11
outstanding records in the war production
program, the United States Spring & Bumper
Company has inaugurated a Health Plan for
their benefit. In contributing to the welfare
of its employees, the company has established
medical, surgical, and hospitalization bene
fits—the entire cost of which is being paid
for by the company.
The Plan requires no physical examination
for enrollment. It entitles each employee to
the services of the best surgeons from a list
of 5,000 doctors in the California Physicians
Service. Hospital services, in any one of
seven hospitals, up to 21 days per year for
each illness or accident are allowed. Hospital
services also include operations and clinical
laboratory services and diagnostic X-Ray
while hospitalized.
'In providing this Health Plan for the
men and women of our company,’ says John
B. Rauen, President of U. S .Spring & Bump
er Company, 'it is my sincere hope that it
will add to their happiness and relieve them
of the burdens and demands which often ac
company illness and accidents’.’’
Private industry is bidding high for
the best of the skilled and technical men
of the country. A recent ad in a local
paper’s want ad column read as fol
lows:
If you figure you’re as good as the next
man in your trade, we’ve got some special
openings right now in your craft. Wken we
say these are good jobs, we have more in
mind than just good pay. They’re jobs with
men you’ll like and with these extras: fine
pension plan, medical services, jobs with a
permanent company. Liberal age limit.
The cities and counties of Oregon
and the State of Oregon also require
skilled and technical men but in this
highly competitive manpower market
officials are finding themselves serious
ly handicapped by the lack of compar
able incentives to offer public service
employees.
Riverside, California
Riverside, California, voters will bal
lot in November on the request that
city employees be put under the state
retirement plan. The plan has the sup
port of the local newspaper and city
council.
LEON M. NICKERSON
Salem Chapter No. 1 lost a mem
ber of long standing through the
death of Leon M. Nickerson on Sep
tember 11, 1944. Mr. Nickerson,
who was born in Iowa in 1887, had
been in the State service since March,
1938, serving since August 1, 1943,
as a weighmaster in the highway de
partment. He had also worked for
the highway department during the
summer of 193 5 on an oiling crew.
Mr. Nickerson had been on an
assignment that had taken him to
Marshfield and on the return trip to
Salem was suddenly taken ill at
Florence. His death was caused by a
heart attack which occurred shortly
after he retired to his hotel room.
The members of the Association,
of whom many had known and
worked with her husband, take this
opportunity of expressing their
heartfelt sympathy to Mrs. Kathern
M. Nickerson, who survives him.
MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT
SYSTEM IN PENNSYLVANIA
’ The Pennsylvania general assembly
established a state-wide municipal em
ployees’ retirement system made effec
tive in September, 1943. Cities are not
required to join the system but once
they participate they cannot withdraw.
If a city does not join, the employees,
by petition, may require the council to
put the question to a city vote, and a
favorable vote will require the city to
join the fund. The fund will be set
up when 25 or more cities having an
aggregate
a^ least 250 eligible city
employees, elect to join. A five-member
retirement board will supervise the sys
tem. Under the law cities will be re
quired to pay a prior service credit
for each employee and employees will
be required to make a similar payment.