The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-16

skulduggery but
 are positively forbidden to take any part, immediate or remote, in partisan party goings-on. Not only to the employees but to their husbands and their cousins, their uncles and their aunts, their brothers and their sisters, their upstairs neighbors and their downstairs neighbors, Is anything and everything savoring of poli- tics, political party alliance, or political party adherence strictly taboo. The poo. victims of the so- called merit system, for example, could not on the way out to work on election day morning pass the time of day with their remotest acquaintances by saying playfully "It's a fine day for an electionl Vote right and often" without run- ming the risk of being fired from their jobs. The man, employed by city or state, who over a social glass of beer indulges in a harm less discussion of political prob lens lays himself open to getting the boot. The woman, who across a bridge table, announces that she is not going to vote for Valentine Blatz because she would not trust anyone with a button nose and nickel-sized ears like his as far as she could see him, may find herself on the carpet the next morning with the possible loss of her job because she has violated Rule 4s2, Secton 30ll, of the so- called merit system-ciyil service plan regulations. It is all very we'll for the advocates of both dictatorial devices to say that such things would never happen. The fact that they can and do happen is enough for me. The best and surest way to prevent an abuse of power in certain directions is not to award 1t.
 Immediate Organization
 The first thing which follows the imposition of the so-called merit system-civil service plan upon state or city Is the formation of Civil Service Employees Associa- tion. There is one in New York City and in New York state. For all I know there is one in every municipality and state in the Union where the plan has been adopted. Immediately the, organ ization is formed the drive for membership goes on, in and out of office hours. and after fashion which might well put to shame the alleged coercive methods of hard boiled union organizers. Once the members have been herded into a union-because that is what in essence the Civil Service Em- ployees Association is--they pro- ceed not as individuals but through their organization to mix into politics with all the ardor, vigilance, and aggressiveness of a partisan party machine. And with the purpose which the political or- ganizaton admits, to wit: - the personal advancement, advantage. and selfishness of its own mem bers.
 Taxpayers? Pooh!
 The theoretical purpose back of the so-called merit system-civ:l service plan is that 1t works for greater efficiency, greater econ omy, and more devoted service on the part of the state and munici- pal employees towards John Tax payer. In theory, beautiful In practice, bunk. Any intelligent person who reads the newspapers and has observed the arrogant. grasping. domineering activities Of the Civil Service Employees Asso- ciatons in the city and state of New York-to go no farther from hcme-must realize that when 1t comes to choice between thc good of John Taxpayer and the salaries, working hours. and con- ditions of employment of tho civil service employees, John Taxpayer gets the short end of the stick. To protect the selfish interests of their members these Civil Service Employees Associations carry on legislative lobbies, put candidates for public OfEice on the spot as to their attitude on matters which concern the civil service em- ployees to hell with anyone elsel, endorse or refuse to endorse can- didates who agree or disagree