tions have been held at Frostburg, Maryland. The personnel of the
Mine Examining Board is as follows:

B. H. McCrackin, Frostburg, Md.; representing Maryland Coal
Operators.

Lawrence Dunn, Midland, Md.; representing Maryland Coal
Miners.

John J. Rutledge, Chairman Ex-officio; representing State of Mary-
land.

THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE
EMPLOYMENT AND REGISTRATION

22 Light Street, Baltimore.

Commissioner:

Colonel Harry C. Jones (Term expires 1943) ... Baltimore
Chief Examiner:

Margaret Dambly Frank Baltimore

Secretary:

Lillian A. Hoshall..... ........ .............. .. ....... .............. .. .............Baltimore
Chief Clerk:

Ruth Engel Hubbard Baltimore
Medical Director:

Paul E. Carliner, M. D. Baltimore
The Governor appoints one State Employment Commissioner for
a term of six years from October 1, 1931. All members of the staff
of the Commissioner are in the classified service.

The Merit System Law of Maryland (Article 64-A, page 2160, An-
notated Code of Maryland—Bagby) creating the State Employment
Commissioner" was passed in 1920. The basic Law has not been
amended in any material manner since its passage. The statute pro-
vides that "The State Employment Commissioner" prepare and publish
Rules and Regulations for the purpose of carrying out the provisions
of the Act, which, when approved by the Governor, shall have the
force of law. The Rules, like the Law itself, have shown but few
and unimportant amendments. The Law is efficient, workable and
its stability has enabled its provisions to be well known and under-
stood by all State employees. The Rules of the Commissioner are
sound, and are intended to safe-guard not only the employee, but the
taxpayer. The Merit System, as applied to the State service, functions,
not only as a technically professional exemplification of advanced
ideas in public employment, but as a procurement agency charged
with the duty of supplying State departments and institutions with
the most competent personnel procurable at the compensation pro-
vided by the State in the Budget.

A material advance was made by the Legislature of 1937, which
approved the establishment of a "Medical Division" in the Department
of State Employment and Registration, as recommended by the State
Employment Commissioner, a facility that the Department has long
needed. It also enacted a statute, prepared by the State Employment
Commissioner, with the approval of the Governor, which established a
system providing for retirement, with reasonable compensation, of
aged and disabled State employees.

The Merit System of Maryland has won deserved recognition nation-
ally, for its efficient operation and its freedom from political inter-
ference.