9
New Ideas and Improved Methods
BY FLOYD QUERY
M YR O N C. WOOD, blue print ma
chine operator in the State Office
Building suggested that certain reports
which had previously been blue printed
be mimeographed. He showed that
faster service could be obtained at ai
smaller cost. The saving on oue job
alone amounted to $20. Myron has
made several such suggestions and has
had the full cooperation of the depart
ment heads to whom the suggestions
were offered. This js^- one" instance in
which, an alert employee turned his
knowledge of - his job into a material
saving.
IV A N D AKIN, veteran paving plant
foreman was hard pressed this last, fall
to get all the patches flushcoated. Con
ventional methods were <t,po slow to get
the work done in time, so he borrowed
a ¡section maintenance kettleequipped
with a motor, pump, flexible hose and
spray * nozzle and applied the asphalt
flushcoat with power- equipment. Oper
ating in this manner his crew was. able
to do more, than twice the normal
amount of flushcoating at no increase,
in cost of operation. The,- paving in
money amounted to at least $2,0-per
day of operation. This, is. >a minimum
figure and does not take into account
the cost of later repairs to the road if
the flushcoating had not been done.
Ivan and his crew are to be commended
for successfully meeting a difficult
situation.
TH E I N T E R I M COMMITTEE,
which was composed of Representatives
Leo Smith, Earl Hill arid W. W. Chad
wick, and Senators J. N. Jones, and Lew
Wallace, was appointed by the 42nd
Legislative Assembly to study and make
a report concerning a merit system of
employment for state employees. Their
report to Governor Earl Snell included
a recommendation that the four separ
ate merit systems now operated in Ore
gon be consolidated. It is estimated that
the cost of operation will be reduced
$7200 the first year, and further re
duced iri succeeding years. Partial con
solidation. was made iri July of 1944. and
the committee asked the Attorney Gen
eral to prepare the necessary bills to
be presented to the 43 rd Legislative, As
sembly so that the consolidation can be
complçtçd?
These men, as Senators and Represen
tatives, are employees of the State of
Oregon. Their recommendation iri this
matter and its adoption constituted a
positive contribution -to good govern
ment.^
Employees were paid $4,000,000 dur
ing the last year for ideas submitted to
suggestion systems operating in indus
trial organizations, according to the
President g£ the National Association
of Suggestion Systems. More than
$,000,000 persons at present are workT
ing in plants which have employee sug
gestion systems.—Civil Service Assem
bly News.. Letter.
Efficiency is only another, name for
doing the right thing at the right
time.
— Tern Test News
It has been wisely pointed out that
a man’s age
be measured by the
degree of pain he feels as he comes in
contact with a new idea.
— The Ambassador
State employees are invited to send
in the dope on their accomplishments
to the New Ideas Editor, 1615 Nebras
ka Avenue, Salem, Oregon. Send your
own data, or write UP what a friend has
done. We want this information from
all state departments.