THE
STATE EMPLOYEE
Volume 2 May and June, 1933 Number 4-5
AN HISTORIC CARTOON Th. NAST
“The Merit System of making ap- “The Civil Service System is abun-
pointments in public work is in its dantly justified by the fact that it
essence as democratic and American leads in the direction of good govern-
1 8 8 3 as the common school system itself.” ment.” 1 9 3 4
Theodore Roosevelt a
Fifty Years of Civil Service in New York State
SUMMER CAMP FOR STATE EMPLOYEES
Last year a most successful camp for State employees was conducted
by the State Employces Recreational Club, Inc., on Meacham Lake in Frank-
Accomodations for All
Accommodations on the property
include nine cottages and rooms in
other buildings. The camps are well
constructed and substantially fur-
nished—good beds and good mat-
tresses. There are fire places in
all are provided with
Altogether about 70 people
can be cared for at one time. These
supplied with pure
drinking water and with ample bath
facilities. There is an excellent
beach and a clearing of about 15
acres which furnishes space for all
outdoor sports.
some and
stoves,
buildings are
lin County, It will be good news to all State employces that Hon. Lithgow
Osborne, Commissioner of Conservation, has consented to the conduct of
the camp in the same location again this year. Lake Meacham is one of
the most beautiful of the Adirondack lakes; it is about two and one-half
miles long and a mile wide, with a sandy beach on the north end where
the camp is located. This camp site is right in the heart of an out-of-door
paradise.
coo
LOOKING ACROSS LAKE MEACHAM.
Sports for Whole Family
‘Tennis, baseball, quoits, swimming,
boating, fishing and other sports may
be enjoyed at the camp, There are
good golf courses within easy reach.
Mountain trails through wild coun-
try gives one a real opportunity to
Guides
There
is fine fishing in the lake—lake trout,
get acquainted with nature.
are available for hiking trips.
brook trout, perch and other species.
‘The camp is well supplied with boats.
Head waters of the St. Regis river
and many other nearby streams afford
fine trout fishing also.
Cottages
The cottage accommodations will
permit of family groups. It is nec-
essary for persons using the camp to
bring their own bedding and towels.
If you fail to bring sufficient supplies,
additional blankets, towels and linen
will be available at a nominal rental
through the Canteen, Of course, you
will be able to purchase cigarettes, to-
bacco, candy and the other little ne-
ies at the same place.
Convenient Location
Lake Meacham is about one-quar-
ter mile off the main road from Paul
Smith's to Malone. It is about 12
miles from Paul Smith's, about 25
miles from Saranac Lake and about
200 miles from Albany. There is no
In-
coming and outgoing partics may ar-
regular bus service to the camp.
range for special bus transportation
through the Club, Reasonable taxi
charges are in effect from Lake Clear
Junction (on N. ¥. C. R. R.) or Paul
Smith's.
Mail It Today!
Please fill out the application form
helow and mail at once to the State
imployees Recreational Club, Inc,
Box 48, Capitol, Albany. If you are
not already a member of the Club
be sure to remit with cach applica-
tion for all adults who are State em-
loyees and not members $2.00, which
is the membership fee entitling such
person to all membership rights and
privileges. In addition to member-
ship fee a deposit of $2.00 for each
adult must accompany the applica-
tion. State employees, their families
and friends are invited. Reserva-
Food Aplenty
Food is served to all persons at the
camp in a community dining room
maintained by the Club. Wholesome,
substantial camp fare is the general
rule, The maximum charge at the
camp this year will be $12.00 per
week, which is the rate for adults.
The rate for children not yet 10 years
of age will be $6.00 per week and
from 10 to 14 years inclusive $8.00,
tions will be made in order of receipt.
Camp will open July 1, 1933, Camp
weeks will begin at noon Sundi
APPLICATION FOR RESERVATIONS AT STATE EMPLOYEES’ RECREATIONAL CLUB, INC., CAMP
Reserve accommodations for: Adults.
Children...
...weeks beginning.
Number
.} ages (children).
ingle; ..
married ;
Date
Eaclose $2.00 deposit for each adult for whom reservation
is made. Names and addresses of persons for whom reser-
vations are desired.
Signed
Officers
W. F. McDONOUGH,
President
BEULAH BAILEY,
Vice-President
CHESTER A, LEWIS,
Recording Secretary
WM. J. PIERCE,
Financial Secretary
FRANK 0, BAUER,
‘Treasurer
CHARLES J. TOBIN,
Counsel
J. D, LOCHNER,
Business Mgr.
Headquarters
ROOM 156
STATE CAPITOL
ALBANY, N.Y,
General Committee
Witiram R. Arnotp
Wenster J. Brrosatt
Joun A. Cromiz
Josern O, Donwetty
Cuartorre P. Farrington
H. J. Fisner
Haze A. Foro
Ronert B. HaNzn
Jonun W. Henry
Joun T. Hiootns
Wiiuiam C. Hincxtey
Antnur_ S. Horxins
Emiry Kearney
R. J. Keays
Grace E, Kecx
LaviENe J, Leisk
ancis C, MAHER
Janes J. Manonzy
Dr, Honatio M, Portock
Cartes F, Proses
Currrorp Suoro
Sternen A, Saurn, Jr.
Wiiuram C, Smitir
James T. Sostzns
Exvizasetu Stacey
Cc. W. Swi
Cart D, Taytor
Samuet B, VINER
Jans R. Wenprese
Association Honors Fiftieth Birthday of Civil Service
Gov. Lehman Attends
The Civil Service System—rank-
ing among the fundamental neces-
sities of good government—was
honored by the Association of State
Civil Service Employees at a din-
ner held at the Hotel DeWitt
Clinton, Albany, on May 4th, com-
memorating the fifticth anniversary
t civil service act adopted
¢ of New York.
Governor Lehman, leaving an
important conference, attended the
dinner and made a brief address.
He recalled the dinner of the Asso-
ciation in 1929, one of the first he
attended in Albany as Lieutenant
Governor, at which time he en-
couraged employees to support
their Association, and said that he
was pleased that the Association
which then numbered only several
hundred had grown into an organi:
ion of many thousands. Said
Governor Lehman:
“You have made my task more
enjoyable and much easier during
the five years I have spent in Al-
bany, and I wish the Association
of Civil Service Employees con-
tinued success and growth in the
future for the good of the State
of New York.”
Miss Beulah Bailey, Vice-Presi-
dent of the Association, acted as
toastmistress and Chairman of the
Committee on Dinner Arrange-
ments, and was highly compliment-
ed for a splendid anniversary pro-
gram and a highly successful social
affair,
ASS'N CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ALBANY, N. Y.
REALIZATION OF THE PLEASURES OF MY PAST ASSOCIATION WITH
YOU ON THE OCCASION OF YOUR ANNUAL DINNERS SHARPENS
THE DISAPPOINTMENT THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF MY INABILITY TO BE
WITH YOU AGAIN STOP IN YOUR CELEBRATION OF FIFTY YEARS OF
CIVIL SERVICE IN NEW YORK STATE | FIND MY PART LIMITED OF
NECESSITY TO THIS VERY UNSATISFACTORY WAY OF GIVING YOU A
MESSAGE OF CORDIAL GREETINGS AND SINCEREST BEST WISHES TO
MY FORMER ASSOCIATES IN ALBANY.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
Lieut. Gov. Bray Speaks
Licutenant-Governor Bray, also
attended the dinner. He spoke
upon the value of the experienced
worker to the maintenance of good
government. The Lieutenant Gov-
ernor said
he civil service system sup-
plies the great need for that con-
tinuity in service of experienced
workers so essential in times of
political change. It is upon the
rank and file of workers well
trained in the intricate duties of
public service that the officers of
government depend largely for the
suc of their policies. I trust
that the time will come when state
employees will receive the compen-
sation which is justly due them for
the high character of work per-
formed for the public welfare.”
Col. William Gorham Rice, Pres-
ident of the State Civil Service
Commission, Hon. Mark Graves,
President of the State Tax Com-
mission, and W. F. McDonough,
President of the Association ad-
dressed the dinner guests,
Brief remarks were also made by
Dr. Frederick W. Parsons, Com-
missioner of Mental Hygiene, Hon.
Lithgow Osborne, Commissioner
of Conservation, Assistant Com-
missioner of Agriculture, C. P.
Norgord, Deputy Commissioner of
Labor, William J. Picard, and Miss
Grace Reavy, Deputy Secretary of
State.
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
May-June
© grand
entertainment
by a
grand band
every night at the
De Witt Clinton
ALBANY
° HUSTON RAY
and his orchestra, with
Clare Lewis Phil Brito
Blues Singer Balladist *
Playing and entertaining at
Dinner every night from 6
to 9 o'clock. And at the Sup-
per Dance from 10 o'clock to
closing. Supper Dance mini-
mum check, $1 per person
every night except Saturday.
Saturday minimum check
charge $2 per person.
Come tonight!
Sof FISHING TACKLE
ES ATHLETIC GOODS
‘AGsREEN ST Hudson Ave . %
JUDGE SAMUEL H. ORDWAY
President, Civil Service Reform
Association
It was but natural that the reform
in the civil service in this country
should have had its origin in New
York State. The spoils system really
originated under Aaron Burr, “the
original and arch intriguer of our
politics,” as Dorman B, Eaton often
referred to him. It was in the State
of New York and under Burr's ad-
vice in the early part of the nine-
teenth century that the first steps
were taken for the use of federal
patronage for partisan purposes, For
the guidance of his political friends
Burr in the Stateman’s Manual laid
down the code, “that the people at
elections were to be managed by the
same rules or discipline as the sol-
diers of an army; that a few leaders
were to think for the masses and the
latter were to obey implicitly their
leaders.” The first of Burr’s funda-
mental maxims was “politics is a
game the prizes of which are offices
and contracts.”
This “Burrian philosophy” was ex-
ploited to a high degree during the
70 years from 1810 to 1880, and
reached its zenith with the corrupt
administration of the Tweed ring.
It was when the State of New
York was emerging from this politi-
cal mire of “Tweedism” that one of
the most important contributions to-
ward recovery of decency in govern-
ment was made through the organ-
ization of the Civil Service Reform
Association of New York, in 1877.
The first few years of the Asso-
ciation’s existence were indeed criti
cal. The civil service reformers were
scoffed at and treated none too
kindly by the press. But in spite of
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constant discouragement, the Asso-
ciation, capitalizing the tragic assas-
sination of President Garfield by a
disappointed office-secker, forced
through the legislature under the
able leadership of Theodore Roose-
yelt and Governor Grover Cleveland
the first state civil service law.
This law, signed May 4, 1883, was
drafted by the Civil Service Reform
Association and was similar in most
respects to the basic provisions of the
first federal civil service law which
had been adopted only four months
earlier.
The original law remained substan-
tially the same for about ten years,
but in the course of that decade its
purposes had become almost nullified
by bad administration. An investi-
gation of the civil service system in-
stigated by the Civil Service Reform
Association in 1894 resulted in the
adoption by the state constitutional
convention of that year of an amend-
ment embodying the competitive sys-
tem of selection of public employees
as a fundamental principle of govern-
mental administration.
Only three years after the adoption
of this amendment to the constitu-
tion, Governor Black, in his first
message to the state legislature in
1897, made it quite clear that he was
utterly unsympathetic with the Civil
Service Law, referring to the system
built up by his predecessors in con-
temptuous terms and stating that the
“civil service would work better with
less starch.” He promised that leg-
islation which would make the civil
service system “more practical” and
which would permit appointing offi-
cers to select any person on the list
regardless of standing would mect
with his approval.
It was not very long after that the
legislature gave him what he asked
for, a measure known as the Black
Civil Service Act. And it was black
indeed. It provided that not more
than 50 percent might be alloted in
any examination held by the Civil
Service Commission for “merit,” and
that the rest of the examination
of applicants representing “fitness”
should be held by the appointing offi-
cer. All eligible lists then existing
were abolished and the new system
of examinations put into operation
immediately. The new law was so
abused, however, that the next year,
1898, the act was amended to exempt
cities from its operation, and by 1899
virtually the whole Black act had
been repealed. A new law, general in
its application throughout the state
and much superior to any statute
theretofore adopted in any part of
Fifty Years of the Merit System
the country, was enacted. This law,
like the original civil service law of
1884, was drafted by the Association,
and passed the legislature largely due
to the Association's activities and the
sympathetic cooperation of Governor
Theodore Roosevelt. This bill, intro-
duced by Senator White, has been
commonly referred to as “the White
law,” in contrast to the law it had
replaced.
Since the enactment of the White
law there have been comparatively
few fundamental changes in the Civil
Service Law of our state. From year
to year attacks have been made upon
it in the state legislature, but most
of the measures which would seri-
ously impair the law have fortunately
not reached the statute books. How-
ever, considerable room for improve-
ment of the present civil service law
remains. None but the most violent
partisan who makes patronage his
means of retaining political control
doubts the practical value of the
merit system in our government serv-
Continued on Page 12
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May-June
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
Col. William Gorham Rice,
President of the State Civil
Service Commission, Speaks
at 50th Anniversary Dinner
Tt is a pleasure to talk with the As-
sociation of State Civil Service em-
ployees. I do not know of any audi-
ence I'like so well to address. Many
faces here are familiar. I wish I
knew everyone by name, but by
your good works I do know you all.
Hon. WM. GORHAM RICE
What you would most like from
me, I am told, is a few words con-
cerning the days when the first civil
service law was signed. An event-
ful half century indeed it has been
since that time. Grover Cleveland
then was Governor, a civil service
reform Goyernor, for civil service
reform was a basic issue in the cam-
paign in which he was elected—
elected by a majority of 192,000—a
majority unprecedented until then in
the history of the State of New York.
‘The entire clerical force of the
Executive Department in 1833 was
x persons. Here are their
and salaries:
Daniel B, Lamont, Secretary. .$4,000
Goodwin Brown, Pardon Clerk 1,800
William Gorham Rice, Assist-
ant Secretary....s..eeeeeeee 1,500
Thomas Newcomb, Notary
Cleric Supa cea ueeaticad 1,500
Irving F, Cragin, Stenographer 1,500
Charles A. Earle, Messenger... 1,200
It was on May 4, 1883, that Gov-
ernor Cleveland signed at Albany
the first civil service reform law to
be enacted in any state, And it is
the fiftieth anniversary of his sign-
ing that law that your Association is
happily celebrating tonight. Mr.
Cleveland named for the Presidency
of the Commission created by that
law, Andrew Dickson White, then
President of Cornell University, sub-
sequently Ambassador of the United
States to Germany and to Russia, Mr.
White, however, found himself un-
able to accept the honor and the
Governor filled the vacancy by se-
lecting John Jay, a distinguished
resident of New York City. As As-
sociate Members, the Governor se-
lected Augustus Schoonmaker of
Kingston, who-had been Attorney
General, and Henry Richmond, of
Buffalo, prominent in civic affairs
there. All four of these appointees
had themselves at some time been
mentioned as candidates for Gov
ernor of the State of New York.
Such was the standard Governor
Cleveland set. And here it is inter-
esting to note that when Theodore
Roosevelt was Governor, he chose
for President of the Civil Service
Commission, Cuthbert W. Pound,
now Chief Judge of the Court of
Appeals, Likewise Governor Whit-
man appointed Judge Samuel H. Ord-
way, now President of the Civil Serv-
ice Reform Association.
In 1893, by President Cleveland's
appointment, I became United States
Civil Service Commissioner at Wash-
ington. The greatest extensions of
the competitive merit system ever
made in the Federal service soon
thereafter took place. When I asked
Mr. Cleveland’s advice about an ar-
ticle I was preparing for the “North
American Review,” he wrote me:
“If I were writng an article on
Civil Service Reform I think I should
make its strong points:
“Ist. A contrast between its fair-
ness to applicants and its benefit to
the Public Service, and the selections
made through political preference
and influence.
“2nd. An insistence that the sys-
tem is abundantly justified when it
can be demonstrated that it leads in
the direction of good government
aside from any other consideration
based upon sentiment or moral spec-
ulation,
While vindication of the system
must necessarily condemn practices
opposed to it, I would not cheaply
and to tiresome iteration, harp on
Spoils, Spoils System, and Spoils-
men.” * * *
Former Governor Alfred E. Smith,
in an editorial in the New Outlook
for March, 1933, has written:
“Tt was Cleveland who fought for
and established the merit system of
civil service. The civil service merit
system is far from a perfect instru-
ment of government but on the whole
it has worked well.”
Governor Smith, it is to be re-
membered, was for eight years Gov-
ernor of the State of New York. I
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count it a particular honor that twice
I received successive appointment as
Civil Service Commissioner from
him.
In the Outlook article, Governor
Smith has also said that appointing
officers should be permitted to “pick
out for exceptional treatment on an
entirely non-political basis key posi-
tions in each department to be filled
by the head of the department en-
tirely on his own discretion, with full
responsibility for appointing the kind
of people who will make the admin-
istration of the department a suc-
cess.”
Most decidedly I desire to empha-
size the constructive features of the
merit system and to pay a tribute to
the rank and file of the employees of
the State who are playing so impor-
tant a part in advancing the general
welfare,
(President Rice in his address gave
a score of interesting examples of
letters received by Governor Cleve
land in the presidential campaign of
1884, letters from young and old, let-
ters gay and letters pathetic, and told
of Governor Cleveland’s method of
work.)
SONA ASWER
AN THE WARUFACTURE OF
AWNINGS
(yO
7
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
May-June
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1933 Legislative Session
For the friends of civil service, the
legislative session of 1933 furnished
principally a battle ground for the
preservation of the present unsatis-
factory compensation scales from
complete demoralization ; constructive
civil service legislation was not forth-
coming. President Roosevelt, as Gov-
ernor, considered the State’s personal
service compensation plan as “chaot-
ic;” Governor Lehman has referred
to it as a “more or less haphazard
method of compensation and promo-
tion;’ ex-Assemblyman Hutchinson,
for many years chairman of the As-
sembly Ways and Means Committee,
said that the State employees had
their salaries fixed “by guess or ‘by
God;’ former Director of the Bud-
get Graves frequently deplored the
lack of any scientific basis for the
salary scales; Lieutenant Governor
Bray, a few evenings ago said h
hoped the day would come when
State employees would be rewarded
according to their important public
services, and every man familiar with
State service has honestly decried the
lack of equality and justice inherent
in present compensation scales,
Despite all this excellent testimony,
the Legislature of 1933 failed to ac-
cept the Nunan-Cornaire bill which
would have resulted in adoption of a
decent compensation plan for State
workers. The Cornaire bill passed
the Assembly, but the Nunan_ bill
was not acted upon by the Senate
Civil Service Committee. If it was
not for the action of Governor
Roosevelt in 1932 in directing the
State Civil Service Commission to
put a classification plan into effect,
the good response of that Commi
sion and the splendid work of Di-
rector of the Budget Graves in in-
corporating the plan and the titles
in the annual budget bill, the taxpay-
ers expenditure of a hundred thou-
sand dollars in 1930-31 would have
been wholly lost. Governor Leh-
man has expressed his interest in
improvement of the civil service sys-
tem on a number of occasions and
CHALRES J. TOBIN, Association Counsel
it is confidently expected that he will
take the necessary executive action
to see to it that the vitally essential
classification - compensation plan is
properly developed during the present
year.
The maximum eight hour day laws
for State workers failed; the bill to
assure fair attention in any necessary
demotion of State workers failed;
the fifty-five year retirement bill
failed; the one day rest in seven bill
failed.
The Legislature passed a number
of bills giving special gratuities to
individuals. All of these were dis-
approved by the Governor with the
exception of Senate Introductory
No, 594 appropriating $7,000 to the
estate of Judge Devendorf and As-
sembly Introductory No. 828 pro-
viding special benefit for the estate
of the late Claude Dawes of the De-
partment of Law. These two bills
are believed by the State Pension
Commission and by this Association
to be at variance with constitutional
provisions, They accord to individ-
uals benefits from the State Treasury
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which are not accorded to all. All
such special legislation is heartily
condemned as a reflection upon the
State Retirement System.
The State’s contribution to the re-
tirement system which was permitted
to lapse in 1932 was not provided
for by the 1933 legislature. This ap-
propriation is needed by the System
to place it upon a wholly sound basis,
Mandatory salary increases carried
in various chapters of the Law were
set aside by special act. Last year
when this action was taken the posi-
tions drawing salaries below $1500
were exempted. Some of those ef-
fected this year are receiving a cash
salary of only $54 per month, Econ-
omy at the expense of these low sal-
aried workers does not appeal as
proper or necessary, and this action
by the Legislature is especially de-
plored,
These comments upon the 1933 ses-
Continued on Page 7
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May-June
THE STATE EMPLOYEE , 7
1933 Legislative Session
Continued from page 6
sion are not pleasing to make. They
indicate plainly the need for enlist-
ing public support for the mainte-
nance of public service upon an effi-
cient and economical basis and for
just attention to State employee prob-
lems. To this end the Association
will take up a definite program look-
ing toward thé adoption of those out-
standing civil service reforms which
were first visioned fifty years ago.
Your Counsel, Charles J. Tobin,
was constantly active throughout the
entire period from November, 1932,
on, and represented the Association
in many conferences with the Goy-
ernor, legislative leaders, department
heads and citizen committees. It was
largely due to his untiring efforts and
those of the Association’s legislative
committee and special salary commit-
tee that the radical attempts to re-
duce salaries and stop many lines of
public work with serious conse-
quences to employees were prevented.
‘There were scores of bills dealing
with matters which touched closely
upon employee welfare and constant
watchfulness was necessary. The
special committee representing the
State Hospital group, composed of
C. C. Colesanti, Middletown State
Hospital; John Livingstone, Hudson
River State Hospital; H. Redmond,
St. Lawrence State Hospital; Fred
Slaper, Buffalo State Hospital, and
Guy Campbell, Rockland State Hos-
pital was very helpful. ‘The ready
response of the over a hundred spe-
cial representatives of large groups
of Association members throughout
the State to every call for action
demonstrated more clearly than ever
the power and influence of the State
employee group as an organized body
Central Islip to Have
New Resveation Center
Employees of the Central Islip
State Hospital are looking forward
to the early opening of a new recre-
ation center. Already the organ-
ized employees have formed an ath-
letic association.
The many members of this Asso-
ciation at Central Islip, in common
with the thousands of members of
the Association at __ institutions
throughout the State, are among the
most enthusiastic workers for im-
provement of local employee condi-
tions and the advancement of the
ideals of good public service,
——————————
Making Life Worth While
May every soul that touches mine—
Be it the slightest contact—
Get therefrom some good;
Some little grace ; one kindly thought;
One aspiration yet unfelt;
One bit of courage
For the darkening sky;
One gleam of faith
To brave the thickening ills of life;
One glimpse of brighter skies
Beyond the gathering mists—
To make this life worth while
And heaven a surer heritage.
—George Eliot
McManus & Riley |
49-51 State Street
MASTERCRAFT
$19 50
with extra trousers $5.00
Albany, N. Y.
SUITS
Mastercraft Suits in-
stantly show their high
character by their fine
fabrics, tasteful pat-
terns and tailoring
which will stand a
stitch for stitch com-
parison with others at
a much higher price.
McMANUS#& RILEY
“Correct Attire for Gentlemen and_Boys”’
49-51 State Street Albany, N. Y.
to advance State service welfare.
This is a very important reason for
a continuance of organization efforts
until all State employees are lined
up solidly and loyally in a single
State employee group of twenty thou-
sand strong. This can be easily ac-
complished by earnest effort on the
part of all State civil service em-
ployees.
Announcing —
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One Way
Clean, Modern Staterooms, $1 & $2
Round Trip
HUDSON RIVER NIGHT LINE
MeALLISTER NIGHT LINE, Inc., Lessee
Call Albany
Welcome
State
Employees !
The New and Beautiful J. T. WEST Mgr.
HOTEL LINCOLN
44th-45th Streets, Eighth Avenue
NEW YORK CITY
“Just a Step from Broadway”
Those Who Know consider the LINCOLN
“Home” in New York, because here they find
a cheery welcome .. cleanliness . . courtesy
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1400 Rooms 30 Stories of Sunshine
Every room with tub and shower bath, radio,
Servidor — every modern convenience.
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
May-June
THE
STATE EMPLOYEE
Established 1929
Published by
The Association of State Civil Service
f the State of New York
Ro eee" State Capitol, Albany, N.Y.
OFFICERS
W. F. McDONOUGH. President
«+sVice-President
Ree. Secretary
Fin, Secretary
sss Treasurer
Counsel
-Business Mor.
BEULAH BAILEY, .
CHESTER A. LEWIS..
WILLIAM J. PIERCE
FRANK 0, BAUER.
CHARLES J. TOBIN.
JOSEPH D, LOCHNER.
<P 20,000 Copies
Circulation
Retirement Measure
Disapproved
Senate Bill, Introductory No. 1815,
providing retirement allowance on
basis of age 60 years in the case of
discontinued service after 20 years
to all classes of employees was dis-
approved by the Governor with the
following message:
“This bill would allow the ex-
ceptional and extremely costly
benefit added last year for those
in the competitive ‘class to be
paid to a member of the Retire-
ment System in any class, that
is, the unclassified service and in
the exempt, competitive, non-
competitive and labor class of
the classified service.
“Tt is readily seen that even
the addition of the amendment
of last year through which a
member in the competitive class
receives the same retirement al-
lowance as though he were age
sixty was an extremely. costly
benefit. To further liberalize the
Retirement System by providing
that even elective officers in the
counties, cities, towns and vil-
lages of ‘the state, together with
elective officers in the state and
those in the unclassified service
and in the exempt and non-com-
petitive and labor classes of the
classified service would be most
expensive,”
Federal Credit Out
Governor Lehman disapproved the
bill to allow credit for Federal serv-
ice in the State Retirement System.
His message on this bill reads:
“This bill would allow certain
federal service as a service
credit in the New York State
Employees’ Retirement System.
Some of the beneficiaries, by the
act itself, would not be called
upon to contribute to the New
York State Employees’ Retire-
ment System for any of the sery-
ice allowed for. This would in-
evitably substantially weaken the
State Retirement System.
“In justice to the members of
the State Retirement System, I
cannot approve this Dill.”
Exercise and Health
The always tired worker is a vic-
tim of poor health whether with or
without his own fault. Unfortunate
as it really is, there is no place for
the physicially unfit in any business
organization. Chronic sickness pre-
vents profitable employment.
Upon those who have potentially
strong bodies but who fail to treat
them fairly so that they can respond
to every business and social demand,
there rests a serious responsibility.
It is all too easy to neglect one’s
health, yet when health is gone, op-
portunity and income vanish.
The Association is anxious to aid
in promoting good health among its
members. It fosters the vacation
camp and athletic activities generally
because these have to do with things
that are essentially valuable to state
workers, The State Health Depart-
ment and other agencies stand ready
to cooperate. The Association real-
izes that all too little is being ac-
complished along health lines. It
urges you individually to give at-
tention to your health. It invites
you to suggest avenues of cooper-
ative helpfulness.
by MARK GRAVES
State Commissioner of Taxation
and Finance
New York was the first state to
set up any formal administrative
machinery to assist in the handling
of personnel work, In 1883, fifty
years ago, New York State and the
Federal Government of the United
States were neck and neck in the
race to establish civil service com-
missions with authority to handle
recruiting for considerable portions
of the respective services. Mass-
achusetts passed a similar law in
1884, and became the second state.
These carly civil service laws
naturally seem today quite ele-
mentary. There is no indication in
either of the laws passed in 1883
that their authors conceived of
personnel administration as any-
thing more than a means of pre-
venting the use of the public serv-
ice for patronage purposes. It was
naively believed that if department
heads could be freed from pressure
to make appointments for partisan,
racial, religious, social, or similar
reasons the personnel millennium
in some mysterious manner would
immediately arrive. Such matters
as classification, pay, leaves of ab-
sence, service ratings, hours of
work, lay-offs, suspension for dis-
ciplinary purposes, and removals
Civil Service in New York,
Past, Present and Future
for cause must have stared the
early legislators in the face. Ney-
ertheless they were overlooked,
ignored, or lightly treated.
It should not be inferred, how-
ever, that this first step concerned
almost entirely with recruiting was
of slight importance. It is difficult
today to picture the demorali
tion of the public service that oc-
curred when there was a change
in administration. The public busi-
ness for months came almost to a
standstill. The incoming adminis-
tration was besieged by hordes
seeking appointment to this, that,
or the other position, With the
changes in personnel finally made,
the newcomers settled down to
learn their work. For at least six
months, and generally a year, be-
fore the end of the administration
to which they owed their appoint-
ments, it became incumbent upon
them to neglect their public dutics
to secure the reelection of the party
in power. Under such conditions,
there could be no high grade public
service with a competent, trained,
permanent personnel. The early
civil service legislation, faulty as
it was, did assure a high degree of
permanence among the rank and
file in the State service, and made
possible other forward looking
steps.
Continued on Page 13
“Old enough to be reliable"
ARRY SIMMON
“Dependable Furniture Since 1865”
84 NO. PEARL ST., ALBANY
“Young enough to be progressive”
Never again will your furniture dollar
equal today's value.
219 RIVER ST., TROY
SPARKLING BRIGHT
WITH OUR’ 7,
WASHING- -POLISHING
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FREE DAY STORAGE
While Car is
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Phone 3-9700
swan Stn aes
L. L. GOWDY
General Insurance
103 Washington Avenue
Albany, N. Y.
May-June
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
A Civil Service
System That Serves
HOWARD G. E. SMITH,
New York State Civil Service
Commissioner
This year marks the Fiftieth An-
niversary in this State of the merit
system known as Civil Service.
Born—within the memories of liv-
ing men—out of the political and
social upheavels during the mid-
nineteenth century—it was the
great political creation of that era.
The effects of the industrial revo-
lution with its factories and its
engines, the marked shift in the
population from the country to the
city and the increasing cry of the
people for greater state regulation
of their collective affairs demanded
a new instrument of government.
‘An organized civil service was the
answer, The barter in public offi-
ces which had given rise to so much
abuse and had caused so much dis-
content by its waste and inefficiency
had to give way to the present
system of professional public ad-
ministration.
And now in fifty years the civil
service has grown to gigantic size.
A cursory glance at the statistics
ses one forcibly with the
enormity of this social change. In
the Federal service in 1880, there
was a little more than 100,000 civil
servants. In 1928 the national pay-
roll carried over 600,000 names.
‘The Civil Service of the State of
New York has increased in like
ratio. The Second Report of the
Civil Service Commission in 1885
counted only 3600 persons subject
to Civil Service Regulations. Ac-
curate figures as to the number
in the employ of the State are not
at hand—but this number can be
used as a guide, as it probably ac-
counted for the bulk of the per-
sonnel. The 49th Annual Report
counts more than 33,000 persons in
Hon. HOWARD G. E. SMITH
the employ of the State. New
York City shows an even more
astounding growth. In 1884 the
City of New York employed about
5500 servants, and the City of
Brooklyn almost 1500. For the
whole area there were only 7000
public servants. In 1932 about
95,000 civil servants were serving
the public in that great metropolis.
If the school teachers and court
employees are added to this figure,
the civil service of New York City
is larger than the peace time army of
the U. S. This rapid increase is
not due to official laxity or ex-
ploitation. It is the result of the
wide extension of the number of
activities and services undertaken
in behalf of the public. The people
have demanded that government
assume administration over many
of the enterprises which hitherto
had been under private control.
9
— —————}
Unbelievable
Yet here is a typical
Apollonian case of an
Albany woman:
We invite you to write or call
at our office for latest book-
let. Let us explain the Apol-
lonian procedure and how it
can reduce your extra pounds
and ever increasing inches.
No drugs or tablets.
230 Ib: 144 Ibs.
eae paint uit
apes Eighth Floor INC. a6" |
44 ins. NATIONAL SAVINGS BANK BLDG. 28 i
50. ins. 36 ins.
2644ins. 90 STATE ST. 3-8140 ~ 21 ins.
It can, then, be truly said that
the civil service has become the
government. The citizen has be-
come dependent upon the govern-
ment twenty-four hours of the day
From his simplest needs to his
most complex, he relies upon the
civil service. In giving police pro-
tection, fire protection, health pro-
tection, in caring for his social
needs, in guarding his drinking
water and his milk, in regulating
almost every detail of his public
and private existence, the civil
servant is touching the life of the
citizen at a thousand different
points.
The general public does not ap-
preciate the value of the civil sery-
ant. This is to be regretted and
should by proper ways and means
be remedied.
Although the essential founda-
tions for good public personnel ad-
ministration are laid in the consti-
tution of the State, providing for
a merit system, and in the funda-
mental civil service law, the de-
velopment of efficient methods and
technique for carrying out these
mandates has been a matter of
slow and painstaking progress.
The world war furnished the im-
petus that speeded up scientific ad-
vancement in the field of personnel
management. New York State has
not lagged in trying out, and when
feasible, adopting new methods.
Tests of fitness have been used
since the beginning. Their de-
velopment and improvement as an
instrument of selection has been
constant and commensurate with
increased knowledge of the essen-
tial facts concerning each position
in the service. Many different
forms of tests and combinations
of tests have been used to fit the
particular needs in each instance:
written tests, oral tests, practical
demonstrations of skill, short ans-
Continued on Page 12
\\V
Discriminating
STATE EMPLOYEES
ROULEVARD
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Secretarial
Typewriting
Est. 1920
COURSES
Morning, Afternoon and Evening Classes ex-
cept July and August. No Saturday
Session. Start Any Time.
Summer School Mornings Only.
MARY STIEGELMAIER
Shorthand
Bookkeeping
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS FOR GIRLS
The School of Individual Instruction
244 Lark Street, (Cor. Lancaster) Albany, N. Y.
Convenient to All Carand Bus Lines
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DISTRIBUTORS OF GENUINE GOLDEN GUERNSEY MILK
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Phone 4-4158
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The Only Business School in the Capital District
Exclusively for Girls
10
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
May-June
Hours of Good Work
In the zealous endeavors to bal-
ance the State's budget and to es-
tablish true economy, there is need
for such moderation as will not react
unfavorably upon the means through
which the end is sought. If there
was overspending in the past ten
years in state ventures, this was not
due to overpayment of state work-
ers. No business enterprise outside
of the sweatshop type can present so
great a preponderance of evidence of
low salaries as can the State of New
York. The rank and file of state
civil service workers have been un-
derpaid by millions of dollars annu-
ally over a period of at least fifteen
ye
he percentage reductions in state
salaries which have been so widely
discussed, do not show all of the re-
ductions which must be borne by
state workers during the present or
the coming fiscal year. And they do
not advise of the reductions in va-
cation periods or the lengthening of
hours of work. Departments gener-
ally are adopting the decision of the
Governors’ cabinet held sometime
ago that vacation periods should be
reduced to 16%4 working days and
that the daily period of work should
be lengthened.
In view of all of the facts, al-
though employees must accept the
shortened vacation and longer work-
ing day schedules, they cannot sub-
scribe to these without a plea for
reconsideration on the part of the
Governor's cabinet, from whence the
official orders came, upon the ground
that the rigorous demands made upon
an already undermanned service re
quire, from the health and efficiency
standpoints, that the daily hours of
work should be properly limited and
that vacation periods of as great
length as possible be allowed, to as-
sure more and better work in every
department of state endeavor,
Recommended For:
Pheumatiom
Arthritis
Gonatipation
Kidney Trouble
Stomach Disorders
Colit
Bad C1
Acidosis
and other ailments
brought on by faulty
elimination.
Vv
iplexion
Welcoming New
Vigor and Healthl
Your system can show new signs of
health and you can feel joy again in
just being alive, provided you are one
of the vast number troubled with
faulty elimination. This disorder can-
not be overlooked. It means that poi-
sons from the colon are reaching the
blood stream, causing many chronic
ailments. But you can join the thou-
sands who are welcoming new vigor
and health by drinking Crazy Mineral
Water, easily mixed at home from
Crazy Water Crystals, the natural
mineral water product—backed by
fifty years of service. “Just add Crazy
Water Crystals to your drinking
water.”
The price of a standard package of Crazy Crystals
(15-gallon 30-day course) is only $1.50. We fill all
mail orders promptly the day received and prepay
the postage to your home.
CRAZY CRYSTALS COMPANY
93 State Street
Albany, N. Y.
Telephone 4-1197
Self Respect and
Loyalty Command
Frank O. Bauer, Treasurer of
your Association, reports:
“T am pleased to advise you that
I have received up to May Ist, 1933,
dues covering 10,092 members for
the year 1933,”
New York State civil service em-
ployees now have in this Association
the largest and best functioning or-
ganization of its kind in the United
States. The comments of the Presi-
dent of the United States, the Gov-
ernor of the State, and other high
public officials, contained on other
pages of this magazine, indicate the
high esteen in which the Association
is held generally.
Animated by the single lofty pur-
pose of maintaining the integrity of
the civil service system in the sense
that its founders, Grover Cleveland,
Theodore Roosevelt and Carl Schurze
intended, namely to assure the high-
est possible type of public servant
and the best possible working con-
ditions for that servant, this Associ-
ation commands the loyal support of
every man and woman employed in
the civil service of the State.
Working day in and day out upon
a program of betterment for State
and employee, without bias or dis-
crimination of any sort, and adher-
ing to wholesome, intelligent activi-
ties, the growth in membership from
approximately five hundred in 1929
to over ten thousand in 1933 is not
surprising. The surprising thing is
that all state civil service employees
have not yet joined. Are you one of
those who is still without a member-
ship card?
Take a few minutes to think about
the proposition of cooperating with
your fellow workers, taking a part
in the program of your own Associ-
ation, and unselfishly advancing the
interests of yourself and other em-
ployees. It has actually paid millions
in dollars in dividends to state em-
Educational Activities
The Association recognizes as one
of the vital things in any program
of betterment of State work and
State workers that self-improvement
is a common and a constant need.
To this end it is supporting its edu-
cational committee to the fullest ex-
tent. The Chairman of that Com-
mittee, William C. Smith, has done
splendid work in seeking and obtain-
ing cooperation of other agencies en-
gaged in adult educational activities,
In the New York City office building
alone, upwards of 300 employees
have availed themselves of study
facilities along a varicty of lines
since January Ist. Room 900 has
been assigned in the New York City
office building as a staff library and
reading room. Various classes are
now in course of formation in the
Albany State Office Building. Last
fall the various offices and institu-
tions throughout the State were
urged to enroll in self study classes.
The opportunities of employees
and of the Association to develop
educational activities among the
workers is unlimited. New informa-
tion, new lines of work, new outlets
for ambition, knock at everybody’s
door. Are you doing your part?
Every adult educational body stands
ready to help. As yesterday, as al-
ways, your own initiative must assert
itself. Make yourself ready for the
better days that are ahead.
ployees. But the important thing is
your support and cooperation, ‘The
‘Association works for all; it merits
the membership support of all.
If you have not already joined the
Association for 1933, you have a
pleasant and profitable duty still be-
fore you. Do not put it off further.
You need organization, and the or-
ganization needs you. Today is the
day to join with your fellow workers
for better ‘and better accomplishment
for all,
1 New
( Renewal EMPLOYE!
MEMBERSHIP BLANK
ASSOCIATION OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
ROOM 156, STATE CAPITOL, ALBANY, N. Y.
Complete Dues to Dec, 31, 1933,
Name 2.02. .eeceeeeeeeeerseeseen
Mailing Address.......000000008
uis Couron ‘Tonay
$1.00—Use
May-June
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
11
The American Dream
It does not seem possible that the
people of the United States are hope-
ful for a return of the often shabby
artificial life existent before the de-
pression, » What they really wish
from present day statesmanship is a
treatment of political, economic and
social problems in a way that will
prevent or control as far as is hu-
manly possible the dishonesty and
the unfruitfulness to American life
of the transitory, superficial prosper-
ity so widely sought after in the de-
cade before 1930, and the stabiliza-
tion of business and home opportun-
ities.
James Truslow Adams recalls in
a recent article the great dream,
wholly American in origin, and much
more than a dream because of the
faith which our people had in its
realization, He describes this dream
as—“The belief that it was possible
to create and order a society in
which, avoiding communistic restric-
tions upon individual initiative and
acquisition, every man and woman
would nevertheless have the oppor-
tunity of rising to full stature and
living the fullest possible life of
which they were capable. A dream
of more than the mere political equal-
ity of one vote to each adult of
either sex, of equality before the law,
of equality of economic opportunity
or even of education, It has been
the belief in the genuine worth of
each man or woman, the humblest
as well as the most exalted, in their
possible capacity to benefit by all of
these opportunities, a belief in their
inherent right to be restricted by uo
barriers whatever beyond their own
natures in their efforts to attain to
the fullest expression of themselves.”
Lieutenant Governor M: WILLIAM BRAY
A Guest at Anniversary Dinner
Thoughtful men and women can-
not readily put aside the disturbing
prophecy that not to exceed two
more depressions would have the in-
evitable consequence of the establish-
ment of communism in this country.
We just cannot stand the madly sel-
fish speculation, the snobbishness of
great wealth, the get-rich-quick fever,
the light regard for moral values.
We cannot return, to these things
without a recurrence of the disease
that will eventually destroy our
American dream completely, and all
our ideals with it.
75 STATE ST. ROOM 510
A HELPFUL LOAN SERVICE
State Employees always come to us when they need
money quickly. Prompt, Confidential service.
Small monthly repayments.
PERSONAL FINANCE COMPANY
TEL. 3-6631 ALBANY, N. Y.
CENTRA
Cottage
Telephone 8-2028
Grade “A”
Pasteurized Milk and Cream
Chocolate Milk
L DAIRY f
Cheese
816-822
Livingston Avenue
Civil Service Announcements
Unwritten State Examinations are
scheduled as follows by the State
Civil Service Department. Candi-
dates must file for these by June 2,
1933;
Assistant Director of Education
(Academic), New York State
Training School for Boys, War-
wick, Department of Social Wel-
fare; salary $1620 to $2100 and
maintenance,
Head Teacher, Department of Cor-
rection, One immediate appoint-
ment at Attica State Prison at
aproximately $2100.
Teacher, Department of Correction.
Two immediate appointments at
Elmira Reformatory at $1800.
County Unwritten Examinations;
Chief of Psychiatric Department,
Department of Public Welfare,
Westchester County. One ap-
pointment expected at $6480
without maintenance,
Commissioner of Health, Colum-
bia County. Salary $5000 to
$6000.
Promotion Examinations — State
service—Last date for filing May
2:
Master Mechanic, Hudson River
State Hospital.
Senior Clerk, Department of State,
Albany,
Assistant Stenographer,
ment of State, Albany.
of State, Albany,
Senior Stenographer, Department
of State, Albany.
Depart-
President McDonough
Receives War oration
W. F. McDonough, president of the
Association of State Civil Service
Employees, has been awarded the
decoration of the Silver Star by the
War Department. The award is for
gallantry in action, based upon cita-
tion for initiative and courage in
commanding a detached machine gun
section of his company during the
battle of the Selle River, France,
October 17, 1918,
GEO. B.
a ee
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Protect your income and savings with Sickness and Accident
Small monthly premium gives you this protection in
the Massachusetts Accident Company, established 1883. Prompt
Our policy for business and professional women, including
nurses, covers all female diseases and operations.
information mailed upon request.
HERMAN E. LIGHT, District Manager
Phone 8-1947
Rates and
Give age and occupation.
ALBANY, N. Y.
Spy Mew Yorks Hewest Motel
IN THE HEART OF TIMES SQUARE
1000 LARGE ROOMS
Each room contains a private bath, shower,
radio, circulating
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Roof Solarium . .
ROOMS from $QSO « doy
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Garage opposite hots
12
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
May-June
J. & O.
SHOE
REBUILDERS
offer
Expert Workmanship
Exceptional Service
Best of Material
PLUS CONSERVATIVE PRICES
MEN’S
Half Soles - -
(SEWED OR NAILED)
Rubber Heels -
(GOODYEAR)
Full Soles and
Rubber Heels $1.75
WOMEN’S
Half Soles - - 55e
Half Soles - - 65¢
(CEMENTED—NO NAILS )
Rubber Heels - 25¢€
(GOODYEAR)
Leather Heel Lifts 15¢
Work Done While You Wait
or
We Call and Deliver Free
Dial 4-6015
8:00 A. M. te 7:00 P. M.
291 SECOND AVENUE
SHOES SHINED, DYED AND REBUILT
65c
30c
A Civil Service
System That Serves
Continued from Page 9
wer tests and many other types
have been used as occasion de-
manded and opportunity afforded.
More recently the reclassification
of positions on the basis of duties
and responsibilities has furnished
a recognized, indispensable device
based on facts—not guess work or
personal opinions, We have learn-
ed that the effectiveness of selec-
tion, equitable rates of pay, pro-
motions and many other personnel
functions depend upon a complete
and accurate job analysis, and the
Department of Civil Service has
set up the machinery to develope
administer and maintain such a
classification in all its far reaching
influence.
Most recently, critical study has
been given by the Department of
Civil Service to the problem of effi
ciency ratings or performance re-
ports. The need for recognizing and
determining the relative value to the
State of individual employees, has
long been known. Efficiency as well
as seniority has always been taken
into consideration in promotions and
may well be made a factor in pay in-
creases, and other personnel func-
tions. It becomes essential, there-
fore, to devise a reliable and valid
method, as far as it is possible to
do so, for evaluating service. This
study has just been begun under most
auspicious circumstances and with
much promise of success.
The pl
and
40-42 MAIDEN LANE
ALBANY N. Y.
Attention State Officials and Employees:
e for your large and small orders for delivery in Albany
or to be telegraphed to Your Home Town or any-
where inthe United States, Canada and Foreign Countries. Every
order absolutely Guaranteed,
Bonded Member Florist’ Telegraph Delivery Association
PHONES
3-4258 — 3-4259
The Civil Service Commission has
always sought to extend the num-
ber of positions in the competitive
service, as practical means of selec-
tion by competitive examination have
been developed. It has been the con-
stant aim of the Commission to ex-
tend year after year the application
of Civil Service Law and the merit
system, :
The Department of Ci Service
may look back with pride on its
achievement in the last fifty years,
and it may look forward with en-
thusiasm and courage to what it may
hope to achieve in the future, Per-
haps some may say progress has been
slow. But it must be remembered
that the service is tremendous, that
mistakes are multiplied and exagger-
ated accordingly, and are costly. The
sheer momentum due to the size of
the service requires careful control
and watchful guidance. But as long
as the spirit of progress obtains in
the future as it has in the past, the
employees may well look forward to
significant improvement in the per-
sonnel administration of New York
State.
Fifty Years of the
Merit System
Continued from Page 4
ice. No one pretends that the civil
service examination system has
reached a state of perfection, and
that the technique of examination
has reached such a point that present
testing devices are infallible. It is,
however, the best system yet devised
for giving reasonable assurance that
officials and employees have gener-
ally capacity, ability and training.
Certainly no one, even the confirmed
politician, would care or dare to re
turn to the spoils system as an alter-
native.
While the general public has be-
gun to realize more fully the real
value of the merit system, its full
force and effect have not yet per-
vaded the political organizations. The
latter still fail to appreciate the es
sential imperative need of the sys-
tem, which need was well expressed
by Governor Charles E, Hughes in
1907 when he stated:
“If the government is not to
be administered as a matter of
individual caprice or according
to the dictates of a particular
officer’s judgment, it must be ad-
ministered in accordance with
principles as embodied in a sys-
tem, which in the long run, and
covering a multitude of cases
which must be covered, gives us
men of capacity,”
The present economic situation has
made the public conscious of the
practical value of the merit system,
not only as a means of controlling
extravagant expenditures in govern-
ment, but as a necessity if we are to
have proper administration of the
complex problems of government.
The state and cities can no longer
afford the heavy burden of political
patronage which has resulted not
only in the waste of millions of dol-
lars in personal service costs, but has
also sometimes given us blundering
leadership and more than occasional
maladministration.
Space will not permit detailed illus-
trations of the business value of the
competitive system through abolition
of unnecessary positions which have
been forced to be filled by competi-
tive examination. The selection of
better trained supervisory officials
with a proper understanding of gov-
ernmental problems and social rela-
tions has become imperative.
There are, to be sure, many per-
plexing problems in the administra-
tion of the civil service which press
for better solution, The many en-
croachments on the civil service
through ill-advised legislation (such
as the special privileges accorded to
veterans in appointments and reten-
Continued on Page 13
You wil
Irving Spector
of WOKO and His
SOCIETY ORCHESTRA
For Engagements
want
Phone 5-2761
Phone
\
/ Reduce Expenses
Lower Insurance Rates
Tucker-Smith Agency, Inc.
1 Columbia Place
\
35-6471
Pd
Saye your time! One phone call .. .
11 STEUBEN STREET
SPRING AND SUMMER
CRUISES
a letter... visit... brings complete
information for any or all the scheduled cruises,
Europe, Bermuda, West Indies, Mediterranean, North Cape (including Ice-
land, Sweden, Finland, Russia). We lay before you conveniently, intelligent
ly, ail that is worthwhile in current travel offerings.
LANSING’S TRAVEL BUREAU
Telephone 4-6737
Make it a point to consult with us now!
There is no obligation.
fe take the Ravel out of Travel’
ALBANY, N. Y.
May-June
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
13
Fifty Years of the
Merit System
Continued from Page 12
tion in the service), and the present
necessity for relieving unemploy-
ment, have complicated the problem.
The present system of removals of
employees from the service, although
in the main satisfactory, are never-
theless not wholly adequate; but for-
mal trial with review in the courts,
making removal procedure highly
technical and “legalistic,” will hardly
result in safeguarding the rights of
employees to the extent that is claim-
ed. Such “protection,” like the many
ill-conceived proposals of veterans’
groups, may result in alienating the
public’s support of the employees’
program, if pushed too far in the
wrong direction, The subject of re-
movals is perhaps the most difficult
and perplexing problem. No system
of removals of public employees can
be satisfactory which does not take
into account the right of the public,
fairness to the head of department
and equitable treatment of the em-
ployee. Some better and fairer sys-
tem of removals, reconciling the in-
terests of these three groups, can
and will be devised.
There is no doubt that the admin-
istration of the Civil Service Law
can be considerably improved. Un-
fortunately the lack of active public
support of the civil service commis-
sions, together with intimidation by
the political organizations, have pre-
vented the com: ions from press-
ing more constructive improvements
in administration. On the other hand,
many of the commissions have not
been alert enough to avail themselves
of the opportunities for construc-
tive effort.
Perhaps one of the most urgent
problems that needs immediate atten-
tion by the civil service commissions,
————
now that recruitment demands have
been so greatly lessened, is an adc-
quate survey of the service with a
view to standardization of positions,
with uniform titles descriptive of
duties performed, and a more equi-
table basis of compensation so that
persons performing the same duties
and charged with the same responsi-
bilities may, so far as practicable, rey
ceive equal salaries.
The present time should afford
also a good opportunity to the civil
service commissions to develop and
improve testing techingue. Steps
might well be taken to correlate such
tests with actual performance of per-
sons appointed as a result of them:
The method of promotions within the
service, transfers from department to
department, and service record rat-
ings, which are still faulty, demand
constructive thought toward early
improvement.
These are some of the more ur-
gent problems confronting us today
in the administration of the civil
service laws. While progress in the
development of the system has beer
painfully slow, the last fifty years has
nevertheless been a period of great
progress in the extension of the civil
service system. No one in 1880 would
have dreamed that in fifty years 95
percent of the civil service in the
State of New York would be under
the competitive merit system. .
How fast we shall travel in the
next half century will depend on how
much the public is awakened to the
real needs of the public service. In
accelerating improvement and shap-
ing the state’s personnel policy the
employees of the state must play a
tremendous part. On proper leader-
ship and maintenance of a sane bal-
ance of employee relationship to the
public and the responsible elective
officials will depend in large measure
our future progress.
YOUR
FAVORITE
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Albany Hardware & Iron Co.
39-43 State Street, Albany, N. Y.
OUR
SPORTS DEPARTMENT
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With a complete assortment of fine equipment for every sport:
Golf... Tennis...Baseball.,.Fishing...Boating...Riding...Motoring
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AT 1933 PRICES
Civil Service:'in New York,
Past, Present and Future)
Continued from Page8
After its promising early start,
New York unfortunately failed to)
keep up with the personnel pro-
cession. As those phases of pér-|
sonnel work concerned with con-|
structive help to department offi-
cers were developed, Massachtis-
etts, New Jersey, Maryland, Illi-
nois, Wisconsin, and California, ‘as
well as numerous cities and coun-
ties, from time to time took ad-
vantage of developments whith
though agitated were not actually
adopted in New York. In 1916, an
unsuccessful attempt was made to
overhaul the personnel system in
the State. In succeeding years
further attempts were made from
time to time. I need hardly re-
cite the efforts in the last three
years to rewrite the Civil Service
Law, to amend it in important
particulars, to get the State service
classified on the basis of duties
and responsibilities, to relate titles
closely to work, to base pay upon
duties, and, in general, to plan New
York personnel matters on the
level of the states which in this
respect are most advanced.
I need hardly say that so far
success, while not as great as we
should like, has been much more
than merely appreciable. While
all the proposed personnel legis-
lation failed of enactment, advan-
tage has been taken of existing
legislation to strenghthen the per-
sonnel system. Large portions of
the State service are now actually
classified on the basis of duties
and responsibilities. We have made
progress in handling such matters
as vacations, sick leaves and re-
ductions. In a period of acute
economic depression, when most
public jurisdictions have made mark-
ed reductions in rates of pay, New
York State has held practically
intact such advances as were made
before 1929. Many other steps
have been taken to minimize the
TD
demoralizing effects of the depres-
sion among those in the State
|) service,
What the future holds for the
public service of New York State
in the way of personnel progress
it is difficult in unsettled times like
these to predict. Without posing
as a prophet, I believe I may safe-
ly say, however, that steps will
certainly be taken in the not dis-
tant future to put New York State
in personnel matters in the front
rank, I expect to see our Civil
Service Law rewritten or drastical-
ly amended so as to write into it
the modern, constructive concep-
tion of personnel administration.
I feel sure that the duties of classi-
fication we are now in the process
of evolving will be worked out and
made a useful tool in handling our
personnel work. I find it impos-
sible to believe that our present
system of fixing rates of pay for
State officers and employees can
long continue; I am firmly of the
opinion that with the return to
normal economic conditions we
shall take steps to relate very
closely and consistently duties,
titles and pay. Marked improye-
ments in our recruiting methods
are certain to come about. We
shall pay increasing attention to
those things affecting officers and
employees in the service—transfers,
vacations, sick leaves, military leaves,
special leaves, hours of work, condi-
tions under which work is done, and
the like. Improvements will be made
in our methods of handling the
various types of separations from
the service, including lay-offs, sus-
pensions for disciplinary purposes,
removals for cause and retirements
under the pension plan. While the
economic depression may delay
our attempts to put our personnel
work on a par with the most ad-
vanced of our sister states, it will
not indefinitely hold up the rapid
progress that we were beginning
to make when the depression
struck us.
BLANKETS
15c per lb,
Let Us Clean and Refresh Your Blankets
WATERVILLE LAUNDRY, INC.
289 CENTRAL AVE,
5-2241
14
THE STATE EMPLOYEE
May-June
Swimming Lessons for
leasure and Safety
During the winter, hundreds of
State employees in Albany, through
cooperation of the Association with
the Albany City Recreational Serv-
ice, enjoyed one or more of the over
twenty-five recreational projects car-
ried on in the Albany public schools,
The Association's basketball division
of the city wide group acquitted it-
self especially well in the finals,
The women’s swimming class
which has attracted a number of en-
thusiasts, will be continued every
Friday at the Y.W.C.A. pool, under
the able direction of Claire Carpen-
tier, as long as there is interest in
the instruction and recreational fea-
tures of this project. The staff of
the State Health Department has
aided in this work through generous
contribution of time and effort in
conducting the necessary examina-
tions,
Hon. MARK GRAVES
President, State Tax Commission
SARAH L. COLLINS
GRACE R. VAN VALKENBURG
276 STATE STREET
Phone 4-2247
The (ottage @ “Where Friends Meet to Eat’’
ALBANY, N. Y.
The Palisades Interstate Park
With the summer season here, and
automobilists turning again into the
country, there is no more attractive,
unusual and scenic place in the met-
ropolitan district of northern New
Jersey and Greater New York than
Bear Mountain Inn.
The Palisades Interstate Park is a
State organization with complete fa-
cilities for picnics and parties the
year round. The attention of State
employees is called to the facilities
offered at Bear Mountain Inn be-
cause of the good work which is
being done by the Commissioners of
the Palisades Interstate Park. They
maintain an office in the New York
City State Office Building, Room 704,
and will be glad to communicate
with any parties or groups who may
be interested in reservations at the
Inn.
Auto Owners!
Let Us Explain Our
BUDGET PLAN
E. B. CANTINE, Inc.
75 State St. 3-1251
Your Treasurer
Members of the Association
throughout the State have as their
Treasurer, a Civil Service Employee
who recently celebrated his 25th year
of service in the Department of
Mental Hygiene. Frank O. Bauer
entered that Department in 1907 as
a Page Boy and Junior Clerk, He
subsequently became Clerk, Assistant
Auditor and Treasurer, the position
he now occupies. His devotion to
the interests of Civil Service em-
ployees make his services as Treas-
urer of the Association especially
helpful.
Bonnie Brae
in the ADIRONDACKS
WARRENSBURG, N. Y.
The Center of the Resort District.
Excellent beach and bathing
at ECHO LAKE
Golf—Tennis
Popular Rates. Write for Circular
£, W. SHEEHAN, Manager
Furnished Bungalow for rent by week or
season. 4 rooms and bath.
THE BIG SUMMER MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN
OF THE
STATE EMPLOYEES OWN ASSOCIATION
TO ENROLL
FIVE THOUSAND NEW MEMBERS
IS ON
This Association is now the Largest
State Employee Organization
In the United States
EVERY MEMBER IS URGED TO SECURE A NEW MEMBER
WILL YOU HELP TO MAKE 1933 OUTSTANDING IN HISTORY
CIVIL SERVICE-SALARIED EMPLOYEES-EVERY WHERE-WILL
BE BENEFITED BY YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS ASSOCIATION
Fill Out Application Card On Page 10, and Mail Today!
Would You Share A Circulation like this 2 |
WE REFER TO DOLLARS OF COURSE,
& 000 000 BUT IT’S THE ONLY CIRCULATION
9 9 THAT COUNTS TODAY
32,000 People, Men and Women, Every Two Weeks
. HATS .. CLOTHES. .
RADIOS ... AUTOS...
. DRUGS . . . PUBLIC
UTILITY SERVICES .. .
. BEER . . . REFRIGER-
ATORS ... BOOKS...
. TRANSPORTATION
TOYS ...BONDS...
-INSURANCE...
REAL ESTATE
. BANK SERVICES
OR WHAT HAVE YOU...
BARN. 2.00.3. 2s Ses 45 $2,000,000.
This Great Group is composed of average wage earners
($1508 yearly) who have learned to make every dollar do a
full day’s work.
THE STATE EMPLOYEE is their organ. Through its
pages is expressed their promotion of loyalty and industry in
State service.
It is through these very pages that you, as an advertiser,
may reach these individuals, enjoying and capable of satis-
fying normal material wants.
vertise in o : ublication
STATE EMPLOYEE
ROOM 156 STATE CAPITOL ALBANY, N. Y.
A Special Message to New York State Civil Service Employees
THREE THRILLING DAYS FULL
OF TRIPLE-ACTION FUN
New All-Inclusive Price, $1900
CHOOSE ANY 3 DAYS
YOU DESIRE
Do you long to visit the great
city? See its sights—enjoy its
fun? Here’s your chance. Stay
st metropolitan hotel, enjoy
three days of dining, dancing,
shows and sights—for only
$10.00 per person, all-inclusive
FREE: sey York ta Your Fotker!
Regular Rates $2 to $3 Single
163 to $4 Dowdle.
2 faz peal 0s fcltows: Two by one
Hollywood oale 4
Sete oe
:
3
@ Bobemis ‘Rertanranr—lancheon, music
5
HOTE Times
eabato
Before purchasing an old style vacuum
cleaner, have Electrolux demonstrated
free of charge.
For information call Albany 3-1277 or write
ELECTROLUX, Inc.
90 STATE ST. ALBANY, N. Y.
“Quality Cleaners and Dyers since 1883”
Buchheim’s
CLEANERS AND DYERS
Do not hesitate to call for our prices
432 Central Avenue
Telephone 2-4431 ALBANY, N. Y.
AMERICAN AUTO RADIATOR CO.
S. MEURS, Proprietor
REPAIRING OF RADIATORS, FENDERS, BODIES AND HOODS
RECORING RADIATORS OUR SPECIALTY
Agent for
Fedders, Harrison, McCord, Cartridge and G. & O. Radiator Cores
126 CENTRAL AVENUE Dial 3-1816 ALBANY, N. Y.
FROMM PEDIGREED SILVER FOXES
Cold Fur Storage — Fur Repairing
MAC MILLEN FURS, INC.
TELEPHONE 3-5410
119 State Street Opposite De Witt Clinton
STATE CAPITOL AND EDUCATION BUILDING
Photo Courtesy Albany Chamber of Commerce
HOURS 9:00 to 5:30 AND BY APPOINTMENT
RAYMOND V, HEALY, Pod. G.
Chiropodist
Next to State Office Building
249 STATE STREET Telephone 4-5030
* The Place You Have Always Hoped to Find
Ainslie Hewett, Inc.
RESTAURANT : TEA ROOM
184 State Street Albany, N. Y.
Telephone 3-9490
JAMES G. TEBBUTT MARSHALL W. TEBBUTT, JP..
MARSHALL W. TEBBUTT'S SONS
Funeral Service
“Satisfactory Service for Every Purse”
176 State Street Albany, N. Y.
‘TELEPHONE 3-2179
WELLINGTON HOTEL
AND GARAGE
500 ROOMS — 200 CARS
Room Rates:
Single $2.00 to $3.50
Double $3.00 to $6.00
Direct connection from the Hotel Lobby
to Garage, why not avail yourself
of the convenience.
Reduced Weekly Room and Garage Rates.
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0