1
Progress Report of Wage and
Hour Committee
In an effort to follow through on
the action taken regarding wage and
salary increases at the General Council
meeting in December and again by the
Board of Directors in March, a Wage
and Hour Committee was appointed.
The committee is charged with the re
sponsibility of making a study of the
salary and wage schedules for state em
ployees and to make certain recommen
dations for increases.
Progress to date has been slow be
cause of the va§t amount of work ne
cessary in making such a study and
because much of this information is
not instantly available.
The committee has
with the office of the
several times *and the
ceived, while not new,
many state employees.
been in contact
Budget Director
information re
is of interest to
Appropriations were made by the
1945 legislature to include certain sal
ary and wage increases in practically all
departments and institutions. Increases
are also contemplated in the self-sus
taining departments. None of the de
partments or institutions will make a
blanket salary or wage increase. Rather,
increases will be granted on the basis of
efficiency, merit and record of the em
ployee. They Will be granted with the
recommendation of the department head
or institution head and with the approv
al of the office of the Budget Director.
Increases in the salaries or wages of
institutional employees must also have,
the approval of the Board of Control.
Much emphasis will also be placed on
the equalization of salaries. This will be
particularly true in the lower salary
brackets.
Increases will not all be granted on
July 1 as has been erroneously reported
but will be staggered Over a period of
time. The plan involves a large amount
of work on the part of the department
and institution heads, the Board of Con
trol and the Budget Director. However,
certain increases will be granted as fast
as they can be processed.
A Park for the Capital City
By CHARLES A. SPRAGUE
I should like to call to the attention
of state employees resident in Salem,
the issue to be decided at the election
June 22nd on the purchase of the up
land of Bush’s pasture for city park
purposes. This is a question for local
decision but I regard it as of real state
wide importance.
Salem is the capital city of Oregon.
The state has invested millions of dollars
ip its capitol group here and additional
investment is planned. It becomes the
duty of Salem citizens as I see it to
match the dignity and beauty of the
capitol group with features to corres
pond. Among these features would
come subsidiary buildings. First we have
a new postoffice and have authorized a
new courthouse, and second public
parks.
The rare opportunity is offered Salem
to acquire 43 acres of upland to join
with the 57 acres of lowland already
dedicated for park purposes, giving the
city a solid block of 100 Acres (includ
ing 10 âcres for Willamette university
athletic field) located in the heart of.
the city. Composed mostly of native
woodland and • pasture, bordered by
Pringle creek, this park will become in
time one of the great assets of Salem,
serving 1 residents old and young, and
attracting visitors to the city.
The revised price brings the tract
well within range as far as cost goes.
It is the opportunity and the responsi
bility of our generation to provide this,
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