5
Survey of State Officials Pay
(Reprinted with permission of
The Oregonian)
SALEM, Nov. 23 (Special)— With
many state employees now receiving or
destined to receive substantial salary
and wage increases under the new clas
sification of the state civil service com
mission, there are a number of state o f
ficials who are wondering whether they
will be the subject of any financial
consideration when the next legisla
ture convenes here early in January.
Several lawmakers here this week
declared that the legislature might be
slow to consider any salary boosts for
state officials due to the action of the
Portland voters at the recent general
election in rejecting pay increases for
the city commissioners. Most of those
legislators agreed, however, that there
should be a preferential in favor of the
governor, who under the existing laws
receives $7500 a year. This is the same
salary that is received by the public
utilities commissioner and members of
the supreme court.
Three Jobs Cited
A t the last legislative session bills
were drafted increasing the salaries of
the governor, secretary of state and
state treasurer, but they were not in
troduced at the request of the three
officials. The secretary of state and
state treasurer now receive $5400 a
year, which is $200 a year less than is
paid to the three members of the state
industrial accident commission. Reports
here indicate that the 1947 legislature
will be asked to increase the governor’s
salary to not less than $10,000 a year
and the secretary of state and state
treasurer’s salaries to $6000 a year, pro
vided such action is satisfactory to the
officials involved.
Largest salary of $12,000 a year is
received by the chancellor of the state’s
higher educational system. Heads of the
two state higher educational institu
tions, the University of Oregon and
Oregon State college, receive $7500 a
year and some other concessions.
N o Mtfws/o» Furnished
Much of the argument for an in
crease in the governor’s salary is based
on the fact that he is compelled to fur
nish his own home and receives no al
lowance for living expenses. In the
states of Washington and California
the governors are provided with a
"mansion,” and also are allowed a lib
eral expense account. Proposals to erect
a "governor’s mansion” in Oregon have
been defeated by the legislature on
several occasions.
Numerous salary increase bills also
probably will be received during the
1947 legislature for the counties. It
was pointed out that during recent
years a large number of county judges
and other county officials have resign
ed to accept positions carrying more
attractive compensation, and in some
instances it was difficult to replace
them with competent men.
It is not believed that any attempt
will be made at the legislative session
to increase the salaries of the three
state tax commissioners, who receive
$4800 a year.
The state civil service commission,
in addition to recommending wage in
creases for many state workers, has
suggested a 40-hour work week for
these employees.
A man who stops growing is dying.
A man who stands still is going
backwards.
A man who stops reading becomes
stagnant.
A man who stops thinking is men
tally dead.
A man who stops praying is spiritu
ally dead.— Wm. J. H. Boetcker.