Evening star., 1941-10-31
Merit System
Held Needed in
Montgomery
Director Of County
Government Survey
Cites Advantages

A thoroughgoing merit system for
Montgomery County would be
major device for obtaining good gov
ernment economically and eff
ciently, DR.. Lewis Merriam, director
of Brookings Institution survey of
the county government, told an au-
dience of more than 100 persons at
the Rockville High School last
night.
The meeting was the third in
series to be held every Thursday
night in Rockville, under the spon-
sorship of a countrywide study
group organized to acquaint citi-
Zens with recommendations in the
report.
Declaring the survival of demo-
cratic government depends on its
efficiency, DR. Merriam declared:
The efficient modern govern
ment, rendering professional, tech
nical and scientific services to its
people, must have a permanent,
able body of public servants, quail
fled by native ability, education and
experience, to render the required
services effectively and economic
ally"
"Spoils System" Criticized.
In criticizing the present per-
sonnel setup in the county, the
speaker said the principal fault of
the spoils system is that some po-
sitions are created or continued pri-
marily to make jobs for organiza-
ton men. A common device in the
county, he continued, is to create
part time boards or commissions
These unnecessary" boards and
commissions, he added. would be
abolished if positions on them had
to be filled under a merit system.
Under a spoils system. he en-
phasiZed officeholders are under
obligation to the organization that
gave them their jobs. He claimed
that these employees are forced to
perform their duties in a way that
serves the interest of members of
the organization rather than the
interest OF the people as whole
Democracy requires equality be-
fore the law" DR.. Merriam said. In
the modern service state. it requires
equality of treatment of all citizens
under like conditions without polit-
ical favoritism and without adverse
action taken for political reasons.
Under merit system the civil serv-
ice is under obligation to no party
and to no politician for his JOB"
80 Police Move Discussed. s-s--
Singing out particular county
agencies to prove his point. DR..
Merriam said that the act enlarging
the county police force and pro-
viding merit system for new ap-
pointees was not a genuine merit
system law. but rather a device to
protect the politically y-appointed
officers"
The Suburban Sanitary Commits
sion should be brought under the
State merit system in order to pro-
tect its personnel from political
house cleaning" if there should be
change in control of the commits
sion. At the same time Dr. Merriam
praised the stats of the School De-
partment and Welfare Board, both
of which are under the merit system.
In answer to those who contend
adoption of a merit system would
force efficient employees out of the
service of the county government
because they we're employed before
the system was set up, DR.. Merriam
replied that merit system would
not mean loss of employment for
able and efficient employees, but
rather would substitute reasonable
permanence of tenure for political
uncertainty.
Mrs. Ralph Himstead of Chevy
Chase, a member of the State
League of Women Voters, presided.
The county's financial administra-
tion will be discussed by DR.. Paul
Walker of the University of Mary
land next Thursday.