The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-18
Controller Announces Completion of Custer
All Replacements Made According to Merit System; New Appointees Take Lessons in Office Procedure

"All changes have been completed in the office. Controller Rowland says all appointments were made on merit"
 Thus, by his publicity staff today, Controller Sherwood L. Rowland announced finish of his merit sys- tenn" changes in the office to which he was elected by the Republicans and Independent Democrats last fall. It was on the occasion of his last two merit system" appoint ments which are: Miss Anne De Bonis, former stenographer of the Citizens Good Government associa- tion of Waterbury, Inc, now "senior bookkeeping clerk, who admitted that she is "a typist" and knows nothing about the Elliot Fisher bookkeeping machine" which knowl- edge is one of Controller Rowland's stipulated requirements for the junior bookkeeping clerk"
 Mrs. Conn0r Named
 The appointment yesterday of Mrs. Beatrice A. Connor, Walnut avenue, wife of Daniel F. Connor and daughter -in-law of Roger V. Connor, Independent Democratic chieftain and candidate of that par ty for the mayoralty in 1885.
 Two longtime employees in the office of the controller, Mrs. Julia Laguna McFadden, whose work was given the degree of perfect" by Controller Rowland as late as yes- terday, and Mrs. Helen Tehan Smith. 10 years in the office after being drafted" from a special class at Wilby high school by Controller Peter FitzHenry because of the merit" of her work, left the office yesterday when they learned they expected to teach" the new merit system" appointees the rudiments of modern bookkeeping practices.
 While Republicans gazed in amaze ment today at the personnel of MT. Rowland's office, Independent Demo- crats were trying to figure out just what political usage will be expected Of them somewhat later as they counted patronage by the controller giving them majority vote" among the new employees at City Hall. They counted: Miss Grace V. Han- lon. sister of an Independent Dem ocratic leader; William B. Ferrari, accredited" candidate for control- ler's office appointment by their command; and Mrs. Connor.
 The Republicans counted AL derman Tom Bane and wondered about the appointment of Alder man Bane's chief, Charles c. Foster, as purchases coordinator";; the ap- pointment of Miss Elizabeth c. Rob- inson, sister-in-law of John J. Ber- gin, Rowland business associate and campaign manager, as stenographer; Of Miss Cynthia Thompson as sec- retary to MT. Rowland.
 Assistant Controller
 But, most of all, they wondered about the appointment of James P. Purcell as assistant controller. MT. Purcell is the accountant who was trained by Edward Cohen, promi- nent Republican accountant and whose chief for eight years, former Controller Daniel J. Leary, raised his pay from about $250O to $4500 during that time, refusing to fire Mr. Purcell when others employees became aware of what they were willing to testify was "disloyalty."
 Citizens wondered about the oust- ing of Col. William J. Shanahan, employe in the controllers office since 1906 and who had survived many political regimes of both Dem ocrats and Republicans in those 32l years. reportedly on merit" They wondered about the qualifications which MT. Rowland specified in his hand-out of several hundred "appli- cations" for those seeking jobs in the controllers ofi1ce.
 Reprinted below are the "qualifi- cation" which Mir. Purcell must have, by Controller Rowland's merit sys- tenn" requirements: