The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-17

1 ton of an Elliot Fisher bookkeeping machine and knowledge of double entry bookkeeping; accuracy, neat ness, mental alertness; and depend ability"
 To Mrs. McFadden's question, Miss De Bonis replied.
 T know nothing about the book keeping machine. I'm typist."
 Begs For Secrecy
 It was then that MT. Rowland again begged Mrs. McFadden to sec- recy regarding his latest appoint ment and Mrs. McFadden, recalling that the controller in spite of his demand of her that she say nothing about the change, reminded Mir Rowland that she had denied in- formation about her being fired" to The Democrat and that the con- troller had telephoned the American about it thereafter. Her attitude, after being asked to help her suc- cessor to go to school in the rudi- ments of bookkeeping was, What. after all, is merit system, as MT. Rowland uses it?"
 Mrs. Smith in Same Mood
 Mrs. Helen Tehan Smith, em- ployed in the controllers office for ten years, drafted for the work from her class at Wilby high school, in a manner of speaking, without any political portent to the appoint ment" whatsoever, felt somewhat the same. Notified today that she would not "be required" after May 28th, she left this noon, preferring I not to remain in the pure atmos- phere of the merit system" which had provided such strange com- panions, it was observed.
 Say nothing to anybody" Con- troller Rowland begged Mrs. Me- Fadden yesterday, when he notified her of the "ousting" he planned for her as of May 28th.
 Your work is perfect" he added. Something I've had to do," he said as he asked her today to meet her successor in the private office. So This Is Merit System
 80 this is the merit system" Mrs. McFadden remarked to the con- troller, after her successor had ad- mitted no knowledge about the bookkeeping machine she is sup posed to operate.
 There were Glasses" in the con- troller's office after Mrs. McFadden left. Charles c. Foster, purchasing agent by appointment under the merit system, and James P. Purcell, assistant controller" according to MT. Rowland's publicity, were en- gagged in training" the personnel of the merit system" how to perform their duties for the taxpayers as MT. Rowland's Republican and Inde- pendent Democratic voters had planned that they be attended. Dent Want Any Part of It "If this is the merit system, don't want any part of it." Mrs. Helen Te- han Smith remarked, quitting at noon today My appointment. wasn't political. The controller ten years ago asked me to come into the office after I'd done temporary work there after training for it at Wilby high school. If there's merit today, there was merit then"
 Employees appointed by MT. Row. land to date include: MT. Foster, purchasing agent" MT. Purcell, holdover accountant who now is de- scribed in the Republican press as assistant controller; Alderman Tom Bane. Republican; Miss Grace V. Hanlon, sister of Miss Catherine Hanlon, Independent Democratic leader; Miss Elizabeth c. Robinson, sister -in-law of John J. Bergin, bus mess associate of and campaign manager for MT. Rowland; Miss Cynthia pson, secretary, daughter of a Watertown Republi- can; and Miss De Bonis, former stenographer at the Good Govern ment associations office.
 Not to mention, Of course, the lat est appointment to replace Mrs. Smith, which will be publicized as another merit system" replacement today or tomorrow in MT. Rowland s mouthpieces.
 But Republican leaders, Independ- ent Democratic leaders, and the Merit System leaders, are non-com- initial about the appointments of the e.stwhile Republican-F Fusion controller.
 A general statement from these would be:
 We know nothing about them."