39
MERIT SYSTEMS REALLY WORK
The following article is quoted from
a Special News Service bulletin of the
National Civil Service League, dated
December 2, 1946. Material submitted
by I. A. DeFrance.
Kansas City Miracle
"The demise of the Pendergast po
litical machine in 194Q left Kansas City
taxpayers facing a deficit of over
$30,000,000. On April 30, 1946, Kan
sas City virtually wiped out most of
this deficit and ended its fiscal year
with a cash surplus of $3,000,000. This
accomplishment was in the face of a
reduction of $30,000,000 in real estate
tax evaluations and a reduction in taxes.
"The total number of employees was
reduced from 6,500 in 1940 to 3,400 in
1946. This was not by accident! Adop
tion of a merit system with rigid en
forcement of sound personnel policies
was largely responsible for this Spec
tacular showing.
What the Merit System Can Do
"The Kansas City Water Department
in 1940 had a payroll carrying 905
employees—many of t h e m political
workers, some of them receiving salaries
without performing any service for the
taxpayers. There was an operating loss
of $700,000 and a deficit in the sink
ing fund of $8,000,000^
"The department now runs effec
tively with only 365 employees (60
per cent less) and instead of a large
¡deficit there is, a cash balance of
$1,500,000.
("Under the Pendergast regime in
1940 it cost Kansas City $408,000 for
garbage collection, or $6.85 a ton. Be-
Dr. E. B oring
BORING OPTICAL
383 COURT STREET
SALEM, OREGON
A lso L ocations at- C oos B a y and
R oseburg
P h o n e 6506
sides, the city owed private contractors
over $200,000.
"In 1945 it cost Kansas City tax
payers only $237,000 a year, or $5.35
a ton, and no private contractors’ help
was needed.
"No wonder leaders of business and
industry support the merit system in
government!”
Under Oregon’s Civil Service Act,
the merit system of personnel relations
is being put into effect for Oregon state
employees. Oregon’s administrators and
employ eès are fortunate not to be faced
with conditions like those in Kansas
City. The Oregon state government
does have problems, however, which
the creation and proper administration
of a good merit system will solve or
help to solve. State employees may look
forward to civil service which provides
recognition of individual merit, in-
service training, opportunities for im
partial application for employment.
Properly administered, the improve
ment of personnel policies under the
merit system will maintain a high mo
rale among employees, will increase the
efficiency of government services, and
attract much-needed applicants with
good qualifications.
Taxi Driver—It’s not the work I
enjoy.
Rider—No?
Taxr Driver—It’s the people I run
into.