4
ment in California to know they can
•advance through the procedures o f the
merit systems in accordance with their
•own abilities. When this thought is
firmly ingrained in the minds o f all
the people in the state service, the
science o f government will be enhanced
and, I am quite certain, there will be
a general increase in the well-being and
happiness of the State itself.
Oregon Needs State Retirement Plan
The total inability of Oregon to
provide any financial assuagement
whatsoever for the widow and family
o f a highly valuable servant such as
the late Dr. Donald Erb, president of
the University of Oregon, serves well
to illustrate the inequity which now
prevails between the families o f men
who die in industry and those on the
payroll of the state or any of its sub
divisions. The state makes no provi
sions whatsoever for either the sudden
death of its employees or for their
retirement at a meritorious age. Under
law, it must cease to pay them the day
o f their death.
While various attempts have been
made to work out a retirement sys
tem in higher education, all have met
an asserted legal barrier which forbids
payment of widow’s benefits, or re
tirement pay, whether or not it comes
from matched funds. A legislative
committee, is now working on the
problem of general employees o f the
state; the need is urgent and the matter
should be given attention and definite
action by the next legislative session.
In all industrial pursuits, wage earn
ers and executives are by force of
federal statute compelled to provide
for annuities at 6 J. With this social
security provision go modest but ex
tremely helpful payments to the widow
with children who are under 18 and to
the children themselves while they are
less than that age. A fter the children
are grown and when the widow is 65
years of age, a monthly annuity for life
is resumed.
Quasi-retirement payments are now
made in many state and county posi
tions by keeping on the payroll inept
persons, some on half-time and half-
pay. Neither the pensioner nor the re
cipient of the services he offers is well
rewarded. Instead the state and its
subdivisions should provide a compar
able retirement setup to that in private
industry; if it does not do so soon it
will be in increasingly poor position to
command the services of able, com
petent, thrifty men and women who
wish to make provision for emergency
and for retirement. Increasingly heavy
taxes on income, diminishing return on
sound investment, all make the task of
accumulating adequate capital, the,re
turn on which will provide for old
age, exceedingly difficult, particularly
on salaries paid a public servant.— Per
mission of Albany Democrat-Herald.
Your Red Cross is at his side. Your
g ift to the Red Cross is a gift to our
fighting men over there.
Keep your membership dues paid
A N D bring in at least one new mem
ber— today!
Buy War Bonds the Payroll Deduc
tion Way.
Everybody wants something! OSEA
wants more members.