22 Light Street, Baltimore

(Terms of Commissioner expires 1926. Employees are in the
classified service.)
Name. Postoffice.

Commissioner:
Osborne I. Yellott...................................... Towson

Secretary and Examiner:
Oliver C. Short.

Chief Clerk;
Miss Anna V. Burke................................. Baltimore

Stenographers:
Mrs. Ella E. Gray.
Miss Ida Mariner.................................... Baltimore

The Governor, without Senate confirmation, appoints one State
Employment Commissioner for a, term of six years from October 1,
1920. (Ch. 41,1920.)

The State Employment Commissioner is charged with putting
into effect and administering the Merit System Law of the State. The
law gives the Commissioner general control of employment and per-
sonnel matters as far as the classified service is concerned, the princi-
pal exemptions being elective officers, officers and employees of the
General Assembly or either House thereof, court officers, members of
boards and commissions and others directly appointed by the Gov-
ernor or Board of Public Works, certain county employees) the police
of the City of Baltimore, and positions for which the annual salary is
less than $650. Some 2000 out of a total of 3000 positions in the State
service are included in the classified service.

The Merit System Law provides that the Commissioner shall
classify positions in the classified service, recommend minimum,
maximum, and intermediate rates of pay for each class of employees,
pass upon the qualifications of applicants and certify eligibles when
vacancies are to be filled, pass upon transfers, leaves of absence, and
other actions affecting the. status of employees, provide for the re-
moval of employees and hold a hearing when charges are filed by an
appointing a.uthority or a citizen, prescribe the standards of perform-
ance and the form and scope of the records that appointing authori-
ties keep, and investigate the efficiency of employees in the classified
service and make recommendations for increased efficiency and econ-
omy. The Commissioner is also required to check payrolls in advance
of the payment of employees in the classified service and certify to
the legality of their employment.

The classification of positions and the rules made by the Com-
missioner to carry out the provisions of the law become effective
January 1, 1921, and thereafter appointments, removals, promotions,
lay-offs) reinstatements, suspensions, leaves of absence, or changes in
class or compensation can be legally made only as provided in the
law and the rules.