E EMPLOY ee
OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE ASSOCIATION OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
BUFFALO STATE OFFICE BUILDING
FEBRUARY, 1935 10 Cents per Copy VOL. 4 Number 2
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NINETY YEARS OF
FUNERAL SERVICE
1845 - - - - - = 1935
YeMBeR The year just closed marked the nin-
tieth consecutive year that Tebbutt Fu-
neral Service has been available to fam-
ilies in the Albany district.
And in that year Marshall W. Tebbutt’s
Sons made investments to further im-
prove and perfect a service that for
three generations has been rated as one
of the best in the state.
Our pledge to these communities we
serve is that Tebbutt Funeral Service
shall continue to offer “A Satisfactory
Service for Every Purse.”
MARSHALL W. TEBBUTT’S SONS
Funeral Service
As the only Albany mem-
ber of National Selected
Morticians we are in a
position to offer unusual
aid to those requiring
funeral service away
from Albany. Ask us if
you desire details.
176 STATE ST. PHONE 3-2179
FORMING
For Jan. 24, °35
School open between 5 and 7 P. M,
after Jan, Ist for registration
ALBANY SCHOOL
OF ACCOUNTING
50 North Pearl 8t., Albany, N. Y.
JOHN J, MAGILTON, ©. P. A.
Director
WRITE FOR LITERATURE
Night School Only
THE STATE EMPLOYEE is pub-
lished monthly except April and July.
Publication office 2 Norton St., Albany,
N. Y. Editorial and executive offices,
Room 156, State Capitol, Albany, N. Y.
10c a single copy, $1.00 per year. En-
tered 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. Y,
Editor, Beutan Barry
Business Manager, Joserm D, Locunzr
OFFICERS
Brutan Barney, President W. F, McDonovan, Secretary
Frank L. Touwan, Vice President Be —«-Josurt D. Locunen, Business Secretory
Franx O, Baver, Treasurer
VOL. 4.
FEBRUARY, 1935
NO. 2.
Abolition Month — February, 1935
This is the Year of our Lord,
1935. We reflect. Genius and skill
have aided social advancement and
brought many blessings through-
out the centuries, The inherent
will of human beings to battle for
social justice for all has surged for-
ward effectively again and again,
netting at least a limited measure
of political progress. The best
that can be said is that humanity
is going forward very slowly.
However, though the ever present
divine discontent may smoulder
long under repressive millstones
it will find release finally.
New York State stands out
among political units of the nation
as it has always done, the leader
in educational, economic and in-
dustrial pursuits. The 1934 Legis-
lative manual shows the assessed
value of real and personal property
for the State for 1933 as $28,281,-
820,550.00, and the ordinary State
government tax receipts as $274-
626,230.00. So much for wealth.
Despite its progressiveness in
matters relating to many matters
the State has lagged with reference
to the establishment of reasonable
hours of work for thousands of its
own workers in the hospital, pris-
on and social welfare institutions
maintained by the State. The
story of its upwards of 7,000 em-
ployees of the State employed on
a twelve hour or longer schedule
has been told very often. The liv-
ing conditions of many of these
workers would be greatly im-
proved by provision for a maxi-
mum eight hour day and wages
sufficient to enable them to estab-
lish normal family life in their
communities. The business of the
State would be correspondingly
improved, as every cent expended
in salaries of the present and the
additional workers required for
a maximum eight hour day would
be spent among the merchants and,
professional and skilled workers of
Continued on Page 10
Promotions in State Service
Today when it is so difficult to
procure salary increases, the only
means of advancement in state serv-
ice is by promotions, Section 16 of
the Civil Service Law states that
“vacancies in positions in the com-
petitive class should be filled, so far
as practicable, by promotion from
among persons holding positions in
a lower grade in the department.”
The Jaw is clear in its statement
but possibly the reason that so many
positions today are filled from an
open competitive list rather than a
promotion list is due to the inter-
pretation of that clause “so far as
practicable.” Let us take a hypo-
thetical case, but a case which is
too many times true. There is a
vacancy in a bureau; the bureau
chief writes a memo to the Depart-
ment head stating the vacancy and
By Beulah Bailey, President
the fact that it is not practicable to
fill the position by promotion and
will the Department head request
certification from an open competi-
tive list, or if there is no such list
in existance, may a provisional ap-
pointment be made and later an ex-
amination given to establish such a
list. Does the Department head look
into the matter that it is not practic-
able to fill the vacancy by promotion,
or does he just O, K. the memor-
andum? When the time comes for
approval by the Civil Service Com-
mission do they look into the matter
or do they carry out the request of
the Department head as a routine
matter?
Why was not promotion advis-
able? Probably the reason is that
all the people in the Bureau are do-
ing their work well. Who could
take better care of the time records
than Sally Jones? Why, it used to
take a man and two assistants to do
the same work! How foi to up-
set the routine work of the office
by moving everyone up, taking them
out of their own little niche and
possibly trying to put them into one
in which they will not fit so well,
at least not for some time. It would
be much less disturbing to fill the
vacancy from the open list. The
intent of the law in regard to pro-
motions is clear. The weakness lies
in its application.
‘Those in charge of personnel must
make special efforts to develop con-
tacts with subordinates and to have
periodic reviews of personnel, so
that people will not be stuck in one
job for life just because they are
Continued on Page 11
4
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
February
=—
Restoration of Salaries
The Association has followed up
its conference with Governor Leh-
man and its requests for restora-
tion of salaries and increments
and time service with additional
proof of the need of these. Since
the conference several large em-
ployers in private lines, the Dela-
ware and Hudson Railroad Co.
and the United States Steel Co.
have announced restoration of
salaries. The charts on cost of
living increases, furnished the
Governor, are being utilized by
the Salary Committee to correctly
inform groups of citizens inter-
ested. There is considerable op-
timism that the Governor's bud-
get which will go to the Legisla-
ture February Ist will recognize
our appeal.
Mr. Duskis of the Labor De-
partment, New York City Office
Building, called at headquarters
recently with a small delegation
of workers, and together with
Secretary McDonough visited Di-
rector of the Budget Weber and
reiterated the appeals of this As-
sociation for the restoration of sal-
aries, increments and time service.
Mr. McDonough also made a
strong plea for attention to pro-
vision for abolition of the long
day in State institutions in view
of the apparent sympathy of the
present Legislative Committee
now studying the matter. Through
the courtesy of Director Weber
the visitors from New York City
were later introduced to Governor
Lehman.
Association headquarters is the
center of visiting groups from all
parts of the State and of many
communications’ showing the
growing recognition on the part of
employees of the need for a cen-
tral headquarters and united action
in securing favorable executive,
legislative and administrative at-
tention to State employee matters.
All State employee matters are
settled in Albany by the Governor,
the Legislature, the Civil Service
Commission, the Director of the
Budget, or administrative officers,
and State employees can expect
and Increments
little thought to their problems un-
less they are presented in an or-
derly, united way. Association
headquarters are open every day,
the year around. The Governor
has indicated strongly his desire
that employees submit their plans
in a united way.
Thousands of memberships have
already been received, and hun-
dreds are coming in each day, in-
dicating the confidence and high
esteem in which Association ef-
forts are held. Some groups are
already enrolled 100% for 1935.
It is doubtful if any organization
in the country receives such fine
voluntary support on the part of
its membership as does this As-
sociation. It is truly a case of all
for one and one for all; a great
cooperative effort that deserves
success,
Governor Lehman
Acts Quickly
Governor Lehman did not hesitate
to act quickly when the provision in
the Mortgage Authority Bill making
possible the appointments of certain
officers without regard for civil
service law was brought to his at-
tention. This Association last year
hailed Governor Lehman as a Civil
Service Governor, and the outstand-
ing champion of the merit system
and of efficiency in governmental
functioning. He is standing on hon-
est ground when he lays aside the
personal and political pressure so
hard for many to resist and faces
squarely the responsibility that is
above all other considerations, name-
ly, the highest welfare of the State.
This he never fails to do. When
mortgage legislation was up last year
the Association was obliged to take
serious exception to disregard for
civil service in one of the measures.
Great praise is due Hon, H. Eliot
Kaplan of the Civil Service Reform
Associaition for his watchfulness in
the case of this bill, and the good
efforts he is constantly putting forth
for the protection of civil service
principles.
A Meeting With
Highway Group
Mr. R. M. Howard, Buffalo;
Mr. T. J. Cobey, Poughkeepsie;
Mr. John Jahn, Albany; Mr. E.
W. Dayton, Babylon, Mr, E. E.
Stickney, Binghamton; Mr. T. F.
Nicols, Hornell; Mr. Fred Koer-
mer, Rochester; Mr. J. H. Hen-
dricks, Watertown, Mr. J. Mc-
Keon, Syracuse; Mr. F. F, Ring-
rose, Utica called at headquarters
of the Association on January 14
and conferred with Secretary Mc-
Donough relative to matters of
interest to all employees. The
questions relating to need for State
and Federal appropriations to care
for highway and other public im-
provements in order that the State
may cope with the apparent needs,
were discussed and plans were
made to bring the matters to the
attention of proper officials. The
Committee met with Commis-
sioner Brandt on January 15th.
The matter of an enforced fur-
lough in the engineering force of
the Department of Public Works
in view of depleted funds brings
again to the fore the wisdom of
attention to stabilization of work
and the great loss to the State in
sacrificing for even a short per-
iod the services of the highly effi-
cient force of engineers which
has been built up in this Depart-
ment throughout a number of
years. It is probable that there
does not exist in any private or
public agency in the world such
a well trained, experienced and
thoroughly competent personnel
as that of the New York State
Department of Public Works.
Their achievements in New York
road building and in other depart-
ments of public construction are
outstanding. All State employees
are urged by this Association to
write to their representative in
Congress urging that a liberal ap-
propriation for public works in
this State be supplied so that the
services of this engineering group
be not lost at any time to public
service. Governor Lehman should
also be appealed to the end that
needed State appropriations may
be forthcoming.
February
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
5
State Employees Launch
Their Local Chapter
“Headed by Rufus Jarnagin as
Executive chairman and Henry
Seilheimer as executive secretary, a
strong organizing committee of the
Association of State Civil Service
Employees has been working for the
past several weeks to perfect the
formation of a Buffalo chapter of
the State association, Several meet-
ings have been held and on Wednes-
day noon a total of 387 had been
reported as having joined out of a
total eligible list of 1,054 persons.
The formation of the local chapter
signifies, not a new organization
parallel to the present state associ-
ation or separate from it, but a new
method of functioning which will
bring the membership into closer re-
lationship with one another in the
various districts, In the past, the
contact of the individual member
with the association has been
through the headquarters at Albany.
It is now believed that sub-division
of the general body into local chap-
ters will enable the Association to
serve its purposes more efficiently,
Formation of the local chapter
will enable state employees to con-
duct social and other local enter-
prises, to participate if the members.
desire it, in such general civil service.
activities as the proposed Erie
County Civil Service Forum, and to
take action on matters which con-
cern civil service employees at this
end of the state, but which do not
concern the membership in the state
as a whole.”
The Buffalo chapter is the second
to get under way, New York City
being the first to organize locally
under the new plan, No additional
fee is required for membership in
the local chapter.
The foregoing is an excerpt from
the Civil News of Buffalo. A tem-
porary committee has been appointed
for Utica to set up a chapter there
and it is hoped that similar chapters
will soon be formed in Rochester,
Syracuse and other large centers.
These local chapters with eventual
representation on the state-wide ex-
ecutive committee, will greatly tend
to strengthen our association and
make it truly state-wide,
Represented on the committee are
members from practically all of the
sub-divisions of state activities in
Buffalo. The committee consists
of the following persons: Rufus
Jarnagin, Bureau of Rehabilita-
tion, executive chairman; Henry
Seilheimer, Department of Taxa-
tion and Finance, executive secre-
tary; Willard Tillman, State Con-
servation Department; Dr. A. S.
Dean, State Department of Health;
Charles R. Waters, Department of
Public Works; Mary Herbster, Pub-
lice Service Commissioner; George
W. Elson, Department of Social
Welfare; George Dise, State Bank-
ing Department; Joseph M. Ryan,
State Liquor Authority; James P.
Cotter, State Department of Law;
Joseph Dworzanowski, Superin-
tendent of Building; William G.
Schoenwetter, State Department of
Labor; William Jordan, Division
of Factory Inspection; Fred Dopp,
Division of Employment Bureau;
Theodosia Hewlett, Division of La-
bor Junior Replacement; Leon D.
Spink, Department of Agriculture
and Markets; Dr. Woodward Claris,
Department of Agriculture and Mar-
kets; Harry G. DuPress, State Par-
ole Board; John Keating, State In-
surance Fund; Frank P. Johnston,
State Education Department; Fred
Slaper, Steward State Hospital; Dr.
Burton Simpson, State Cancer La-
boratory; Dr. Harry Rockwell, State
Normal School, and George Unger,
Niagara Frontier Park Commission.
Utica Chapter
In line with the organization of
employees throughout the State, a
committee has been appointed at
Utica to organize all State Employ-
ees located in the Utica Area into
a chapter of this Association, Mr. A.
H. Van Auken of the State Em-
ployment Service, 210 Columbia St.,
Utica, has been appointed temporary
Chairman of a committee which con-
sists of ; Roscoe C. Griffith, Utica
State Hospital; Fred J. Graff, State
Tax Dept, 210° Orinskany St. East
Utica; and William J. O'Brien,
Dept. of Public Works, 109 N. Gen-
esee St. Utica.
100 Per cent Support
From time to time as reported to
Headquarters, notice of the attain-
ment of 100% membership support
for 1935 in the various groups of
State employees will be carried in
this magazine.
To date the following groups sup-
port the Association by 100% mem-
bership:
Finger Lakes State Park Commis-
sion, Ithaca, the representative of
which is W. J. Mitchell.
Niagara State Reservation, Niagara
Falls, the representative which is
Michael F, Senf.
Agriculture and Markets Dept.,
Rochester, the representative of
which is H, S, Duncan.
Rehabilitation Bureau of State
Education Dept. in Rochester, the
representative of which is Leslie W.
Wood.
Rehabilitation Bureau in Syracuse,
the representative of which is D. J.
Cavanaugh.
Doubtless other groups have al-
ready attained 100% membership for
1935 and these groups should 60
notify Headquarters so that they
may be placed on this list.
New York Chapter
Through the energetic work of
the new President of the New York
City Chapter, Mr. John Ferguson,
and the Oragization’s new Rep-
resentative, Miss Marjorie I. Hirsch,
this Chapter has greatly increased
its membership and expects to con-
tinue to grow.
It has established Service that will
be of special value to Civil Service
Employees, in view of the fact that
there is no office of the Civil Service
Commission in the New York City
State Office Building.
Civil Service Employees seem to
have awakened from their previous
lethargy and indifference, and as is
true in other fields of endeavor the
Employee is looking to organized
effort to help improve his condi-
tion. We are looking forward for
a great year in both directions,
MARY J. JOHNSEN,
Secretary, _
ee
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
February
Why Stop Learning?
The very rapidly changing social
and economic conditions of life
today require a continuous plan
of “studying and learning” if one
is to live with any satisfaction to
himself. Through knowledge one
gains a better means of control
on the conditions of life, a fitness
to become more intelligently a
planner of one’s own destiny.
This adjustment is never a com-
pleted process, for so rapid is the
progress of’science and of knowl-
edge that unless we make effort
to learn apace, we soon cease to
be educated at all. So it is that
there is now such emphasis on the
necessity for continuing the edu-
cational process through life. As
Dorothy Canfield Fisher asks in
her very stimulating book of the
same title, “Why Stop Learning?”
The acquiring of knowledge en-
riches life in many ways. It may
make us more useful in our oc-
cupations or more intelligent as
citizens; it may serve to develop
personal power and character, to
widen our interests and under-
standing and thus bring us to
greater enjoyment of life.
It may be argued that “life it-
self is the greatest teacher” and
certainly there is no gainsaying
the fact that Experience brings
with it wisdom and skill, But
this undirected, trial and error
method of gaining knowledge is a
slow, painful process. As Henry
Ford has so wisely observed, “the
great trouble with the school of
experience is that the course is
so long that the graduates are too
old to work.”
There is here in Albany in the
Albany Center of New York Uni-
versity an excellent opportunity
for anyone to continue his educa-
tional interests. The Center, es-
tablished this fall by the Civil
Service Employees Association in
cooperation with New York Uni-
ALBANY
WALLPAPER -DU PONT PAINT
35s IA EL CENTRAL AVE
- Anson |/ |hompson (o.
PHONE £51613
versity offers the only university
extension courses in Albany. No
prerequisites are required, only an
active interest in the subject.
It is aimed eventually to have
the Center offer facilities for study
in any subject in which the adults
of the Capitol district show in-
terest. The program offered at
present is varied, although em-
bracing only twelve courses.
Some courses which do not re-
quire a knowledge of the first
term’s work for intelligent under-
standing of the work following
are open to new students the
second semester. Registration
takes place the week of January
28th at Room 155, State Capitol.
Information may be had at any
time by telephoning Miss Slattery,
Resident Secretary of New York
University, 3-4610.
The following courses are open
to new students for the second
term.
General Art—This is open to both
inexperienced and experienced
art students. Class is divided
into groups and comment and
instruction given as the abili-
ties shown require.
Business English—Remedial Eng-
lish grammar exercises, essen-
tials of letter writing—reports—
are some of the subjects to be
covered.
Both Elementary and Advanced
Interior Decorating.
Modern Literature — Survey of
English and American novel and
drama from 1895 to the present.
Psychology—A brief review of the
first term's work will be given
at the beginning of the second
semester.
Better Speech and Public Speaking
—Permission to take these
courses will be given new stu-
dents who have sufficient back-
ground to be able to carry the
work successfully.
Civil Service Progress
in New York City
From Annual Report of Mayor La
Guardia on his administration, 1934,
The efficiency of the Civil Service
is the efficiency of the city govern-
ment, With general public support
and under Commissioner James Fin-
egan’s guidance, the Civil Service
Commission has at last been receiv-
ing a deserved amount o! attention.
The attack on the exempt or political
position has continued; 125 positions
involving many jobs, are now com-
petitive. Civil Service employees
can now be promoted as a result of
honest examinations. No politician
can pull a string to change the re-
sult, This has involved technical
changes. For instance, physical ex-
aminations, which were formerly a
fearful and wonderful secret process
are now mechanically openly record-
ed in the presence of the applicant,
as well as the examiner, and the
irregularities suspected to have taken
place in the past are now imposible.
Mental tests, re-devised, are fairly
given and fairly marked. Employees
will do the work they are hired for,
so that a $3,000 policeman will
not be assigned to do a $1,200 clerk’s
job.
If the Civil Service is ever intim-
idated or corrupted, the whole
structure breaks down. We have
commenced to make that service a
real career. To paraphrase Napol-
eon, every civil service employee has
in his pocket a Commissioner's ap-
pointment. Career men are at the
head of the Police, the Fire, Cor-
rections, Health and Dock Depart-
ments. Other career men hold com-
manding deputyships and commiss-
ions in Sanitation and other depart-
ments. The Civil Service of New
York is at last becoming what it
ought to be; the permanent career
staff of government. If nothing else
has been done, this would make the
past year’s work worth while,
Tee Sewelry
Pane
GHGOLD
February
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
Essay Contest
At a recent meeting of the Ex-
ecutive Committee of the Associa-
tion, it was decided by unanimous
vote to conduct an essay contest
open to students in colleges and
universities and high schools of the
State, and to Boy and Girl Scouts
of the State, with an award of $25.00
to the successful contestant in each
of the four groups —college or uni-
versity; high school; and Boy Scout,
and Girl Scout organizations.
The Education Committee of the
Association, Dr. Istar C. Haupt,
Chairman, will have charge of the
details of the essay contest. That
Committee announces that plans for
the contest are crystallizing rapidly.
The subject of the essay will be
“The State Civil Service System.”
Tt was decided to set the opening date
at February 4, 1935, which is the
beginning of the new term in most
schools, and the closing date at April
1, 1935, so that it may be possible to
announce the results before the end
of the school year. - Announcements
will be sent to the Principal of every
high school in the State and to all
of the Scout Leaders and the Deans
of all the colleges in the State. The
Education Committee further decid-
ed that the minimum length should
be two hundred words and the maxi-
mum length three hundred words.
Further details will be announced
as the contest progresses,
This contest will arouse tremend-
ous interest in the merit system in
the minds of many who will soon
become citizens of the State, and
will Jikewise attract the attention of
fathers and mothers to the inherent
value to their children resident in
the fair play principle of employ-
ment which is an underlying virtue
of the civil service system,
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Lunch 400-50c Also @ la Carte
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Green St. orr STATE
Tar Room
Legislative Bills of Interest
Senate Intro. No. 53
Senator Desmond — amending
Labor Law providing no State
employee shall work more than
48 hours a week or more than 6
days a week, including employees
on public works.
Similar bills introduced in Sen-
ate by Senator Hanley and in As-
sembly by Assemblyman Oster-
tag.
Senate Intro. No. 57—Senator
Desmond—Amends Sec. 112, Cor-
rection Law, so as to limit hours
of guards and other uniformed
employees in State Prisons and
reformatories to eight hours a
day for six days, at least one day
a week to be a day of rest.
Similar bill introduced by Sen-
ator Garrity.
Senate Intro. No. 189 and As-
semblyman Lavery—Assemb. In-
tro. No. 143.
Senate Intro. No. 124—Senator
Feld—Amending Labor Law to
require one day rest in seven
for various workers including
State and municipal workers.
Senate Intro. No. 77—Senator
McCall—Provides applicant for ex-
amination for positions in com-
petitive class must be citizen of
United States and have been a
resident of State for twd years
immediately preceding date of
examination.
Senate Intro. No. 102—Senator
McCall—Provides that if a mem-
ber of retirement system has been
discontinued from the State serv-
ice by reason of the transfer to
federal government of the office
in which such member was em-
ployed, or if on or after Decem-
ber Ist, 1933, an individual mem-
ber changes his employment and
is employed by the federal govern-
ment, such person shall be a mem-
ber of the State retirement sys-
tem while he remains in the em-
ploy of the federal government,
paying upon basis of his federal
salary.
Assembly Intro. No. 175—Mr.
Helfand—Prohibits holding civil
service examinations on the Sab-
bath or other religious holy days,
with exceptions covering those
not interested in certain holy days
or where similar tests are open
at other times to those observing
holy days.
Senate Intro. No. 108—Senator
Wojtkowiak—Opening up until
January 1, 1936, opportunity to
elect to contribute on basis of re-
tirement age of 55.
The Legislative Committee of
the Association, together with
Counsel, is closely scrutinizing
all bills introduced and will take
such action favorable or unfavor-
able as the bills merit with rela-
tion to the benefit of State serv-
ice and State employees.
Legislation by the Civil Service
Commission to clear up the situa-
tion with respect to legality of
titles now in use in view of recent
court decisions is also being con-
sidered with Counsel DeGraff of
this Association.
A retirement bill to provide pos-
sibility of withdrawal from the 55
year plan by those wishing to do
so will be introduced, as will one
permitting hospital employees or
others to transfer to the State
system,
Join or Renew
TODAY!
FOR JERSEY
MILK
“a mae
CENTRAL
DAIRY
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
February
Committee Appointments — 1935
Special Committees Appointed by
the President in Addition to
the Executive Committee
General Committee
Miss Helen O'Neill, Joseph
Burgess, Miss Evelyn Patton,
Charles W. Swim, James Dillon,
Miss Nina Foran, Miss May Fitz-
gerald, Miss Olive E. West, Miss
Grace E, Keck, J. J. Bergin, C.
F. Blanchard, Mr. Cottrell, J. C.
Federick, R. J. Keays, F. T. Wal-
lace, W. D. Bauer, Miss Helena
Grimm, Edward S. Davis, J.
Somers, Mrs. Lila Papen, Miss
Eveleine Leisk, Miss ‘argaret
Flood, Mrs. E. S. Ford, Stephen
A, Smith, Jr, John T. Higgins.
State Advisory Committee
H. S. Duncan, Agriculture, Ro-
chester
G. C. Schilly, Agriculture, Syra-
cuse
M. Senf, St. Reservation, Niag-
ara Falls
A. J. Scanlon, Park Com., Baby-
lon
G. A. VanArsdale, Park Com,
Castile
J. E. Evans, Park Com., Bing-
hamton
W. J. Mitchell, Park Com.
Ithaca
P. S. Winslow, Park Com.,
Poughkeepsie
J. L. McGraw, Park Com., Red
House
T. R. Temple, Saratoga Springs
Com., Saratoga
Mrs. L. F. Shuart, Washington’s
Headquarters, Newburgh
Miss C. Lathrop,
School, Albion
J. McDonald, St. Prison, Attica
W. R. Zink, St. Prison, Auburn
Dr. R. F. C. Kieb, St. Hospital,
Beacon
Wm. T. Johnson, State Farm,
Bedford Hills
J. A. Wilson, St. Prison, Com-
stock
T. Healy, St. Hospital, Danne-
mora
R. E. Empey, St. Prison, Dan-
nemora
C. E, Callear, St. Reformatory,
Elmira
A. A. Storie,
‘Napanoch
Training
State Institute,
H. Masson, St. Prison, Ossin-
ing
J. B. Hill, House of Refuge,
Randall’s Island
K. R. Neice, St. Prison, Wallkill
G. J. Craemer, Teachers College,
Albany
E. J. Lantman, Teacher's Retire-
ment Fund, Albany
A. E. Champlain, Agric. School,
Alfred
Van C. Whittemore,
School, Canton
Miss A. V. Borek, Agric. School,
Cobleskill
Agric.
H. L. Smith, Agric. School,
Delhi
Miss F. MacDougall, Agric.
School, Farmingdale
I. M. Charlton, Agric. School,
Morrisville
Miss E. B. Garnham, Normal
Sch. Brockport
H. Dew Groat, Normal Sch.,
Cortland
L. R. Gregory, Normal Sch.,
Fredonia
Miss F. A. Brown, Geneseo
Miss A. L. Barteld, Normal Sch.,
New Paltz
Miss E. H. James, Normal Sch.,
Oneonta
J. G. Riggs, Normal Sch., Os-
wego
G. K. Hawkins,
Plattsburg
Miss L. Hutson, Normal Sch.,
Potsdam
U. P. Hedrick, Agric. Station,
Geneva
Miss M. R. Miller, Forestry Col-
lege, Syracuse
L. W. Wood,
Div., Rochester
D. J. Cavanaugh, Rehabilitation
Div., Syracuse
L. Catanni, EMPIRE STATE
training ship, N. Y. C.
Miss C. McGavis, Health Insti-
tute, Buffalo
J. J. Farrington, St. Hospital,
Ray Brook
J. B. Kelly, Reconstruction
Home, W. Haverstraw
P, J. McGlade, Labor
Syracuse
P. Shea, Labor Dept., Utica
D. Hausman, Div. of Employ-
ment, Albany
Normal Sch.,
Rehabilitation
Dept.,
M. T. Foley, Employment Div.,
Binghamton
F. W. Dopp, Employment Div.,
Buffalo
W. Eaton, Employment Div.,
Elmira
J. A. Forrest, Insurance Fund,
Albany
J. R. Hayes, Insurance Fund,
Rochester
E, F. Carr, Insurance Fund,
Syracuse
M. P. Devlin, Insurance Fund,
NL YG
F, E, Strong, St. Hospital, Bing-
hamton
M. F. Grant, St. Hospital,
Brooklyn
A. P. Driscoll, St. Hospital,
Queens Village
J. Sarrow, St. Hospital, Buffalo
R. L. Young, St. Hospiital,
Helmuth
R. L. Young, St. Hospital,
Middletown
Miss H. M. Wylke, St. School,
Newark
A. Eitzen, St. Hospital, Pough-
keepsie
J. J. White, St. Hospital, Ro-
chester
Miss R. L. Connell, St. School,
Rome
R. E. Jones, Craig Colony, Son-
yea
E, F. Palmatier, St. School,
Syracuse
C. W. Kelly, St. Hospital, Syra-
cuse.
R. C. Griffith, St.
Utica
J. O'Kane, St. Hospital, Brent-
wood
F. A. Slaper, St. Hospital, Buf-
falo
J. McKiernan, St. Hospital, Cen-
tral Islip
R. Gilmer, St. Hospital, Kings
Park
Miss E. Kuehnle, St. Hospital,
Marcy
H. Redmond, St. Hospital, Og-
densburg
Wm. J. Oshinsky, St. Hospital,
Wards Island
Miss A. V. Hamilton, St. Sch.,
Wassaic
Miss E. L. Tharp, St. Hospital,
Willard
Continued on Page 9
Hospital,
February
’ THE STATE EMPLOYEE
Committees
W. F. Albrecht, St. Hospital,
‘Wingdale
Dr. N. Kopeloff, Psychiatric In-
stitute, N. Y. C.
J. B. Martyn, St.
‘Wards Island
S. S. Walbridge, Highway Div.,
Babylon
S. H. Anderson, Highway Div.,
Binghamton
J. W. Gould, Highway Div.
Hornell
Miss E. M. Thomas, Highway
Div., Poughkeepsie
C. V. O'Malley, Highway Div,
Rochester
S. M. Witbeck, Highway Div.,
Syracuse
Hospital,
W. J. O'Brien, Highway Div.,
Utica
J. A. Young, Highway Div.,
Watertown
G. E. McFarland, Highway Div.,
Sterling Sta.
E. Downs, Highway Div.
Brockport
H. Kolpien, Highway Div.,
Westfield
J. McChesney, Highway Div.,
Bath
A. Ten Eyck, Highway Div.,
Tompkins Cove
L, J. Rieger, Highway Div.,
Binghamton
H. L. Cooke, Highway Div.,
Hamburg
Wm. J. Schrieber, Canal Div.,
Syracuse
F. B. Holmes, Canal Div., Ft.
Edward
W. F. Lysett, Canal Div., Utica
F. J. Florence, Canal Div., N.
Y¥. Cc.
C. Gerwig, Canal Div., Amster-
dam
Jesse Yerman, St. School, Ba-
tavia
M. Coltrane, St. School, Hudson
J. F. McMahon, St. School, In-
dustry
J. C. Brennan, St. School, Iro-
quois
C. F, Gilday, St. Home, Oxford
J. J. Marcoux, St. School, War-
wick
J. A. Scurry, Tax Dept., Brook-
lyn
F, J, Graff, Tax Dept., Utica
J. Mangan, Tax Dept. Roches-
ter
A. A. Kocher, Tax Dept., Syra-
cuse
The Civil Service System or
Demoralization of Government
Every day that passes brings a
closer scrutiny of public acts by
the citizen of intelligence and pa-
triotism. No longer is there that
indifference which marked the
days of easy living. Millions are
being spent and thousands of new
workers are entering the employ
of the Federal Government. The
more government activity grows
and the more people there are who
receive their livelihood from the
government through government
employment, the more necessary
it is in the interest of actual pres-
ervation of government itself
that fair play of the highest type
prevail in the selection of public
workers.
The assurance of merit and fit-
ness on the part of public em-
ployees is only one attribute of the
civil service system. Of as great
importance is the fact that every
citizen has under this employment,
system a fair and equal chance
to serve his or her country, state,
city or county. This is one of the
reasons that Theodore Roosevelt
said that the civil service system
was as American as the public
school system itself. With an ef-
ficient civil service system in op-
eration it isn’t. a case of uncles
or aunts, nephews or nieces, sis-
ters or brothers, sons or daugh-
ters of appointing officers; it isn’t
a case of friends of the political
boss or adherents of a political
party; it isn’t a case of what
church you belong to, or from
what race you may have sprung.
It is a case of a fair and equal
chance for every boy or girl, every
man or woman, rich or poor, who
has the ability to measure up to
the requirements of the job that
is to be done.
What a contrast this fair play
system presents to the patronage
plan which demands party or per-
sonal obligations, favors one
young man or young woman over
another, and rests upon the quali-
fication “Who do you know?” and
not “What do you know?”
And by what stretch of the im-
agination do political leaders think
that they can gain strength by
this favoritism? Let's be fair
about this thing and give the sys-
tem its rightful place in our po-
litical party life. Nothing does
more to bring success to any party
than to be successful in its ad-
ministration of public affairs. The
United States government and no
other government is at this time
strong enough to withstand the
partisan politics that thrives on
patronage. It is a case of either
giving up the patronage or de-
moralizing the government, We
do not think there will long con-
tinue any citizen who is bold
enough to gamble in this way
with the Nation’s well-being.
The times, and the logic of the
civil service system in public em-
ployment, demand that this sys-
tem be utilized in the manning of
every public enterprise.
courtesy.
BOULEVARD
MILK
Milk from the finest farms, pasteurized and
bottled in a plant that could not be better —
and delivered with dependability,
Telephone 4-4158
care and
10
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
February
Abolition Month
February, 1935
Continued from Page 3
the State, and in the upbuilding of
social, educational, and religious
institutions with which these State
servants are affiliated.
The very apparent social and
economic reasons for the abolition
of the longer than eight hour day
will remain as ample justification
for the shorter day and the em-
ployment of the necessary number
of citizens of the State to establish
a maximum eight hour day.
However, there is another sound
and convincing reason brought to
the fore at this time with the
thought and planning for econom-
ical adjustments affecting former
salaried citizens now faced with
long continued unemployment, and
in dealing with which situation the
State as well as the National and
local governments have been call-
ed upon to appropriate immense
sums. It is now fairly well under-
stood that unemployment is chron-
ic as well as epidemic in character.
To the sum of $20,000,000 origin-
ally appropriated for expenditures
by the Temporary Relief Admin-
istration in 1931, further grants
have been made by the State of
$5,000,000 under Chapter 567, Laws
of 1932, a bond issue of $30,000,000
voted in November 1932; a bond
issue of $60,000,000 voted in Nov-
ember, 1933, and a bond issue of
$40,000,000 voted in November,
1934, This makes a total of $155,-
000,000. There has seldom if ever
been heard even a suggestion that
the expenditure of unemployment
relief funds should not be as far as
humanly possible, for constructive,
desirable, work. The establish-
ment of a maximum eight hour
day in State service is a construc-
tive and moral work. Obviously,
the citizens of the State will pay,
eventually, the cost of all of the
unemployment relief whether it is
by direct budgetary grant or bond
issues. The point that has not
been stressed by those directing or
fostering solution of the unemploy-
ment problem is that by diverting
only the comparatively small sum
of $5,000,000 or less each year to
the employment of the additional
help required to establish a maxi-
mum eight hour day in State in-
stitutions the relief side of the
financial problem would be solved
in the case of at least 16,000 citi-
zens and good employment and
social practices would prevail in-
stead of the socially and econom-
ically out-of-line long day, now in
vogue. Surely the people of the
State would understand the addi-
tional appropriation necessary to
abolish the twelve hour or longer
day if it was explained to them in
the logical way outlined above, and
if it was shown that it does not
entail an additional expenditure.
Relief expenditures would be re-
duced by that amount. There is
no mystery to it—all citizens are
paying for unemployment relief—
why not pay for services rendered,
39-43 STATE STREET
Albany Hardware & Iron Co.
ALBANY, NEW YORK
“Complete Sport Equipment”
Nestor Johnston Skates Outstanding
Ski, Snow Shoes Values
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Ski Suits
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Prices Sweaters
SPORT DEPARTMENT—MAIN FLOOR
why not pay living wages to four
thousand additional workers who
in turn would support sixteen to
twenty thousand through their
family ties, and simultaneously
bring a healthful and efficient em-
ployment policy into play?
Way back in 1931, the Counsel
for this Association, J. S, Carter,
and the Legislative Committee of
the Association, prepared a bill to
abolish the twelve hour day in
State service. It was introduced
in the Legislature of that year,
at the request of the Association,
by Senator Thomas A. Desmond.
Agitation for this reform began
many years previous to the intro-
duction of this measure. It was.
the hope of its early champions
that administratively at least the
plan would be begun.
This bill was reintroduced in
1932, 1933 and 1934, and it has
been introduced again in the pres-
ent legislature of 1935. Last year
several other bills along the same
line, and urged by the Associa-
tion, some of them carrying ap-
propriations, were introduced.
Also, last year, this Association
presented to Senator Michael J.
Kernan and Assemblyman Harold
Ostertag a legislative resolution
which was finally adopted, calling
for a study of hours of work and
employment conditions in State
institutions. This Committee will
report to the Legislature on Feb-
ruary 1 of this year, and with
their recommendations will doubt-
less come an outline for necessary
legislation. It seems certain that
the Committee will be favorable
to the abolition of the long day.
A review of the bulletins and
files of this Association, shows
thousands of communications in-
cluding news items, letters, wires,
and articles in the Association’s
official magazine urging the aboli-
tion of the long day. A review
of committee meetings shows long
hours spent with executive, legis-
lative and administrative heads
seeking support and advancement
of the proposal, In the Associa-
tion issue of March, 1931, part of
a long appeal reads: “The Asso-
ciation believes that the abolition
of the long day is not only sound
in a business sense but that it
Continued on Page 12
|
February
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
11
Promotions in State Service
Continued from Page 3
doing that job well. If they have
not mental ability sufficient to ad-
vance, that is another matter, but
no one should be penalized for ef-
ficiency.
Could we go one step further?
Must promotions be limited to De-
partments or could there be a state
wide list? The Civil Service Com-
mission under paragraph 2 of Rule
XIV has the right to set up such a
list. “Promotion shall be limited to
employees of a department or to
those serving in any duly established
bureau or branch office of a depart-
ment, but when deemed practicable,
the Commission may admit to an ex-
amination for promotion to any posi-
tion, persons holding similar posi-
tions in other departments.”
A new bureau or division is to be
set up. In many instances the begin-
ning salaries of a new division are
at a higher rate than salaries in long
established bureaus, Could not a
state wide promotion list be used
first, and then an open competitive
list?. It would seem that such a list
could be set up at the same time the
open competitive examination is giv-
en. Use the list as a basis for a
promotion list for the state employ-
ees taking it, and for an open com-
petitive list for all others. This
would still further carry out the in-
tent of the law that original ap-
pointment shall be made to the low-
est paid positions, It might not be
fair to ask that the last clerk ex-
amination be used as a basis for a
double list, as such an announce-
ment should be made in advance,
giving every state employee who
would be benefited by such an ex-
amination an incentive to take it.
A few of the Department heads
are taking active steps to encourage
the personnel at this time by making
promotions on a department wide
base. This is a decided advantage
over the Bureau promotions, es-
pecially in the very small bureaus
where without the department wide
system “you are in for life.” De-
partment wide promotions and fre-
quent promotion examinations will
have the tendency to keep everyone
mentally alert. May all department
heads and the Civil Service Com-
mission cooperate in making the pro-
motion lists what they should be,
and then may they use them,
The Commission of Inquiry on
Public Service Personnel says in
their January report.
“The transfer of employees from
position to position, and even from
department to department, is bound
up with the promotion system. It
is essential in the training process
particularly in dealing with the re-
cruits for the administrative service,
as we know from the practice of the
larger private businesses. It is a
splendid instrument also for dis-
covery. Many a man of the finest
capacity does not prove his worth in
his first or second assignment.
A regularly organized system of
promotion, maintained by the chief
executives through a properly estab-
lished personnel office, thus performs
three indispensable services: first
it makes the service attractive to
promising young men who will not
enter an employment which is
known not to give the opportunity
of advancement based on proved
merit; second, it results in an en-
ergetic staff by displacing the stag-
nant atmosphere of a stationary
service; and, third, it brings to the
top positions men who combine
energy with knowledge of public
administration, rather than parti-
sans, amateurs, or men, with or
without energy, who do not know
the public service. From the
standpoint, therefore, of the estab-
lishment and maintenance of a ca-
reer service, the promotion system
is indispensable.”
The “Steward’s List”
Appointment to the position of
Steward, Syracuse State School,
of a candidate who did not qualify
under the last examination for
this position, has led to the filing
of a request for review of approval
of appointment by the Civil Serv-
ice Commission,
Thousands of workers in insti-
tutions look forward to the posi-
tion of Steward as the reward for
good and faithful work in the
other institution positions leading
up to this one. None are so well
qualified to care for the duties in-
volved as are the men and women
who by constant every day tasks
and by special preparation through
long years in the institutions fit
themselves carefully and zealously.
Many such are on the present
eligible list. Why was this list
not used?
That an error occurred in this
instance seems wholly apparent.
Doubtless this will be corrected
by the Commission. Attorney De
Graff is handling the matter with
the Commission.
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12
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
February
Abolition Month
—February, 1935
Continued from Page 10
offers an investment in social bet-
terment that would repay the
people of the State far beyond
any monetary cost”. In the March,
1932, issue, we find: “We believe
that the time is fast approaching
when human considerations will
come first in the matter of finan-
cial appropriations both by public
and private business. There can
be no good reason, as has often
been stated before, for the merci-
less twelve-hour day when thou-
sands of workers cannot obtain a
chance to earn a living”. As part
of the Association’s campaign to
gain recognition of this paramount
question and to secure passage of
needed legislation in 1932, a mass
meeting was held in Chancellor's
Hall, Albany, on March 1, 1933,
at which Senator Desmond and
President McDonough spoke
strongly in favor of the abolition
of the long day. At a hearing
held by the joint Legislative La-
bor Committees in the Assembly
Chamber during the 1934. Legis-
lative, Mr. Colesanti, of the As-
sociation of Employees of the
Mental Hygiene Department, Mr.
McDonough and Counsel Tobin of
this Association, Senator Desmond
and many others pleaded for a re-
porting and passage of the maxi-
mum eight hour bills. Groups of
employees in the hospitals, prisons
and other institutions, and many
individual employees have done
valiant work in seeking favorable
attention to the matter. The As-
sociation’s special committees in
conferences with the Governor
have never failed to stress the
need for this reform,
Now we have come to another
Legislature. The problem is yet
unsolved. We have not lost
ground, We have made impor-
tant gains. There is no connec-
tion between the fact that only
seventy years ago on February 1,
1865, the Thirteenth Amendment
to the Constitution abolishing
slavery in this country was pro-
posed to the several states by the
38th Congress, except that it in-
dicates how until comparatively
recent times the intolerable social
condition of slavery was allowed
to flourish among a people sup-
posedly far advanced along the,
way of brotherly love. And the
abolition of slavery was fought
bitterly by those who feared the
cost of its abolition, Material
values loom large today. There
is still on the part of many, a
misty, hazy, uncertain evaluation
of the really important things of
life. Many people cannot yet
readily decide whether to hope
that the waters will not rise or to
build their houses upon a firm
foundation, whether to eat a pres-
ent full dish of pottage today or
to share it so that they too may
share tomorrow, whether to be
happy in indifference and trust to
chance or to work harder that
everyone may have a fair meas-
ure of contentment and happiness
throughout the years.
We propose February, 1935, as
Abolition Month—that it shall be
dedicated to the abolition of the
long day in State service. The
Governor of this State does not
oppose the principle underlying
the abolition of the long day. The
Legislature has not opposed it—
they have failed to act upon the
bills that have come up in the
past. They have never voted
either in Senate or Assembly upon
the proposal. Is not this the year
to raise our State employment
practices a little higher and to go
forward wisely and happily, by
abolishing forever the long day
from State service? This is an
appeal to every State worker in
every State institution in the
State, to every State employce
wherever he may be located, and
to every organized group of work-
ers within and without State serv-
ice, to appeal directly by letter,
telegram, petition and in person
to Governor Lehman and to each
individual member of the Legi:
lature asking that they take im-
mediate steps to abolish the long
day. And, every man and woman
has some friend outside their own
particular circle. To these, to
your pastors, to those in educa-
tional and health circles, to the
leaders of your local press, to your
merchants and professional and
skilled neighbors who will all
benefit by the plan, and to your
clubs and societies we ask that you
speak intelligently and informa-
tively and secure their mediation
with the Governor and with mem-
bers of the Legislature. Do this
at once. Make this February a
present-day successful Abolition
Month! Your Association through
its officers, committees, counsel
and headquarters will do its part.
February is Abolition Month!
——__
Secure a New Member
TODAY!
The Seal of Quality
Since 1876 the name of Killip has been a
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Phone 3-3281 for Killip Service
February
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
13
Looking Ahead
By W. F. McDonough
Note—The comments which will
appear in this column from time to
time have not all been passed upon
by the Association. Members of the
Association are asked to comment
upon any new proposals made and
their letters or @ synopsis of same
will be published as far as space will
permit.
THE MILLSTONE
Education has been described
as “the eternal debt of maturity
to childhood and youth.” Because
the majority of human beings are
still groping in the twilight of
ciivilization there is failure to un-
derstand that in education plus
religion lies the solution of every
social and economic and political
ill.
It may be useless at this time
to propose an educational plan
which would require compulsory
attendance at recognized classes
of instruction of every male up
to the minimum age of 22 and of
every female up to the minimum
age of 20, with necessities for stu-
dents and parents, when such are
not possessed by them, guaranteed
by the Government. This may
seem impracticable, nevertheless
in the opinion of the writer it con-
stitutes the salvation of social, po-
litical and economic freedom for
the future,
We have been drugging our-
selves for years with the empty
phrase “free education”, We have
advanced little beyond the creep-
ing stage so far as education is
concerned, Education is not free
to the great mass of young people
except as to the three R’s and
that type of education suffices only
for children’s needs, It does not
meet the needs of present or fu-
ture manhood and womanhood.
What a crime that without tre-
mendous sacrifice, often at the ex-
pense of the robust health re-
quired for the work of living, only
the rich can enjoy the fruits of
knowledge.
Consider what it would mean to
have every youth instructed in
matters of health, political and
economic freedom, given a knowl-
edge of natural resources and the
ways to utilize these fully to serve
human needs, and taught to de-
velop the natural senses for the
highest possible appreciation of
the beautiful and of the spiritual
things of life. Picture every fa-
ther and mother coming to the
establishment of home life, edu-
cated, trained for life's work,
ready to rear their own families
intelligently and along practical
ways? Consider the consternation
of the political shyster and the
industrial profiteer dealing not
with a million understanding citi-
zen workers, but with seventy-five
million! Is there any other way
to future freedom or happiness?
No, emphatically no! Either we
make education compulsory and
provide abundantly to make it uni-
versal throughout the Nation, and
also give every encouragement to
religious and to actively function-
ing sound moral and social insti-
tutions or we stumble along as
we have done during many cen-
turies but with increased suffering
and travail as time goes on.
Every person of voting age now
contributes nine cents a day to our
frightfully insufficient educational
system. And to ignorance, and
its children, crime, waste and in-
efficiency this same citizen pays
a vast toll of many billions
throughout the years.
. THE LITTLE HOUSE
Some weeks ago there was a
good deal of attention directed
to the presentation of a small type
of family dwelling which could
supply the needs of a normal mar-
ried couple intent upon filling its
every nook and corner with use-
fulness and happiness. Mrs.
Roosevelt dedicated such a house
in the center of the metropolis of
this State. A family house easily
becomes a real home. ;
“A house is made of rafters, of
beams and stones and piers;
A home is made of loving deeds
that last a thousand years.”
There is nothing so pathetic in
the whole of present problems as
the long streets of houses, thou-
sands of them, in our cities, side
by side, crowding each other and
crowding out sunshine and fresh
air and health, The home of to-
day should be the single family
home with a garden, a lawn and
an outlook that will inspire hope
and accomplishment.
Decentralization of industry, the
spreading out of our centers of
population over the broad expanses
of unused countryside is a vital
and fundamental need to perma-
nent recovery planning, The
Continued on Page 14
LANSING’S
504 BROADWAY
HOWARD J. CURTIS, Director
Telephone 4-6737
Make it. point to conmult with us now!
1
TRAVEL BUREAU
“We take the Ravel out of Travel’
ALBANY, N. Y.
INVERURIE
Famous pleasure spot of “the
Treasure Islands.” Glorious bath-
ing all winter in the soft, magic
water in the Harbour in front of
the hotel, and in the surf. Tennis,
riding, surf and sun bathing, sail
ing, archery, fishing. Golf _privil-
ege at famous Belmont Manor
course, near by. Visit the Sea
Gardens,
York
Avenue, New City,
Bermuda.
BERMUDA
See your Travel Agent or BERMUDA HOTELS, INCORPORATED, 500 Fifth
Penn. 6-0665. Or write our Hotel Managers
Warwick
BELMONT MANOR
Meeting place of 2 Continents.
Center of things in this quaint
foreign land. Dancing under the
moon and cedars. Eyery sport of
land and water, complete golf club,
championship golf course, tennis,
riding, surf and sun bathing, sail-
ing, archery, fishing.
14
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
February
Looking Ahead
Continued from Page 13
cheapening of cost of houses, the
distribution of home labor saving
devices, and the wider use of elec-
tric power offers a field that would
stimulate business enterprise as
nothing in the past has ever done.
This subject is of interest to
many State workers, as has been
pointed out frequently by this As-
sociation, because of the oppor-
tunity for the State of New York
to inaugurate a home building
policy for institution workers, the
cost of which could be amortized
through moderate rentals over
many years. The land is already
possessed by the State. It would
be a wise and profitable invest-
ment. All that is needed is vision
and will.
DOCTOR AND HOSPITAL
NEEDS
Recently a $1,120 per annum 22
year old clerk in the State service
visited a physician for a complete
physical examination. He had
been losing weight and was fear-
ful of some organic trouble. The
physician presented a bill of $30
and the hospital where he was
taken by the doctor for an hour’s
stay charged for X-rays and fluor-
oscopic examination $23 more.
The doctor could find nothing
wrong but prescribed a tonic.
Another State employee is in
debt for $700 hospital and doctor's
bills incurred within a year on ac-
count of home illness.
Very many citizens struggle
through life the debtors of doc-
tors and hospitals. Medical
science, among the greatest of hu-
man blessings, often leaves behind
as the aftermath of a successful
treatment of bodily ills, an un-
bearable mental worry over debts,
or at least a shadowing of accom-
plishment and happiness through
a whole lifetime.
A suggestion: Could not large
bodies of State workers or other
employed persons contribute to a
general fund a fixed health insur-
ance deposit monthly for them-
selves and their dependents, the
resulting fund to be used for doc-
tor and _ hospitalization fees?
Three thousand workers in the Al-
bany area making a contribution
of $25 yearly would make avail-
able a fund of $75,000, sufficient
to employ expert doctors and care
for many necessary operations.
The plan is as practicable and
sensible as any cooperative plan
ever suggested. A silly objection
to this sound release from a pos-
sible lifetime of economic misery
is that one must have his own
particular physician. So long as
people are ignorant enough to
hold fast to superstition and fear
they will reject wise plans for
foolish ones.
Let intelligent
workers give
thought to this idea, and more
than thought—get back of it,
and let small monthly payments
free them of illness worries. Co-
operative action will solve the
problem,
=. Civil Service and
Milk Control
Effective February 1, 1935, em-
ployees of the Milk Control Divi-
sion of the Department of Agri-
culture and Markets will be re-
quired to be drawn from eligible
lists furnished by the Commission
to the appointing officer. On ac-
count of the newness of the type
of work being done, open com-
petitive examinations will be nec-
essary for several positions of a
technical nature, for milk account
examiners, milk account auditors,
and milk control investigators.
Until examinations are held and
lists established the employees
will occupy provisional status.
N. Y. U. Courses
Page 6
Credit Union
For some time the Association has
been considering the establishment
of a credit union to serve State em-
ployees as to loans at reasonable
rates. Recently a group of em-
ployees in the State Office Building
at Albany organized a credit union
under the provisions of the Federal
Loan Act.
The Association is anxious that
State employees be protected against
Joan sharks in making any emer-
gency loans which they require,
They may well give serious consid-
eration to cooperative loan plans of
the type of credit unions whicti
would afford them opportunity for
any needed loan without the pay-
ment of usurious rates.
Further announcement with refer-
ence to the Albany credit union
will be forthcoming following a
more thorough investigation by the
Executive Committee of the Associ-
ation,
Patronize Our
Advertisers
The advertisers in this maga-
zine have faith in the State em-
ployees and their good business
sense. They would like to have
you trade with them. There are
hundreds of merchants who do
not advertise in this magazine.
Those who do are the leading
merchants in their different lines.
And as you trade with these ad-
vertisers who are friends of State
employees, tell them that you ap-
preciate their help in making pos-
sible our magazine, because the
ads do help. Perhaps you know
of some one who should have an
ad in the magazine. As you help
with all things help in this also
and tell them of the splendid pos-
sibilities of trading with State
employees. If you hear of an ad-
vertiser who wants business tele-
phone Mr, Lochner, 3-4610,
Patronize
Our Advertisers
February _ THE STATE EMPLOYEE
15
DE LUXE GLADIOLUS BULBS
Send Postal for List
Blooms Delivered in Office Building in Season
HOLMES GLADIOLUS GARDENS
ALTAMONT, N. Y.
Take Your FEET Off Your Mind
Aches and Pains Are Nature’s Warnnig to You
ORTHOMEC SYSTEM
Recognized Foot Relief Come in for Free Demonstration
R. VAN WORMER
1100 HOME SAVINGS BANK BUILDING
ALBANY, N. Y. Tel. 3-4979
Since 1872
B. J. E. MULLEN
Famous Soft Drinks
All the Best Beer, Ale and Porter
Phone 4/2268 or 4-2204
SLIGHTLY USED
Guitars $2.85
Can be played
Hawaiian or
Spanish
Ukuleles 95¢
Banjoes $3.75
WINN SCHOOL
of POPULAR MUSIC
19 Years at
392 CLINTON AV., ALBANY
UNI T Y of State Employees
is Now an Assured Fact.
5000 State Employees have already
enrolled in their single State-wide
Association during the first month
of the year.
This is indeed enthusiastic support.
PRINT NAME ABOVE PLAINLY
RESIDENCE
WORK ADDRESS
DEPT. EMPLOYED TITLE
INSTITUTION OR DIV.
Tue Association oF State Civit Service EMPLOYEES
oF THE State or New York
Room 156, State Capitol, Albany, N. Y.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION......... DUES TO DEC. 31, 1935—$1.00..............
$.50 of dues covers year’s subscription to “The State Employee”
RADIO
au evenly. cOOmM
Hotel Lexington now offers greater value than ever
before. Every guest has radio, with choice of four
programs...AT NO EXTRA CHARGE!
This popular new hotel is located in the center
of convenience, 3 blocks from Grand Central Sta-
tion and within 5 minutes’ walk of the famous Fifth
Avenue stores. 801 rooms, each with radio and
bath. Rates, $3 and up for one person.
HOTEL LAXINGTON
48TH STREET AT LEXINGTON AVENUE * NEW YORE
CHARLES E, ROCHESTER, Manager
Direction National Hotel Management Co., Inc., Ralph Hits, President « Ritz-Carlton,
Allantic City, Book-Cadillac, Detroit, Netherland Plaza, Cincinnati, Van Cleve, Dayton
5 Let Us Assure Your Comfort With
or AMBRICOAL
A Phone Call Will Secure Our Utmost Attention
JOHN T. D. BLACKBURN, Inc.
Since 1876—59 Years of Service
Deliveries in ALBANY, DELMAR, ELSMERE, SLINGERLANDS,
WATERVLIET, RENSSELAER, LATHAMS
Offices Yards
85 Central Ave. No. 1. Foot of Colonie St.
Stop 41Schdy Rd. No, 2. Stop 41 Schdy Rd.
Phone 38-1268
129 Water St.
11 No. Pearl St.
RELIANCE BRAKE SERVICE
Brake Specialists
Have Your Brakes Relined on Our
FOUR PAYMENT PLAN
Cor. SOUTH SWAN anp CHESTNUT STREETS
Phone 4-2521
WHITNEY'S|
IN
ALBANY
fraure
“Finds of the
Fortnight”
as pictured
twice a month
cxllites
VOGUE
These fashions are pre-
sented twice a month
on the release date
of the magazine.
e
THE FIRST. FASHIONS OF
THE MONTH..... SOLD
ONLY AT...
WHITNEY'’S
mm IN ALBANY
wo uopeoddy
AVGOL St 23eg
dyysszequiey esp
