4
ary increase. We believe that they have
earnestly applied themselves to a tre
mendous problem, hâve acted to the
fullest extent possible with the limited
funds available, and have evidenced a
real concern for the State’s employees
and their problems. In this spirit, we
look forward to continued progress in
the handling of employee problems.We
pledge our continued full cooperation
in supporting all measures and actions
which will provide improved public^
service in governmental functions.
President’s Message on
Salaries and Wages
The people of Oregon throughout
the years have taken thé' State em
ployees for granted. They have assum
ed that most of us have a good paying
position. /The new sitem s that have
been in the press from tinte to time
during the past six months about our
wage problem haye, I believe, enlight
ened and helped them to realize that
the State’s business can be conducted
properly only with the help of quali
fied employees who receive a just wage
for their Services.
The "cost of living salary increase”
which the- Oregon State Employees As
sociation was instrumental in securing
was not only a moral victory for the
Association, but was also of some fi
nancial help to all State employees. Our
Governor, Budget Director, the mem
bers of the State Emergency Board and
Civil Service Commission áre to be
commended for the cooperation they
gáve us. While the "increase” is in
adequate, we realize that under the
present State financial system, addi
tional funds are available only H leg
islative appropriation.
In conducting the State’s business,*
regardless of whether or ndt the de
partment is self-sustaining or operates
by appropriation from the State gen
eral fund, the Legislature by law, in the
approval or disapproval of the prepared
budgets,, determines the amount of
funds available for each and every op
erating division of the State Govern
ment.
You have heard many discussions and
have also read articles in the press about
the surplus in the income and excise
tax funds which by the end of this
biennium will exceed $5 0,000,000. You
have also, no doubt, learned that it is
the opinion of our Attorney Genera^
that these funds could be transferred to
the general fund, and that a test case
is being made for the purpose of hav
ing the subject passed on by the Ore
gon Supreme Court. It is exceedingly
important to have this problem deter
mined by the Court as quickly as pos
sible so' that action I ¿lay be taken to
bring the subject before the people at
the coming November election through
initiative petition > tnqit Court should
decide that the funds are not available
without a; vote of the people.
Regardless of the manner in which
funds are made available, no funds can
be used except by appropriation of the
Legislature. I believe that the serious
wage problem that now confronts each
and -every department.and which has
been brought .;to the attention of the
people of this State through our ef
forts will insure favorable action by
the members of the 1949 Legislature—
not only their approval p lth e budgets
which should include a just wage for
all State employees, but also the ap
proval of a salary emergency fund as
recommended by our association at the
1947 session..
During the coming months prior to
the convening of the 1949 Legislature,
the Civil Service Commission will, I
am sure, make an exhaustive survey of
salaries and wages being paid in private
industries in Qregon and wages paid
other public employees in Oregon as
well as salaries paid to the employees of
the other Northwest States, and present
a new wage strife ?to the next Legisla
ture for all classes of employment, not
only for the biennium beginning July
1, 1949, but also for the six months
beginning January 1, 1949.