DC9 HAS FAULTY EPR GAUGE WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY MEL'ED.

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THE FACT THAT THE COMPANY I WORK FOR IS A START-UP AIRLINE HAS CONTRIBUTED IMMENSELY TO THE PROB. THE COMPANY EMPLOYS COST-CUTTING MEASURES AT ALL TIMES; AND I BELIEVE THEY DO NOT EMPLOY THE MOST QUALIFIED MAINT PERSONNEL. THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY YELLS AT PLTS/MAINT IF FLTS ARE DELAYED; AND THIS ADDS TO THE STRESS OF TRYING TO OPERATE SAFELY; ON SCHEDULE. WHILE I WAS PERFORMING A WALKAROUND; THE CAPT WROTE UP AN EPR GAUGE ON THE #1 ENG BECAUSE IT WAS FROZEN. WHEN I CAME BACK UP TO THE COCKPIT; MAINT HAD ALREADY DONE THE SIGN OFF AND WAS PLACING AN 'INOP' STICKER ON THE EPR GAUGE. EVEN THOUGH THE MEL DID NOT HAVE EPR GAUGES FOR DC9'S LISTED; IT DID HAVE EPR FOR THE MD80 LISTED. THE CAPT AND MAINT ASSURED ME THAT THIS WAS AN 'OK' AIRPLANE TO FLY; AND WE THEN FLEW BACK TO OUR HOME BASE. BEING AN FO; AND ALSO LOW TIME; CONTRIBUTED TO THIS SIT BECOMING A PROB. IF I CANNOT TRUST THE CAPT OR OUR MAINT WORKERS; HOW CAN I ON A DAILY BASIS TAKE MATTERS INTO MY OWN HANDS? I BELIEVE THAT THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY NEEDS TO BE REGULATED; AND THAT START-UP AIRLINES IN MANY CASES RUN DANGEROUS OPS. IF I DIDN'T NEED THE FLT TIME; I WOULD NOT BE WORKING FOR THIS CARRIER. OF COURSE I HOPE TO MAKE IT TO A SAFER OPERATOR SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE.