[C NOV-7 1941,
Volume 3
THE
EMPLOYEE
MARCH, 1934
Number 3
The Annual Dinner Necessary to the
Highway Construction The Salary Question
On the evening of March 8th, the
The Governor's Annual Budget
Shorter Day
Appropriations
Association held its Annual Dinner
Bill carrying appropriations for the
and played host to the Governor,
Mrs. Lehman and many State officials. This was the largest social
affair ever held by the Association
and many employees attended from
various points in the State, including large groups from the Public
Works Department at Poughkeepsie, Hudson River State Hospital
at Poughkeepsie, led by John Livingstone, the Training School at
Hudson, and from many other
places.
Attorney General Bennett, Commissioner of Agriculture Baldwin,
Commissioner of Labor Andrews;
Col. Greene of the Department of
Public Works and Mrs. Greene,
President Mark Graves of the Tax
Commission, Dr. Thayer, Commissioner of Correction, Director of
the Budget Weber, Miss Grace
Reavy, Deputy Secretary of State,
Commissioner Smith of the Civil
Service Department, Hon. Joseph
J. Canavan, Secretary to the Governor and Mrs. Canavan, Senator
Ross of Troy, Senator Kernan of
Utica, Assemblyman Ostertag of
Wyoming Co., introducer of the
shorter day bill, Warden Murphy
of Clinton Prison, and many other
distinguished guests were present.
Many of these spoke words of
high praise for State service and
for the Association.
Governor Lehman, in addressing
those present said:
"I have had the pleasure of attending every dinner that was given
by this Association since my arrival
in Albany, going on six years ago.
I have enjoyed all of them, but I
think this is, in point of number,
distinction, geographical distribution,
probably the most successful and
important of any that I have had
the pleasure of being at. The President Mr. McDonough has told me
that men and women are here tonight from many different parts of
the State. This geographical distribution is important and shows
Continued on Page 7
The Association will seek prompt
introduction in Senate and Assembly of bills carrying appropriations of $2,000,000 to make
possible the beginning of the abolition of the twelve hour day in
state institutions as of January
1, 193S. This sum, it is estimated by the Association, will
make possible the employment of
forces sufficient to establish fair
hours of employment in every institution operated by the State.
Whether a straight eight-hour or
a forty-eight hour week provision
is adopted, it is essential that administration follow practical and
just lines so that the work of the
State will not be interfered with
in any way. Should the legislature and the Governor approve of
the shorter hour bills and the
money to put them into effect,
there would be a considerable
period up to January 1st in which
to work out the administrative details for the new system. It is
apparent, however, that employees
in the different types of institutions would have to be patient and
that the very highest degree of
employee cooperation should exist
in the period of application of the
plan. Surely in view of the sacrifices and the splendid service
which are now the general thing
among institution workers and
which have prevailed for years under the long hours system, there
is no doubt existing anywhere as
to the generous, helpful, progressive attitude which will dominate
employees in this adventure into
better employment practices.
As we go to press more encouraging reports are coming
from Washington.
There is a
distinct feeling that the National
Government should appropriate an
amount at least equal to the $400,000,000 of last year for highway
construction. Of the amount set
aside last year by the Federal Government this State received approximately $20,000,000.
While
the present news seems to indicate
that the total appropriation may
be reduced, possibly one-half, the
proponents of this practical way
of aiding the unemployment situation and at the same time supplying one of the greatest needs of
the country—improved highways—
are alert and active in pushing for
more substantial appropriations.
We again urge the engineers
and others who know the needs
of our State, and know of its ability to immediately carry on in the
most economical and efficient way
with a large construction program,
to write or wire New York Senators and Congressmen at Washington to give full support to the
needed highway appropriations.
The following bills in the State
Legislature are important and
State employees generally should
advocate these measures. They require that the State tax program
be broadened to care for the financial requirements:
Assembly Introductory 1021,
Print No. 1066, Introduced by
Mr. Kelly.
Senate Introductory 761, Print
No.
812, Introduced by Senator
Everyone will rejoice and everyone will be better off mentally, Kernan.
physically, and socially as the old
Senate Introductory 817, Print
plan merges into the newer and No. 880, Introduced by Senator
saner system.
Wicks.
Easter (KmfttgB
conduct of all State activities for
the fiscal year beginning July 1,
1934, and ending June 30. 1935, was
passed by the Legislature, and
signed by the Governor.
Bills
introduced
by
Senator
Twomey and Assemblyman Steingut providing that time service and
all other statutory increments would
be suspended during the above mentioned fiscal year were passed by the
Legislature, and signed by the
Governor.
The situation as to State salaries
is that the percentage cuts put into
effect in April of last year on all
salaries of $2,000 and over, are continued under present legislation until
June 30th, 1935. All mandatory or
statutory increases are also suspended to that date.
Your salary and legislative committees protested the continuance of
these cuts and suspensions on the
ground that they were enacted last
year wholly to meet the emergency
situation which showed the State
budget to be greatly out of balance.
The facts now available do not show
that such a condition exists today.
The estimates upon which budget
balancing is measured, indicate that
the entire deficit will be wiped out
and that there will be an actual
surplus on June 30th, 1935.
It must be understood that State
employees are not taking the position that because there may be
money available it should be spent.
It condems as wholly wrong any
such attitude toward public funds.
The position of the Association is
based entirely upon the logic of the
situation.
State employees were
grossly underpaid during many
years; they were paid less than employees in every other private and
public activity. They were reduced
as to salaries in April, 1933, because the financial condition of the
State demanded that they make
further sacrifice. Underpaid at that
time as they were, they accepted
Continued on Page 8
2
STATE EMPLOYEE
THE
STATE EMPLOYEE
Established 1929
Published by
The Association of State Civil Service
Employees of the State of New York
Room 156, State Capitol, Albany, N . Y.
OFFICERS
VV. F . McDONOUGII
President
BEULAH UAILEY
Vice-President
H E L E N E. O ' N E I L L
Secretary
FRANK O. BAUER
Treasurer
C H A R L E S J. TOBIN
Counsel
J O S E P H D. LOCHNER...
Business
Secy.
Circulatioc
<^g>
20,000 Copies
To Be or Not to Be
Demoralized
Either the 30,000 state civil service employees of the State of New
York must join hands in a progressive, strong organization, such
as this Association now is, or they
lose all opportunity to effectively
and intelligently protect, safeguard, or advance public service
or their own best interests as a
part of the great army of salaried
workers.
President Roosevelt, through
General Johnson of the N. R. A.
and Senator Wagner, of the Labor
Board, has indicated plainly that
economic and social progress depends entirely upon how efficiently
the various groups of workers and
others function collectively in orderly organizations. Organization
is proceeding rapidly with all
classes and all interests throughout the country.
There is no doubt not only
of the desirability of organization,
but of the actual necessity of organization, if economic,, political
and social reforms now under way
are not to end in failure. Demoralization reigns wherever organization is lacking.
State employees cannot do the
most for their Nation, their State
or themselves by going it alone.
That would be the selfish way.
That is the way that has resulted
in such slow progress of salaried
workers for years.
This is the State employees own
organization. It is absolutely essential that they support it by
their membership and their unselfish loyalty to its yearly programs for betterment. The Association promises no individual
member anything except loyalty
and fidelity and intelligent service
to every ideal and every need of
State service and of State servants. It could not pledge more.
A program that is right may be
delayed but it cannot be defeated.
The Association stands today as
the recognized proponent of good
civil service practice and administration. It has rendered splendid
service in the past. But its face
is to the future and the good that
lies ahead. There is much to be
accomplished.
YOU as a State employee cannot in honesty to yourself and to
the unselfish efforts which are
being made by the officers and
committees of this Association on
your behalf, do less than to help
by your own membership. And we
ask that you go still further and
help to increase the present membership of over 8000 for 1934 to at
least 15,000 members. It will not
take much personal effort to obtain
one or more new members, and it
will help to place State employee
organization well along the way
to the 100% strength which is now
nearer, and more necessary also,
than ever before. Join in this
great crusade for the preservation
of high and noble ideals, and of
practical accomplishment, in State
Albany Hardware & Iron Co*
March
Demotion in Order of Seniority
Again we urge state employees
to write to their representatives
in the Legislature urging prompt
action with reference to Senator
Ross' Bill, Introductory No. 389,
and Assemblyman Robinson's Bill
Introductory No. 1407. The Robinson Bill in the Assembly has
been reported out of committee
and will be voted upon this week.
The Ross Bill is still in committee
as we go to press.
These bills are similar.
The
measure is intended to supply a
wording of the Civil Service Law
(Section 31) in keeping with the
spirit of the law. The wording
of the present section is specific
as to seniority in cases of dismissals; it is recognized by all familiar
with the civil service and by the
many legal minds consulted, that
the principle inherent in this seniority rule applying in cases of
dismissals extends without reservation to cases of demotion.
Therefore, the bill is not a departure from, nor a change in, civil
service principles. It makes for
clarification of the statute. This
amendment would be welcomed by
those charged with administration
of the civil service, and the attorneys called upon to supply interpretations, as well as by the whole
body of civil servants.
The bill safeguards civil service
principles also by preventing arbitrary reductions in rank or
grade where no proper reason for
such reduction exists, and assures
justice to competent employees in
the stress of emergencies calling
for reductions in expenditures.
positions, demotion shall be in the
inverse order of original appointment in the service. As defined
by the courts this phrase means
the entire term of employment
in the civil service and is not limited to the period of employment
in the position last held by the employee. This method of orderly
demotion under emergency conditions is a standard feature of
most Civil Service Laws, and is
the same method that was prescribed by the Legislature in regulating the order of lay-offs. The
intent of the Legislature is sometimes negatived by arbitrary demotions until lay-off is possible,
or until the position can be abolished without affecting other favored employees.
The bill in no way limits demotion for any proper cause or
for inefficiency. It is limited to
cases where the employees have
been guilty of no misconduct or
inefficiency
and
are
demoted
through no fault of their own. The
Civil Service Law provides fully
for dismissals in cases of misconduct or inefficiency.
The bill also makes possible the
extension of the period of validity
of preferred lists (now existing of
employees temporarily suspended
or furloughed by reason of the
emergency conditions) from two
to not more than four years.
Many employees in state departments, demoted because of lack of
appropriations, are nearing the end
of the two year period and need,
in the course of simple justice, further protection in their eligibility
to re-appointment to their old
positions when and if conditions
warrant it.
There is now no specific regulation or limitation of arbitrary
demotion in the Civil Service Law.
The bill inserts the requirement
This bill would in no way interthat when such demotion is made fere with the policy of reinstatenecessary by department reorgan- ment of any demoted employees
ization, or by the abolition of without re-examination.
39-43 STATE STREET : ALBANY, NEW YORK
Telephone 3-3912
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March
STATE EMPLOYEE
Retirement Matters
Winning Buffalo Keglers Dine
This Association, as the original
proponent of a sound retirement
system, is constantly watchful of
efforts to change the system in
any way. It will not be satisfied
with State financial support of the
system until the moneys which
the Legislature failed to supply in
1931, in keeping with actual contract made by the State with its
employees in 1920 when the plan
was adopted, are placed in the
retirement fund and its actuarial
soundness assurred. While there
may be no immediate impairment
of the soundness of the system
by delaying to appropriate this
money, the fact cannot be overlooked that the fund must have
this sum eventually in order to
care for its full obligations.
The Association is asking the
Legislature to make it possible
for
institution
employees
to
change to the State Retirement
System if they wish to do so.
This opportunity was closed to
them in 1929. The Association is
also seeking to have amendment
approved which would make it
possible for any employees who
failed to join the system to do
so during the present year. While
there is little excuse for failure
to join the system, it is apparent
that certain individuals put the
matter off beyond the time previously specified as the closing date.
With a gusto and a dash typical
of their brilliant season on the
alleys, the State Employees Bowling
League of Buffalo celebrated the
close of 1934 bowling with a happy
and hearty Dinner party at »the
Markeen Hotel on the evening of
FINAL
STATE FUND
STATE LABOR
STATE HIGHWAY No. 2.
STATE HIGHWAY No. 1.
STATE TAX No. 1
STATE TAX No. 2
A. B. C. BOARD
STATE PAROLE
WINNER OF TROPHY
STATE FUND
Wednesday, March 14th.
President of the league, Henry
Seilheimer, is to be congratulated
on his successful reign. The final
standing of the teams and winners
of awards follows:
Promotion
MILDRED ELLEY
Examinations BUSINESS SCHOOL
The State Civil Service Department have announced that promotion examination for senior
stenographer, Department of Education, and promotion examination
for secretary and stenographer,
Middletown State Hospital, Dept.
of Mental Hygiene, will be held
soon.
Eligible candidates must
file applications so as to be received not later than March 30,
1934.
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OUR PALM SUNDAY FLOWER SHOW
LIQUOR. STOCE
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Lost H. Single H. Total
2722
3
970
18
2682
960
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16
2625
6
956
15
2497
894
13
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2441
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2261
16
799
5
2376
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847
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2114
20
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Telephone 24694
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Stop here first! No trouble
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112 STATE ST.
3-4151
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YOUR VISION
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4
STATE EMPLOYEE
March
Action Is Warranted
The hearing before joint legislative committees having to do with
lalbor matters, relative to abolition
of the long day in State institutional
work, brought out in an especial
way the sound arguments which
have been advanced so often before
as to why this fair employment
policy should be adopted. In the
historic Assembly Chamber of the
State Capitol, representatives of the
hospital, prison and social welfare
groups of workers affected, appeared
through large committees to present
their side of the question. The President of the State Federation of
Labor also joined in asking for this
reform. The only opposition came
from Merwin K. Hart of the Economic Council, who stated that
workers were satisfied with a
twelve hour day and that the State
could not afford the expense of an
eight hour day.
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C. C. Colesanti, President of the
Association of Employees of the
Department of Mental Hygiene,
and W. F. McDonough, President
of this Association, were the principal speakers for the proposal.
They stressed the moral, social,
human and economic advantages
of according a reasonable period
of freedom from toil to all citizens,
and the practicability of establishing a shorter workday in the hospitals, prisons and other institutions of the State. They pointed
out • that the expense had been
greately exaggerated by those unfamiliar or unfriendly to the proposal, and disavowed emphatically
that they were attempting to unbalance the State budget. They
showed that appropriations would
be exceedingly moderate, and that
every cent expended would go directly toward a sound relief of unemployment.
State employees do not recognize any politics in this proposal
to give to State institutional employees decent and fair treatment
as to hours of work and living
conditions. The shorter day has
been urged for fifteen years or
more. The success of present day
business and industrial reforms depends upon enlightened action by
public and private employers in
their attention to hours of work
and salaries paid to the ninety out
of every hundred citizens who depend upon salaries or wages to
support America's plan for sound
social progress.
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Everything Depends
Upon Personnel
The following excerpts from an
editorial in the Saturday Evening
Post of March 17th last, indicates
clearly why the Federal Government is taking definite steps to
bring its personnel under sound
civil service classification and regulation. This country cannot endure without the civil service system:
"The whole experience of mankind goes to show that a chain is
no stronger than its weakest link.
This means that plans handed
down from above no matter how
magnificiently conceived, are no
better than their execution. The
campaigns of even the most brilliant general staff must be carried
out by humble sergeants, corporals
and privates who have been
trained to go over the top, and
whose experience, courage and
morale are beyond question. It
cannot be assumed that because
a brain trust thinks up ideas and
gives orders, the results will necessarily follow as desired. Neither
business or Government is a matter primarily of pressing buttons;
they operate effectively only as the
personnel all along the line have
the ideals and capacity to execute.
"No plan is better than the rank
and file which carries it out. Apparently all sorts of persons, numbers of them without qualifications—unless petty local political
connection and a desire to secure
patronage be considered as such—
were drawn into the business of
assigning jobs and supervising
work and purchases.
"It is a discouraging fact that
practically every new agency inaugurated under the New Deal
has been exempted by Congress
from operation of the civil service,
or merit system.
"No one can exaggerate the importance of that quality which is
known as leadership,, especially
in the President. But even Presidents come and go; they are not
permanent fixtures. Their particular systems, their coteries of supporters, rise and fall. But the
work of the country goes on
through the operations of the
average, the forgotten, the humble,
the rank-and-file employee. It is
a poor service to the country to
weaken or debase his standing."
March
STATE EMPLOYEE
5
TRAVEL
The Comprehensive Review of Pension Bills Now Before Legislature
By F. B. HOLMES
Executive Secretary,
Commission on Pensions
The following bills of interest
to members of the Association of
State Civil Service Employees of
the State of New York, are before
the Legislature for its consideration:
Senate Intro. No. 127, Pr. No.
129, Assembly Intro. No. 153, Pr.
No. 158. This bill would appropriate $7,500 from the treasury of
the State to the widow of the late
Justice Curtis A. Peters, the same
being salary that he would have
received to the end of the year had
he not died. There seems no reason for such special gifts. These
bills were disapproved by the
Commission on Pensions.
Senate Intro. No. 166, Pr. No.
510, Assembly Intro. No. 155, Pr.
No. 1240. This bill amends Subdivision 2 of §62 of the New York
State Employees' Retirement System Law by simply changing the
word executed to acknowledged.
The change is necessary to be in
conformity with other sections of
the Retirement Law. This bill
was prepared by the Commission
and introduced at its request.
Senate Intro. No. 400, Pr. No.
407, Assembly Intro. No. 505, Pr.
No. 510. This bill would add a
new section to the Correction Law
and provide an annuity or pension
to the widow of a guard who was
drawing same at the time of his
death. The prison employees have
been permitted to change to the
state-wide Retirement System as
have hospital employees. Those
who did not change over and
wished to remain in a system to
which the member contributes
nothing toward retirement now
desire their law amended so as, in
effect, to put in the optional benefits which appear in the state wide
Law. This bill seems unfair to
those prison employees who did
change over to the state-wide
System. This bill was disapproved
by the Commission on Pensions.
Senate Intro. No. 500, Pr. No.
519, Assembly Intro. No. 717, Pr.
No. 730. This bill amends §52-a
of the New York State Employees'
Retirement System Law. There
have been established by legislative enactment several so-called
"authorities". These activities depend upon bond issue for their
continuance. The employees thereof, therefore, are not state paid.
Many of the present employees of
these "authorities" were trans-
ferred from regular state service
to authority service. This bill
would permit such employees to
remain members of the Retirement System. This bill was prepared by the Commission on Pensions and introduced at its request
Senate Intro. No. 712, Pr. No.
753, Assembly Intro. No. 881, Pr.
No. 916. This bill amends the
Correction Law so that any reduction in salary will not reduce
retirement system benefits. This
same provision is in the appropriation bill for other state employees. This same bill was approved
last year and needs to be again
approved for the next fiscal year.
This bill was approved by the
Commission on Pensions.
Senate Intro. No. 899, Pr. No.
988, Assembly Intro. No. 1263, Pr.
No. 1343. This bill amends the
Hospital Retirement System Law
relative to administration procedure. At the present time in
order to retire a single case the
entire Board or a quorum thereof
must be present. This bill provides that retirements may be accomplished by two members of the
Board, whose main offices are at
Albany, subject to the approval of
the whole Board. This bill is
introduced at the request of
the management of the Hospital
Retirement System and has the
approval of the Commission on
Pensions.
1021, Assembly Intro. No. 1662,
Pr. No. 1805. This bill amends
Subdivision 2 of §62 of the New
York State Employees' Retirement
System Law and allows members
to remain in service to age 78, if
the Civil Service Commission will
certify to the Commission on Pensions that the continuance in
service of such members would
be advantageous to public service.
The use of this extension would
doubtless be very infrequent, yet
there are and have been a few outstanding cases where services of
members over 70 are needed. Under the present law all attaining
age 70 in 1936 must retire. This
bill received the approval of the
Commission on Pensions.
Senate Intro. No. 925, Pr. No.
1022, Assembly Intro. No. 1262,
Pr. No. 1342. The Conference of
Mayors with the Comptroller and
the Commission on Pensions have
been advising theJ municipalities
regarding the high cost of the
local plans for policemen and firemen. As a result of this, many
local plans are changing over to
the state-wide System. This bill
provides that, if on reporting to
the Superintendent of Insurance it
is found that proper reserves are
not set up for new members,
they must be set up for new members, and if not so set up that new
members must become members
of the state-wide Retirement Sys-
Senate Intro. No. 924, Pr.' No.
Continued on Page 6
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FLOATING PALACE
Foot of Fulton St.
TROY, N. Y.
$
M
AN1TAWPIANT
CENTRAL
DAIRY
6
STATE EMPLOYEE
March
Comprehensive Review of Pension Bills Now Before Legislature
tern. The old members can participate in the state-wide Retirement System if they so desire, as
is now provided in the state-wide
Retirement System Law. This bill
is approved by the Commission on
Pensions.
Senate Intro. No. 1056, Pr. No.
1449, Assembly Intro. No. 1418,
Pr. No. 1525. This bill amends
§52-a of the Civil Service Law, and
you are referred to Senate Intro.
No. 500 above, by permitting individual members of the state-wide
Retirement System to continue
membership in the state-wide Retirement System if transferred to
federal service. This bill is approved by the Commission on
Pensions provided only that Senate Bill Intro. No. 500, or its companion bill, be approved by the
legislature. The reason for this is
that Senate Bill Intro. No. 500
provides that if the activity or
authority employing the member
docs not pay the contributions,
that the state otherwise pays, that
the member -himself must pay it.
Sulphur Vapor Baths
and
Swedish Massage
REDUCE
(The Hollywood Stars' W a y )
N a t u r a l l y ' Scientifically
Harmlessly
Invigorating * Refreshing
ALBANY HEALTH BATHS
9 1 State St. P h o n e 3 - 7 6 2 8
Smartest of Straws!
"Ballibuntl"
Created by
"Gage"
All Headsizes
All Colors
All Styles
$
5
?
Sporborg s
530 Broadway
Albany
Continued from Page 5
In other words, service of a mem- There are only 12 counties not
ber of the federal government can- now in the System. The Board of
not be a load on the State.
Supervisors rescinded their act of
Senate Intro. No. 1083, Pr. No. December 15, 1930, and the Attor1200, Assembly Intro. No. 1426, ney General rendered an opinion
Pr. No. 1533. This bill would add that the same could not be acanother special benefit section to complished. This bill was before
the Retirement System Law sim- the legislature last year, passed
ilar to §63-a, §63-b and §63-c, the Assembly but died in the Senwhich sections provided special ate. Everybody interested in rebenefits for the Thomas Behan tirement matters should oppose
estate, the widow of Sidney Ross this bill for the reason that if
and the widow of Claude Dawes Tioga County can withdraw from
respectively.
This new section the Retirement System and throw
63-d would provide an optional away the agreements made between
benefit for the widow of Fenimore fifty members or more and three
D. Beagle, who was an employee members who have retired, it
ot the State Department of Health, would be reasonable for the State
and who withheld making applica- of New York to as easily disband
tion for service retirement until the Retirement System for all past
it was too late. There have been and future members. This bill
probably over a thousand widows was opposed by the Commission
of members of the state-wide Sys- on Pensions.
tem who have been paid the ordiSenate Intro. No. 1162, Pr. No.
nary death benefit and return of
contributions of the member and 1295, Assembly Intro. No. 1576,
nothing more. There seems to be Pr. No. 1712. This bill would perno reason in paying these special mit the withdrawal of Cortland
benefits, not paid to all widows. County from the Retirement SysThe System has already paid to tem, which County adopted the
Mrs. Beagle $7,129.74, representing System June 5, 1923. The same
contributions and interest, and remarks apply to this bill as to
$3,000, the ordinary death benefit. Senate Intro. No. 1118.
All such bills have heretofore been
Senate Intro. No. 1308, Pr. No.
disapproved by the Association of 1472. This bill would amend the
Civil Service Employees. This bill New York State Employees' Reis disapproved by the Commission tirement System Law by adding
on Pensions. The Commission in- Subdivision 3 to §62, which would
vites assistance from all sources provide that any member with two
that will help to cause bills of this years of service in the legislature
character to be not approved by with a total of 17 years may be
the legislature.
retired as though he had 20 years
Senate Intro. No. 1118, Pr. No. of service, apparently regardless of
1245, Assembly Intro. No. 1430, age. This bill was introduced on
Pr. No. 1537. This bill would per- March 14 and has not been premit Tioga County to withdraw sented to the Commission on
from the Retirement System. The Pensions. Doubtless th*. CommisBoard of Supervisors of Tioga sion will disapprove the bill. It is
County, as provided in the Re- one of those special bills that if
tirement System Law, on Decem- approved would tend to disrupt
ber 15, 1930, approved the in- every intent of the New York State
System
clusion of the employees of the Employees' Retirement
Law,
as
being
nothing
other
than
County in the state-wide Retirement System the same as has been favoritism.
accomplished by 44 other counties.
Assembly Intro. No. 4, Pr. No.
4. This bill would add Subdivision 7 to §61 of the New York State
^Wedding Invitations
Employees' Retirement
System
and Announcements
and would provide that if a memEngraved — Process — Printed
ber is receiving a discontinued
Latest Styles
service retirement allowance and
20% Discount to State Employees
if he is employed thereafter, the
earnings outside would be deducted from the amount of his retirement allowance. This bill was ap• •
MARK O F
• •
•
DISTINCTION
•
proved in principle by the ComALBANY
34 MAIDEN LANE
mission on Pensions. It would be
Stationery, Greeting Cards, Gifts
an extremely hard feature to adPhone 5-253?
minister. We do not think the
fCHAB
bill will be approved by the Committee on Pensions of the Assembly for the reason that the bill
does not do at all what the introducer expected it to do. Chapter
32 of the Civil Service Law added
by § 78 of the Laws of 1932 already accomplishes what Assemblyman Bernhardt desires to have
accomplished.
Assembly Intro. No. 1258, Pr.
No. 1338, would possibly amend
all retirement systems in the State
of New York although it is very
questionable whether
the
bill
would amend the New York State
Employees' Retirement
System
Law, it having been contended and
so far upheld, that the Retirement
Law cannot be amended except
within itself. This bill would provide that a refund of contributions, an ordinary death benefit,
a retirement allowance, etc., cannot exceed $5,000. The bill provides for an actuarial adjustment
if the contributions at the present
time exceed $5,000. A similar bill
has been introduced relative to the
New York City Employees' Retirement System. Both bills have
been disapproved by the Commission on Pensions for the reason
that such a provision would not be
in conformity with the setup of
any actuarially sound retirement
system.
Assembly Intro. No. 1279, Pr.
No. 1359. This bill would amend
Subdivision 2 of §62 of the New
York State Retirement System
Law by striking out the exception
"appointees of the governor" who
are not affected by the compulsory
Retirement Law. It seems reasonable that appointees of the
governor should remain in service
at least during the pleasure of the
Governor appointing such members. This bill is disapproved by
the Commission on Pensions.
Assembly Intro. No. 1379, Pr.
No. 1475. This bill would amend
§32 of the Civil Service Law by
excepting therefrom an elective public officer as one whose retirement
allowance will not be ceased if he
is elected to such office. The "an
elective public officer" was included in %32 as passed by the legislature in 1932 so that if a member
of the Retirement System receiving a small pension were elected
to the position of collector in a
town or some such minor position,
his retirement allowance would
not be affected. This bill is discontinued on Page 8
March
STATE EMPLOYEE
The Annual Association Dinner
Continued from Page 1
that good interest in the Association stead of t h a t speech w h i c h I
is v e r y definitely in evidence: T h i s p e r h a p s shall m a k e o n occasion
is also indicated b y t h e l a r g e n u m - hereafter I shall give y o u m e r e l y
b e r of t h o s e in a t t e n d a n c e . E v e n m y t e x t a n d leave its e n l a r g e m e n t
t h o u g h I a m n o t g o i n g t o m a k e to y o u r d i s c e r n m e n t .
a speech, I c a n n o t let t h e o p p o r E d m u n d Burke, a century and
t u n i t y p a s s of e x p r e s s i n g m y very a
half
ago presented
some
great admiration of the loyalty of " T h o u g h t s of t h e Cause of t h e
the men a n d women, from t h e top P r e s e n t D i s c o n t e n t s " .
I t is a
to t h e bottom, from the bottom to t h o u g h t contained in t h a t a d d r e s s
the top, that go to make up the w h i c h I offer a s e x p r e s s i n g a
personnel that keeps the wheels of p u r p o s e w h i c h m a y well a c t u a t e
government going in this State. I us all a t this time.
had the opportunity of giving e x I n t h e a d d r e s s w h i c h I have
pression to that admiration in my mentioned, B u r k e discussed t h e
annual message to t h e legislature on d u t y of t h e public s e r v a n t t o t h e
J a n u a r y 15th. I again have the State a n d t h e r e used m e m o r a b l e
satisfaction, and want you to know w o r d s .
" I t is o u r business", h e
it is a great satisfaction, a great declared, " t o b r i n g t h e disposipleasure, to give public expression tions t h a t a r e lovely in p r i v a t e
to y o u w h o a r e h e r e tonight, of m y life into t h e service a n d c o n d u c t
appreciation, m y admiration, m y of t h e c o m m o n w e a l t h . . . I t is
gratitude for the spirit of loyalty, r a t h e r for us t o r u n t h e risk of
of devotion and of friendship that falling into faults in a course
is shown by the men and women which leads u s to act w i t h effect
t h a t m a k e u p w h a t w e call a n d and e n e r g y t h a n t o loiter o u r d a y s
know as the "State Service". That w i t h o u t b l a m e a n d w i t h o u t u s e .
loyalty, that devotion, with which I Public life is a situation of p o w e r
come in contact every day, I think and energy. H e t r e s p a s s e s a g a i n s t
is unsurpassed. W e hear much of his d u t y w h o sleeps u p o n h i s
people holding sinecures, of people watch, as well a s h e t h a t goes
shirking. I have found no evidence over t o t h e e n e m y . "
of that in a n y department of the
W h e r e shall Ave find a finer t e x t
State government."
for o u r service t o t h e S t a t e of
W a r d e n L a w e s of Sing Sing, ex- N e w Y o r k t h a n t h a t c o n t a i n e d in
p o n e n t of t h e plan for a shorter the w o r d s I h a v e j u s t quoted from
d a y a n d m a n y other reforms in t h a t m o s t d i s t i n g u i s h e d s t a t e s m a n
c o r r e c t i o n a l institutions, w a s t h e and political p h i l o s o p h e r E d m u n d
principal speaker. H e sketched t h e B u r k e ? "
p r o g r e s s m a d e in civil service as it
P r e s i d e n t M c D o n o u g h in a brief
t o u c h e s u p o n p r i s o n employees, a d d r e s s touched upon s o m e of t h e
told m a n y i n t e r e s t i n g experiences i m p o r t a n t features of t h e Associof h i s active public service career, ation p r o g r a m . H e said in p a r t :
a n d called a t t e n t i o n t o t h e m a n y
"I, too, wish t o welcome t h e
o p p o r t u n i t i e s still existing for h u - leaders of S t a t e g o v e r n m e n t a n d
m a n e a n d economic i m p r o v e m e n t . o t h e r h o n o r g u e s t s , a n d t o tell
Col. W i l l i a m
Gorham
Rice, t h e m h o w v e r y h a p p y w e a r e t o
P r e s i d e n t of t h e S t a t e Civil Serv- have t h e m with u s o n this occasion.
ice C o m m i s s i o n , said:
I am glad to report to the civil
" F i r s t , I w a n t to c o n g r a t u l a t e
service workers of the State, and t o
President
McDonough
of t h e
the friends of those workers, that
A s s o c i a t i o n a n d his v e r y efficient
the Association of State Civil Servaids u p o n t h e record w h i c h is
ice Employees of the State of N e w
s h o w n b y his a d m i r a b l e r e p o r t t o
York achieved a new record as t o
w h i c h w e h a v e listened a n d b y
membership last year. I wish also
the splendid a t t e n d a n c e here t o to assure them that the officers and
night.
committees of the Association a r e
I t is a l w a y s a pleasure to have displaying more enthusiasm than
a p a r t in this a n n u a l dinner a n d ever before in promoting the cause
to w e l c o m e a n d b e w e l c o m e d b y of good government, and in furthert h o s e w i t h w h o m I count it o n e ing t h e Association's program for a
of t h e g r e a t e s t satisfactions of m y constantly
improving
system of
life to b e associated.
State employment.
W e h a v e been c o u r t e o u s l y a s Many
important
improvements
sured b y y o u r C h a i r m a n t h a t s h o r t await action by the State. Y o u
speeches o n l y a r e expected t o - will all recall that several years ago
night.
So instead of t h e speech practically every employee and pract h a t I m i g h t have m a d e a n d in- tically every executive, legislative
and administrative officer of government deplored t h e hit o r miss compensation plan, t h e lack of inventorying of State positions, a n d the
absence of orderly promotions for
faithful service so essential t o sound
employment practices. Some headway has been made toward improvement. Some of the machinery has
been set in motion. Very important
parts, however, have not as yet been
supplied.
T h e r e is still some hesitancy to
utilize the Civil Service Department,
which is the constitutionally established, lawfully ordered employment
department of State government,
not only for providing f o r temporary employee needs, but also for
many permanent positions. A t 80
Centre Street, N e w Y o r k City, t h e
State
Civil
Service
Department
functions very largely in employee
m a t t e r s ; at 79 Madison Avenue,
New York City, there a r e hundreds
of State paid workers concerning
whom the regularly established employment agency of State Government has not been consulted. Other
so-called temporary o r emergency
needs have been cared for independent of the Civil Service agency of
the State government.
W h y this
hesitancy to use the agency set up
by t h e people t h e m s e l v e s ? I s it b e cause of that rugged individualism
which
insists
upon
independent
authority, or is it because of partisan political expediency?
Whatever it is, can we not at
this time of sound, rational, helpful
planning, national and local, lay
aside selfishness of every kind, and
go the full w a y in adopting the
merit system f o r all civil positions,
permanent a n d temporary, having
available lists for every emergency,
and giving to every boy and girl,
and to every m a n and woman in o u r
State, regardless of politics, race,
religion >or personal considerations,
an equal chance under fair rules to
qualify for public service? I n t h e
final
analysis, the Civil Service
System is of t h e first importance
to the maintenance of free govern-
LOUIS J. BERBEN
Dispensing
Optician
Oculists' Prescriptions Filled at
Reasonable Prices
Broken lenses replaced.
Only
first class lenses and frames used.
2 0 % Discount to State
Employees
?i4 MAIDEN LANI;
Phone 5-2535
ment.
I t is the guarantee that
honesty and efficiency a r e paramount
in each civil endeavor, a n d this
guarantee is the very backbone of
confidence a n d of faith in government. Every just law, a n d every
plan for economic o r social betterment, depends upon honest and capable human beings for translation
into useful action. This is the field
of Civil Service.
This Association h a s always looked
upon the question of salaries and
hours of w o r k as inherently moral,
because of the serious results to society which follow lack of fairness
or justice in these matters.
Last
Monday, a certain gentleman in
Washington, in a radio broadcast
to the American people, said: " W e
must remember that the bulk of the
market for American industry is
among the 9 0 % of o u r people w h o
live on wages a n d salaries, and only
10% is among the people w h o work
for profit alone. I t is worthwhile
keeping in t h e front of o u r heads
the thought that the people in this
country whose incomes a r e less than
two thousand dollars a year buy
Continued on Page 8
Accident and Sic\ness
Insurance
For Men and Women
America's Oldest Accident
and Health Company
Est. 1883
(State age and occupation)
HERMAN
E. L I G H T , Dist. Mgr.
869 Madison Ave., Albany
Final
Clearance
of COMPLETE STOCK
$125 Anglo Persian Rug,
$79.50
$27.50 Box Springs $13.75
$27.50 De Luxe Mattress,
$13.75
Pineapple Poster Beds $9.95
$275 Dining Room Suite,
$169.00
$110 Maple Bed Room,
$49.50
$195 Friese Living Room,
$98.50
American Oriental Rugs,
$28.50
HARRY SIMMONS
84-86 No. PEARL
ALBANY
8
STATE EMPLOYEE
March
from the New York City Employ- spond to the high moral purpose ing that they should be returned
ees'
Retirement System.
underyling the national economic to their former incomes was a
Continued from Page 6
Assembly Intro. No. 1802, Pr. program to establish sound social thoroughly honest one on the part
approved by the Commission on
No. 1980. This bill amends the conditions for the 90% of our of State employees. The Federal
Pensions.
thought to a restoration of the salAssembly Intro. No. 1531, Pr. New York State Employees' Re- people.
aries of government workers is ditirement
System
Law
by
opening
Shorter
work
days
have
come
to
No. 1655. This bill would provide
rectly in line with this reasoning.
the
doors
to
January
1,
1935
for
mean
thirty,
thirty-six,
forty
hour
an appropriation from the legislature to Rose B. Fleig, the widow membership of those who did not weeks. Practically a seventy-two In this they have additional reasons
of Henry A. Fleig, who was killed become members when first elig- hour week is in effect for over ten for believing such a course to be
in the performance of duty. When ible so to do. The bill also pro- thousand State workers at this time. fair: First, the State finances are
the late Mr. Fleig was killed in vides that a member may pick up To ask for these workers a forty- vastly more favorable than National
the performance of duty the con- service lost by either being unable eight hour week seems extremely finances, and secondly, their scales
tributions of Mr. Fleig were re- to transfer or not desiring to moderate. We think this should of pay were even less than the Deturned to Mrs. Fleig. Mrs. Fleig transfer at the time from an actu- have been established at least fifteen partmental employees in Washingis now receiving a "killed in the arially sound system to the state- years ago. We hope that it will be ton.
established not later than January
Now comes the rising costs of
performance of duty" benefit of wide Retirement System.
Assembly Intro. No. 1809, Pr. 1st next.
living. Recognizing that State bud$184.60 per month. This bill was
In presenting the program cover- geting authorities had set their
presented to the legislature last No. 2003. This bill would provide
year and not approved by the that the New York State Employ- ing the salary and hour of work minds firmly against restoration of
Ways and Means Committee. There ees' Retirement System pay to the revisions, the Association has acted salaries or of statutory increments,
seems no reason for such special widow of John F. Torpey an with a full sense of loyalty to the Association directed attention to
benefits or the giving of $5,000 amount that would have been paid the people whose servants its mem- the fact that of necessity serious
in this action above the benefit had he lived for the thirty day bers are, and to executive, legisla- consideration must be given to
received by the other thousand or period mentioned in §68-a of the tive and administrative heads of business development bringing "Avith
more widows, who have received Retirement Law. There are many government. It is not seeking to it increases in costs of staple comonly the ordinary death benefit. such cases. The above mentioned unbalance the Governor's budget, modities and expenses of family life.
This bill is disapproved by the amendment, §63-d, is such a case. and does not believe that the small Clothing has advanced greatly in
The System paid in 1929 to Mrs. amount of money involved will in cost. Food costs, according to the
Commission on Pensions.
Assembly Intro. No. 1627, Pr. Torpey the contributions amount- any way do this. It does believe U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
No. 1763. This bill would provide ing to $2,312.69 and the ordinary that the proposals made will balance show that the present index is 20%
an appropriation from the treasury death benefit amounting to $3,745.- the State's program with the general above the low point reached in
of the State for $12,500 and an ap- 14. A similar bill for Mrs. Torpey world plans for social betterment, April, 1933.
propriation from the treasury of has been in the legislature several and offer an example of which the
The proposal has been put squarethe City of New York for $6,250 times. This bill has not been pre- State of New York may be proud.
ly up to the members of the LegisJames E. Gheen, of New York lature to provide a contingency fund
to Rose M. Hatting, the widow of sented to the Commission on Penthe late Justice Peter A. Hatting. sions, but, of course, it will be City, noted after-dinner speaker, of four or five millions of dollars
delighted all with an address filled to be used to increase the salaries
Mrs. Hatting has already received opposed by the Commission.
There are several other bills in with wit and humor.
the return of contributions and
of State employees, the increases to
Miss Beulah Bailey, Vice Presi- rest wholly upon the percentage inordinary death benefit from the the legislature relative to other reNew York City System amounting tirement plans and volunteer fire- dent of the Association, was Toast- creases in cost of living as may be
to $8,141.78 and $10,000 respective- men, which have received the con- master, and handled all features of shown throughout the next fifteen
ly and has received the return of sideration of the Commission on the Dinner in her characteristically months covered by the budget.
successful way.
She was ably Could anything be fairer than this?
contributions and the ordinary Pensions.
The above report is to and in- assisted in the perfecting of ar- If the living costs did not demand
death benefit from the New York
State Employees' Retirement Sys- cluding all bills introduced to rangements by Mr. Lochner, the it, the fund would not be used. If
Business Secretary of the Associ- the cost of necessities does rise in
tem amounting to $10,150.84 and March 17, 1934.
ation.
Respectfully submitted,
$7,500 respectively. There seems to
accord with the plans of the NaCommission on Pensions.
be no reason why this widow
Altogether this was the largest tional administration and business
F. B. Holmes,
should receive the additional beneand most successful affair of this leaders throughout the country, is
Executive Secretary. kind ever held by the Association. it not simple honesty on the part
fit as planned over that received
by the other thousand or more
It indicates the high respect in of the State as an employer to recogwidows. A similar bill was passed
which the Association is held by nize such demands upon the incomes
by both houses last year and The Annual Dinner
executive, legislative and adminis- of their servants and provide for
vetoed by Governor Lehman. This
trative heads, and displays in many them just as they would expect to
Continued from Page 7
bill has been disapproved by the more than two-thirds of all the ways the helpful influence which have private employers do? With
Commission on Pensions.
ninety per cent of our population
goods sold here. It is logical that good organization may exert.
working for salaries or wages, there
Assembly Intro. No. 1741, Pr. if the total amount that goes in
No. 1897. This bill would appro- wages to thw group of human beings The Salary Question is nothing involved about this proposition and it must be evident that
priate out of the treasury $9,072.58 is steadily increased, merchants, emContinued from Paee 1
to the widow of the late Justice ployers and investors will in the cheerfully the call of their State for the whole fabric of economic and
Charles J. Druhan and out of the long run get more income from the contribution to the general distress. social well-being is bound up in the
treasury of the City of New York increased volume of sales." That It should be remembered that as one balancing of the incomes of salar$6,048.36. The late Justice Dru- man was the President of the United of the groups which were still on ied people with the prices prevailing for essential commodities.
han was a member of the New States!
payrolls they were called upon to
York State Employees' Retirement
We suggest that you write to
Personnel service costs of New bear a tremendous share of the unSystem and the System has al- York State government are low. employment relief common to all the Governor and to your legislaready paid to Mrs. Agnes Druhan Efficiency is high. The State's finan- employed persons and to support tive representatives, asking that
$15,076.98, representing $8,476.98 cial condition is sound. State Civil countless private, public and per- they give attention to necessary
as accumulated contributions and Service employees expect that the sonal charities.
safeguarding of the salaries of
interest and $7,500 ordinary death State of New York will be among
With the relief from deficit pres- State employees against advancing
benefit. Similar benefits were paid the first units of government to re- sure on the State budget, the feel- living costs.
Comprehensive Review