The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-30
In Today's Mail
Anonymous letters win not
be accepted unless accom-.
panied with writer's name.
IL MERIT SYSTEM "PHONIE,
ASKS Y. II. DAVIS OF CRIT
Teal MIR. TAXPAYER

- January 20, 1887.
Editor, Waterbury Democrat:
have been following with inter-
est "Taxpayer's' letters ON the Merit
System. In his last one. he says
that tissues rather than individuals
are involved, but his letters are
much more about the political In
tcrests OF certain individuals than
about the central issues involved. In
his first one, he began on chap
who happens TO hold a state Job.
Next, he spotted the governor him
self. Somehow he happened 10 over
look the president Of the United
States. Now, though. he makes up
for that by triumphantly remember
ing that Mr.. Morris, Vice president
OF the Connecticut Merit System as.
ISOLATION. ran for ONCE soine years
ago and--as climax--that the
chairman OF our local merit system
committee has been elected sccre-
tary of the Young Republican club"i
Az he puts II. the boys In the Merit
System Brigade plan TO be In the
picture when new pork barrel H
tapped. That Is, according 10 Tax
payer, the sure road TO political
spells lis TO advocate system 70 abol-
ish them! 1t sounds like Alice IN
Wonderland.
The Merit System movement de-
clares itself 10 be non partisan, even
though It's membership does include
republicans, democrats, socialists,
and--I can vouch for one--Mug-
wump. Now. Taxpayer, must one be
utterly sterile politically 10 be truly
sincere In this cause? May only our
cemeteries rise up, unchallenged, In
Its support To be sure. the spoils
system would pretty nearly make
some OF our honored forebears turn
in their graves: but considering that
we're trying 10 build for the future,
shouldn't the living have some say?
Now. holding no political ONCE
and never having run for anything
more public than my hat on q
windy day, ! venture 10 ask Tax
payer q question. The fact that he
is-he admits--a Taxpayer. inter-
ests me, and my question 10 this.
Mr.. Taxpayer, do you know what
per cent Of those taxes you pay 60
TO salaries on the Jobs we want
10 raise TO q le, Of competence
and good administra don? What
per cent Of your federal taxes? OF
your state taxes? OF your local
taxes? Or haven't you happened TO
think OF that? Or don't you carer
Something In your letters suggests
TO me that you do detect some sort
OF lingering pain In your vest
pocket: there's o Kind OF over-tone
OF unhappincss and discontent-j,ist
a faint suggestion that you can
imagine q better way. Now. Mr..
Taxpayer, am wholly sympathetic
with that. ! think you can. too. May
suggest that. Just for the adven-
ture OF II. you look into the Merit
system: even read up on II III.
Tie. and try TO gain some conception
Of what II IL. u will at least ease
your mind of those personalities
you find 10 exasperating and, Incl
dentaiiy, II will give you the thrill
OF your life TO discover that college
degrees are not required under the
Merit system. BY the way. what
made you think they were?
Now. Mr.. Payer Of Taxes, this let
ter isn't intended merely a. what
you cali "a little verbal brush. II
n prompted by q seal curiosity 10
know II you do. actually. think the
Merit System IL "Phooie". IL IT. "a
practiced In our factories. our busi-
negses, our banks? Or Ii II, only
when some one proposes II 10 dis
place that system Of political graz
and pork that you write OF 30 know
ingiy? And that system OF poiitical
patronage and spoiis, would you call
that phoebe, or what. Mr.. Tax
payer?
II. II. DAVIS.