There is a first cost and an ultimate
cost! Budgets show first costs, but not
the real costs of government. An exper
ienced engineer on a single road con
struction project can easily save his an
nual p la r y many »times o ver by the ex
ercise of seasoned judgment. An inex
perienced engineer, by a single error,
can cost the taxpayers thousands of
dollars. If the work of poorly paid in
experienced workers has to be done over
by others, I is thetfS B l' saving to the
State in that lower salary justified? If
three employees, hired at the lowest
bracket of pay, dojih®Jwork than two
paid at a higher rate; is that true econ
omy? There are administrators who aye
inclined to think that by paying the
lowest possible 'I g i B they , are '¿saying
the State money. Those administrators
★
have the highest turn-over in employees,
hire the larger numbers and worry that
the public may become too well ac
quainted with the waste, friction and
general inefficiency that besets them.
When the public. ‘ becomes better in
formed of their government’s^functions
and methods, the administration will
improv” the employees will be fairly
treated and efficiency will be increased.
Then the actual "ultim ate costs” of
public service will be materially re-
giced.
1949 may well be the year in which
State employees will join with good
administrators toUtell the public the
T R U T H about their present State* gov
ernment functions. The public inter
ests are best served by efficient public
servants at all levels.
★
★
Civil Service and Retirement Acts
Are Seriously Threatened
The smouldering resentments against
the Oregon Civil Service Act and the
Retirement Act are again being fanned
into open hostility! Of late, the press
has carried reports that an independent
group of state employees 'will recom
mend repeal of both Acts at the next
-legislature.
Having" actively sponsored and sup
ported these two Acts before the 194i
legislative assembly, and believing that
they are right s | k PS in good government,
the Oregon Stated Employees Associa
tion cannot do otherwise than rise to
the defense of both Acts.
Principal Objections Voiced
The objections heard to date include
the following:
C/w7 Scrrzrc A rf—Elective officials
complain they haviM g g l^ choice in the
selection of their subordinates. Some
state employees, now under the Act,
complain likewise that their superiors
should have more latitude in selecting
employees as ^subordinates. Another
complaint from some employees is that
the Civil Service Department is enlarg
ing and becoming costly w ith little done
to improve publiciservice. Another, that
under Civil Service the higher paid em
ployees are the ones who receive the
larger wage increases.
Retirement A c t— Objection is voiced
that this A ct requires workers to retire
at age 65 w ithout providing an ade
quate pension.
Civil Service Advantages
An elective official feels himself re-
sponsm |l to the people for the efficiency
of his administration, which attitude is
both commendable and a normal ex
pectancy. Likewise^ an appointive offi-
cial also feels the same responsibilities,
although he is not quite so subject of
susceptible to political aspirations as an
elective official. As both classes of of-