Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-03-11
EXPLAINS LABOR BILL

Editor Askov American:
Considerable interest has been
shown in the various civil service
bills introduced in the Mime sofa leg
islature. TIE Women Voters LeaSuc
bill known as house file No. 9S is a
model bill. bill No. 72S is bill in
lorsed by labor and bill No. 10 is q
modern bill although it may not be a
model one. The committee is to be
highly complimented in reporting out
this bill. as it contains well thought
out plan to handle the civil service
problem.
Under bill No. 9S civil service appli-
cants would be si\en the usual civil
,ersice examination, known as an en-
trance examination, judging by PAST
examinations that | have seen they
would be asked lot of questions
which mad nothing to do with the
work for which they are icing eN-
amined; such as questions on Grecian
mythology, various dates OF important
events in history, Egyptian mummies
and a lot Of other fool qIeeti~ns. i he
fact that they may be totally unfit
for che work would not be consid red.
After having passed an eXaminati N
To the satisfaction OF an onion breathed
civil service cCmmi sion, they would
be certified as qualified for IA job for
life on the state payroll, hardly any
thing less than an act of God co Id
remove them. Bill No. 72S is an ina
prove ment over No. 9S.
Under the provisions of bill No 10
the governor is left responsible for
the efficiency of the state personnel.
He would have the final GeGi ion in
the appointments. And this is as it
should be for the COVER or is the he al
of the administration and is elected
ny tie people, who expect him t. car
~ out their wishes and provide for
their requirements. In a large state
like Minnesota the responsibility is
tremendous and if the governor is tC
operate with any degree of tfticienC y
he must have a personnel that will
work with him. He cannot afford tC
fuss around with a bunch of cont airy
{
accept his policies, but who res emf
him being there at all. The tendency
of civil service employees once on the
payroll and projected by laws, rule;
and regulations is to form a sort of q
| conservative All tOcracy, they can he
and a new governor who inherits such
a bunch will have some job on his
/ hand to drive his policies through
| However, we have representative gov
eminent here in Minnesota and the
| governor should be the boss, not civil
! service bureaucrats.
/ Minnesota could very well get alous
without any civil service system anG
/ the selection of the personnel left tC
! the governor and his important ap
pointees. | cant conceive of COVER
nor who would be foolish enough t.
appoint an inefficient employee anC
keep him, he would thereby invite
| certain ruin to his political career
Any governor would know enough tC
! get efficient help that would WORK
with him. However, a nOn-politiCa
! civil service commission could ruin &
governor whom they did not like By
wishing unsuitable personnel on hin
and knitting him every chance they
| got. The governor should retain the
whip and under the provisions of bill
| No. 10 he at least does that. There
can be no divided responsibility under
our system of government. The elect
ed officials must get results, they are
| elected to do certain things and il
their hands are tied behind theil
| backs with a lot of fool civil service
/ get results.
S. j. SIMONSEN.
ASkOy Mimi.