122. State Papers and Addresses

Personnel administration in our State is a big job and calls for technical
competence, as well as understanding of the problems involved. There are
more than 5, 500 State employees in the classified service, of whom 589 have
been added since I became Governor. It is in the interest of this large number
of employees that the Merit System functions. They are thereby assured of
permanency, as long as they perform their duties creditably. There is thus
produced an incentive for good work and, in addition, an incentive that they
make a career of this service. I have realized full well that greater efficiency
would result from State employees if they were not compelled to worry about
whether their positions were in jeopardy for political reasons.

Accordingly, you have not heard during this administration, of cases where
employees have been moved around from one part of the State to another, at
serious inconvenience to themselves, for the thinly veiled purpose of forcing
their separation from the service. You have not heard of State employees
being hounded in order to force their resignations, under the present adminis-
tration. And I intend that you shall not hear it.

I propose that, under our administration, no advantage will be taken to
use any loop-holes in the Merit System law or its rules to exclude qualified
persons from the State service.

I, also, am determined that our administration shall adhere to the intent
of the law, which in its essence provides for an orderly inquiry into the quali-
fications of applicants for State service and protection of employees in their
positions as long as they discharge their duties in a competent manner. I
said before that the operation of the Merit System is in the interest of State
employees but there is, also, another consideration. I desire to add, with
emphasis, that its operation is, also, in the interest of the taxpayers who are
paying the salaries of us all. With the protection and safeguards that are
afforded to employees of the classified service it must be borne in mind that
there is a corresponding duty and responsibility. The public is entitled to
receive faithful and efficient service from you. The higher you raise the level
of public service the more credit will there be to attachment to the service.

Let us be careful in carrying out the intent, as well as the letter of the
law, that no interference be given department heads in personnel administration
within their respective agencies. Every effort should be made so to conduct
the administration of the law that employees will feel responsible to their de-
partmental and institutional heads. Transfer of allegiance to any other official
or outside interest does not, in my judgment, make for good administration.

I have taken occasion to state the intent and purposes which I had in
this regard, upon assuming the Governorship. I think it in order to cite just
what has been accomplished in order that it might be realized whether *we
meant what we said. Not by way of boasting but simply as a factual report,
let me cite the following accomplishments since January 11, 1939, as proof
that we are sincere advocates of the Merit System:

1. Extension of the Merit System to approximately 600 employees of the
Unemployment Compensation Board, bringing the total of State classified
employees to well over 5, 500.

2. Passage of a Salary Standards Act, passed on the principle of "Equal
salary for equal work, " and the appointment of a Board to place it in effect.