24
(Continued from Page 23)
that "the turnover of state employees,
in some instances, is almost 100 per
cent when one party or faction is in
office. The resulting deterioration in
the state services is appalling. But pa
tronage alone does not suffice to keep
the political machine oiled and going;
money is also necessary. To secure this
money knockdowns or turnbacks on
state contracts for construction, sup
plies, materials and equipment are some
times required of those who do business
with the state government.”
This is an understatement. The situ
ation is even worse and in many cities
and counties it is still worse. It is slight
ly alleviated, but only temporarily, by
the wartime lack of pressure for soft
public jobs.
Watch the pent-up demand which
will come as an overwhelming flood the
moment there is a recession.of private
employment opportunities.
Watch those funds which have been
set aside for postwar projects in states
and cities.
Watch the burgeoning .city, county
and state payrolls the moment it be
comes possible to follow through on
postponed public works projects.
Watch the free-spending pressure
groups who for the last several years
have been put off by the war.
It will be a miracle if in the post-war
period we are not beset by the wildest
orgy of public spending yet. The situa
tion will be a challenge to public-spirit
ed citizens and to the many statesmen
in public life at all levels of govern
ment whose attention will likely be dis
tracted and who may be lulled into a
feeling of complacency by the dimin
ishing of the.federal government plant.
State and local government, will pro
vide the stage for the next big spree.
1
PAY RAISES IN STATE COLLEGES
A system-wide pay increase in all in
stitutions was approved by the state
board of higher education here today
as it adopted annual budgets for the
fiscal year starting July 1.
The salary increases were for a min
imum of $150 per year and averaged
approximately $370 per year for 802
staff members in the system, Edgar W.
Smith, chairman of the finance com
mittee, reported. The adjustments,
urged by faculty committees at the
March board meeting, were passed es
sentially as worked out by the chancel
lor and institution executives. They
apply to all except those engaged re
cently at advanced levels.
The board faced a heavy docket of
finance and building items, légal reso
lutions connected with bond sales, and
a hearing requested by the former act
ing dean of forestry at Oregon State
College, E. G. Mason,
Eugene Concrete Pipe
& Products Co.
P. O. BOX 947
*
- EUGENE, OREGON
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