax evasion in which the Govern-
ment obtained a verdict of $80,000.
Said Judge Coleman: “The govern-
ment employees, men on small sala-
ries, who unquestionably could have
received fabulous sums of money had
they been willing to deviate from
strict lines of duty, accomplished the
collection of this evidence. As to
the government it is my firm convic-
tion that never in this court nor in
any other court has there been such
fine work done, either on behalf of
the government or on behalf of any
private client.”
The great mass of State work
falls to civil service employees and
the commendation of Governor Leh-
man in his recent budget message
was fully merited. Said the Gov-
“T feel it both a personal re-
ity and a public duty to
bring this fine spirit of loyalty (of
State workers) to the attention of
your Honorable Bodies and of the
citizens and taxpayers of the
State.”
The crisis in economic affairs has
not passed. As nothing so lessens
human respect for government as in-
efficiency on the part of those in pub-
lic service upon whom the rank and
file of citizens rely, so nothing so
strengthens confidence and wins sup-
port of government as the ability,
courtesy, and unselfish interest which
are natural attributes of the c
service employee who has won his
appointment in a fair and square way
through competitive qualifying tests.
Civil service employees should
study the underlying principles and
the everyday practices of the civil
service system, and lose no oppor-
tunity in their various clubs, among
their friends and acquaintances and
through any publicity they have
available to urge public support of
the system and of the State Civil
Service Department. To assure
watchfulness of the preservation of
good, clean civil service, if for no
other reason, employees should rally
to the aid of their own Association,
which has done and is doing so much
to win respect for civil service.
Albariy Employees
Can Help
One of our readers asks us to
call attention to the Child’s Hospital
where there are numerous children
afflicted with infantile paralysis and
other _ physical, disabilities. These
little folk are in need of entertain-
ment and gcty appreciate any
small gift. if you have any toys,
dolls, children’s books or picture
puzzles and will deliver them to
Sister Lydia at the Child’s Hospital,
Cor. North Hawk and Elk Street,
Albany, it will do much to pass the
time and help them return to nor-
malcy. The institution is non-sec-
tarian and free to those unable to
pay. Adult visitors are welcome,
visiting hours being from 2 to 3.
State Employees Should Have a
Copy of the Standard
Institution Directory
Complete ‘direct information
about all Hospitals and Insti-
tutions in the United States
and its dependencies.
One Dollar—Postpaid
Stanparp Pus.isHinc Co.
Box 165 Stony Point, N. Y.
4 Dial 3-3810 x
Domestic and
Imported
Wines & Liquors
Vv
WE DELIVER
To Your Office or Home
Vv
Geo. B. Beatty
RETAIL
WINES and LIQUORS
188 STATE ST.
Opposite State Capitol
Telephone 8-2028
CENTRAL DAIRY
Grade “A”
Pasteurized Milk and Cream
Chocolate Milk
Cottage Cheese
816-822
Livingston Avenue
Organization is the Watchword of the Hour
This is the State Employees Own Organization
It is The Only All-State-Employee, State-Wide Association
in New York State,
If You are a State Employee, this is Your Association.
Its Headquarters at the Seat of State Government are Your Headquarters.
Its Committees Composed of Your Fellow State Civil Service Employees
Are Your Committees.
Its Counsel is Your Counsel.
Its Program for State Employee Betterment is Your Program.
Its Publications, Letters, Bulletins are all to Improve Your Conditions.
Its Officers are at Your Service.
Our membership last year was 11,000. ‘This year we wish to make it at
least 15,000. Already we have over 5,000 enrolled for 1934.
‘The matter is squarely up to you—Do You Want You Own Organization?
Send your own membership today—and help to enroll others now!
39-41 STATE STREET
The L&H
Gas Range
Meets Every
Requirement
The Utmost in
Modera
Albany Hardware & Iron Co.
ALBANY, NEW YORK
Modern in every respect .. .
the New L&H 4100-A series
has everything uired in a
Gas Range . . . pleasing pro-
portions . . . handsome styl-
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color harmonies,
Utility and Service
Modern Construction Beauty
tely Priced
