Young Hunter Learns Fast 
Andrew Rosencrans From Trucksville, Kingston Township, Was Successful In His 
Pursuit On The Second Day In December While Many Grown Men Who Are Veteran 
Hunters Were Not.

2 Men Sentenced On Simple Assault

Saturday, February 01, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





Too many county friends are democracy's enemy &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Want to be the United States Secretary of Transportation? Then you'd better
be a ``friend of Bill.'' This president's -- every president's -- right to
appoint political allies to high office seldom gets questionedBut suppose
applicants for clerk/typist positions in the federal building in Des Moines
got grilled about their political beliefs. What then? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In the federal workforce, a line exists below which patronage stops and
performance begins. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A line ought to stand out in Luzerne County government, too. But it
doesn't. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 One of these days the county commissioners should take out their pens and
draw that line. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sunday's Times Leader documented the amazing growth in the county workforce
over the past few years. Luzerne County government has added 288 jobs since
1993, Staff Writer Mike Rubinkam reported. The positions represent a nearly 16
percent increase in the size of county government. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The growth may be defensible. The hiring practices aren't. Commissioner
Frank Crossin brazenly admits that politics counts when it comes to county
jobs: Applicants "must be qualified and if they support my effort to sit in
the office, I would support their effort over someone who is equally
qualified." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 How low does the patronage go? As low as the kids who sell hot dogs at Moon
Lake park, that's how low. These summer workers don't even keep their jobs
long enough to be on the county totem pole. But they still kowtow to
patronage: The kids of prominent supporters typically win the
commissioner-approved posts, The Times Leader reported in 1995. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "You want any vote that can help you," Crossin said at the time. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's not any different from any of the non-skilled courthouse jobs. I have
no problem with it. It's been like this since I've been here." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Inspiring stuff, all right. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The civil-service reforms that ended patronage among low-level federal
workers contributed hugely to good government. Finally, politicians couldn't
buy so many votes with taxpayer money. And taxpayers could be more confident,
knowing that federal workers would be hired and fired on merit alone. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In contrast, the cynicism and bitterness of Luzerne County residents toward
their government is legendary. It doesn't have to be that way. There are such
things as honest government, respected civil servants and citizen trust. But
you don't find them in places where officials fill jobs by hiring their
friends. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Too Many County Friends Are Democracy's Enemy 
Want To Be The United States Secretary Of Transportation? Then You'd Better Be 
A ``friend Of Bill.'' This President's -- Every President's -- Right To 
Appoint Political Allies To High Office Seldom Gets Questioned.

Too Many County Friends Are Democracy's Enemy Want To Be The United States Secretary Of Transportation? Then You'd Better Be A ``friend Of Bill.'' This President's -- Every President's -- Right To Appoint Political Allies To High Office Seldom Gets Questioned.