Montgomery County sentinel., 1939-02-02
County Commissioners Make
Important Changes In The
Key Positions; 49 Dismissed
Organization Forces Take Over Posts Formerly
Filled By Republicans And Recalcitrant Democrats
-Set-up Arranged To Gradually Alter Admins
tration Of Montgomery Affairs

The Democratic organization forces
actually took over control of tht
county government Tuesday when th'
County Commissioners issued al
order dismissing approximately 81
employees of the former Fusion-con
trolled administration. The Board o
County Commissioners pointed ou
that changes in the various key posi-
tions would be made gradually so al
not to impair the efficiency of any
particular office. In several instance:
Fusion clerks were asked to remain
on the job for another thirty days tC
instruct their successors in the rou'
tine of their various duties.
Although approximately fifty EN-
ployees in the county court house ano
the county buildings at Silver Spring
and Bethesda were released, it was
no great surprise to the public as il
was generally understood that fol
lowing the repeal of the "merit sys-
tenn law" there would be an exodus Of
Republican and anti-organizatior
Democrats.
Through some clerical error tbs
merit measure, passed four years age
and designed to become effective in
1899, was altered before it reached
the Governors desk so that it became
operative in 1897. Constitutionality 0.
the bill was questioned in suit
brought by several county employees
affected. s3
In announcing the dismissals Tues
day, the County Commissioners pre-.
ceded the list with the following
statement:
"The Democratic County Commis-
sioners have decided that replace
ments in the various county offices
will be made so gradually that the
services of the county government
will not be disrupted. We do not ex-
pect to fill any of the remaining posi-
tions in the various county offices
until the end of February.
Four years ago Immediately after
their election, the Republican-Fusior
Board of County Commissioners
made wholesale and immediate re.
novals of practically all county em.
ployees and further discharged prac-
tically every experienced member OF
the county police force, which police
force at that time was rendering ex-
cellent service and made up of compe-
tent and experienced officers with
good records. Consequently the police
service in the county was at once sc
badly disorganized through this actor
of the Republican Fusion commits
sioners that the people of the subur'
ban county demanded return Of the
efficient police protection that tbs
county had received under the pre-
ceding Democratic administration.
In order to enable at least a partia
continuation Of the former adequat'
police <service, the Democratic mem
bers of the State Legislature passed
bill which reinstated the half Of thu
experienced policemen with the long
est individual service records, all o
whom has been so ruthlessly dis
charged by the Republican Fusion
commissioners. The Democrats wer
only able to get the Republican Gov
ernor to agree to sign bill which
reinstated half of the original polio
force and even then leading Republi
can politicians visited the Governor il
an effort to have him veto this bill
The Democratic county commission
ers are determined that no such dam
age shall be done to efficient govern
nent in this county through any ac
ton of the present board Of count.
commissioners.
Consequently the program of tn
Democratic County Administration i
that none of the present experiences
members of the county police force
will be discharged and that the civi
service will continue to be applied II
the county police force, with the add
tion of trial board which we believe
coupled with more competent and en-
ergetic supervision, will greatly in
crease the present efficiency Of tn
! Montgomery County police force.
Among the appointments that W.