Evening star., 1947-10-01
County Heads
Admit Trying 10
|0ust Morgan
Civil Service Director
To Keep Montgomery
Post Despite Pay Slash

~ NeeP fV'OHtSOHleIy
Post Despite Pay Slash
The Montgomery County Com
admitted this afternoon
their action yesterday in slashing
the salary Of 10 v. Morgan, county
civil service commissioner, was tax
en- IN the hope Mr.. Morgan would
resign. Earlier their move was as
sailed by Mr.. Morgan and Demo-
cratic Party leaders. Mr.. Morgan
said he would not resign.
The commissioners said Mr.. Nor
gan has not appeared at his office
In the Rockville Courthouse more
than one hour a week for the last
three months.
County authorities feel that It
Is completely unfair to other county
employees and county taxpayers to
pay salary of $4,000 for such dila-
tory service the county commits
sioners asserted in their statement.
Yesterday they cut his salary to
1900 year, effective October IS.
They added that county authori-
ties have had continued difficulties"
in obtaining satisfactory results
from the civil service commissioner
office.
At the same time the commission
ers emphasized that their action was
intended to strengthen civil service
In the county and that 1t Is neces-
sary to have "a fuu-time, qualified
personnel officer to seek sources Of
new competent employees for county
service"
The board acted at q closed
session with the four Republican
commissioners voting for the salsryy'
slash. The fifth member of the
board, Charles H. Jamison, a Demo-
crat, was absent.
F. Barnard Welsh, attorney to the
board, explained that the law setting
up the Office authorizes the COM
missioners to fix the salary.
Intends to Stay in Office.
Charging that the commissioners
action is clumsy attempt to COM
pei me to resign" Mr.. Morgan today
emphasized his intention to remain
in Office.
Regardless Of the salary" he said,
"I consider it my duty to protect
county employees. The financial sac
rifice in the position already has
been SO great that few thousand
dollars will not make much differ
ence."
In denying the commissioners ac-
cusation that he has failed to keep
regular Office hours, Mr.. Morgan
pointed out that when he was ap-
pointed, it was with the express pro-
vision that the job be part-time,
since he could not afford to accept
it otherwise.
This Is but a continuation Of the
petty acts and annoyances to which
I have been subjected since I took
Office because of my insistence that
provisions of the merit system be
strictly followed" Mr.. Morgan de-
clared.
Cites Removal of Office.
He said the "annoyances" started
with the removal of his office from
the Bethesda County Building to q
rear room In the old Rockville
Courthouse"
Next, according to Mr.. Morgan,
the commissioners abolished the
position Of administrative assistant
in his Office after he had insisted
that the merit system law be fol-
lowed in emergency appointments.
"This last action" Mr.. Morgan
asserted, "is, no doubt, reflection
of the impatience, publicly ex-
pressed by the attorney to the
county commissioners because Of
full and complete hearing recently
afforded an employe on removal
charges filed against him."
Mr.. Morgan, Bethesda attorney
and one-time county Democratic
worker. was appointed for a four
year term by the former Democratic
Board of County Commissioners.
Custer Bill Defeated.
An attempt was made to oust him
through bill introduced at the last
session Of the General Assembly by
the all-Republican Montgomery del.
egation. The measure failed, how
ever, after it received an unfavorabls
committee report.
Commenting on the salary cut for
Mr.. Morgan, j. Bond Smith, chair
man Of the Democratic State Gen.
trail Committee, said today:
The boards action is fragrant
attack on the merit system and an
affront to all genuine friends Of
county civil service. 1t far exceeds
the bounds of partisan political
action.
Its objective, of course, is to force
Mr.. Morgan to resign and thus
enable the board to appoint a sue
cessor who will submit to political
dictation by the board.
Seeks to Destroy Independence.
THE whole merit system is built
on the independence of the civil
service commissioner. The boards
action is an attempt to destroy that
independence.
"Mr. Morgan's fair and impartial
administration of the Office has
brought recognition from the Civil
Service Assembly of the United
States and Canada.
THE boards action should be
challenged by those interested in the
preservation of the merit system for
all county employees"
Al a ~