HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 1725

which might seem to them to weaken the Civil Service regula-
tions.

I must, also, take into consideration the feeling of security
or insecurity of the great number of State employees. To en-
courage them to put forth their best efforts in the performance
of their duties, they must not feel that efforts are being made
to deprive them of the safeguards surrounding their tenure of
public positions.

The State Law Department, in the formal opinion upon out-
standing measures, brings to my attention another important
fact. The opinion states that it is likely that, if this measure
is signed, it will nullify Chapter 385 (Senate Bill 203) passed
at the recent session and providing for a three-man Salary
Standards Board. This latter important measure is con-
sidered a great advance in administration of Civil Service laws
and the opposition advanced by the State Law Department
to approving House Bill 240 is that, under the Salary Stand-
ards Board measure, it is provided that one member shall be
the State Employment Commissioner. Undoubtedly, con-
fusion and possibly worse would result in the set-up of the
Salary Standards Board if the office of one of its members
were abolished, as no alternative is provided.

It is my considered judgment that, before making any
radical change in the set-up of the State Employment Com-
missioner's Office, exhaustive study should be made to deter-
mine how any different set-up would likely function in this
State. Fortunately, such a study can be made by the Legis-
lative Council over the period of the next two years before
the convening of the 1941 session of the General Assembly and
I earnestly suggest that this far-reaching question be taken
up for consideration by the Council.

I might add that in arriving at this decision, I have had a
full and frank discussion of the entire situation with the
President of the Senate, Senator Arthur H. Brice, Senator
Dudley G. Roe, the majority floor leader of the Senate, Delegate
John S. White, the majority floor leader of the House, who
introduced the measure, Senator Philip H. Dorsey and others
who voted for passage of the Bill.

I conclude that three factors must be controlling with me
in my decision:

1. That exhaustive study and thorough consideration of
the possible effects of a change in the Merit System laws
should be made before a change is effected and that such study
and consideration can and should be given by the Legislative
Council; and that, at the conclusion of such full study and
consideration, public sentiment will be crystallized in support
of the preferable system, whatever that happens to be.