Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-13
GOVERNOR DAVIS TO GUT
EXPENSE TO MINIMUM
Executive Will Weed From State
Departments All Useless
J. Employees.
INSTITUTE BUDGET SYSTEM
In Reforming Salary List, Will Re-
move All Inequalities and Make
Pay OF Officials and Clerks in
Keeping With II. {. l..

Governor Davis. in preparing to in
stitute the budget system in Virginia
not only is going 20 wipe out all un-
necessary expenses and useless en-
ploycs, but is going TO reform the
salary list OF employees of the State
removing all inequalities and max
ing the pay of officials and clerks
in Keeping with the cost Of living
OF the present time.
In his budget message TO the Cen
cral Assembly OF Virginia on Janu-
AIRY 10. 1920. Governor Davis called
attention 10 ;hc difficulties he had
experienced in prcparinS the first
State budget because OF the iiloGi-
cal methods that have prevailed in
the State service for iiNinE salary
rates.
positions" the Governor stated.
heretofore have been created with
out any definition whatever of the
work requirements or any intelligent
understanding of service needs-in
fact. at present, compensation bears
little reference. If any. to the ser
vice rendered.
Lack OF Uniformity.
For instance, it IS found that
similar titles are applied to positions
OF an entirely different character.
while diifct.E; lilies are given TO
like positions. high grade work is
often poorly and inadcGuatcly paid,
while service or very low grade in
large number OF cases is paid At
very high rates. This lack of uni
foruity results in much injustice and
waste. II has brought about a gem
eral laNi;y in administration that
finds expression in multiplied en-
pigments and ovcrmanncd services
on one hand. and in inciiicicncy. poor
service. wastefulness and nonper-
formancc on the other"
In view Of this situation. and in
cheney" program Governor Dawes
has undertaken detailed study OF
State salaries TO obtain information
mendations to the General Assem-
bly, for the l922-l924 budget. and has
invited members of his advisory
board. which includes Senator W. y.
OF the Senate Finance Copmittee,
and Hon. j. Sinclair Brown. of Roa-
nokc County, chairman of the Appro-
,priations Committee of the House of
Delegates, to meet with him al
Richmond to discuss the scope II the
-, .stigations.
3.iOO in state Service.
The preliminary survey. which al
ready has been made by the Gov
ernor, reveals that there are more
. than 3,4OO regular employees in the
1service Of the State government. in
Ic(uding the departments located al
stitut!cns, and that these employees
are divided into about 800 different
classes or pay roll titles. The ag-
prcEate compensation paid these
State employees amounts to approx
mately s3,Sa0 900 II ycar--a monthly
pay roll OF little more than
sS20. 600.
The Importance of the Governors
undertaking is apparent from these
figures. for IL is his avowcd inten-
,ion 10 correct in the next budget.
as far as he can. the inequalities
which now exist in the pay OF State
officials and employees, and TO pro-
vide more adequate compensation
wherever il is deserved.
The purpose OF Governor Davis 20
make a careful study OF State en-
ploymeats in Virginia for budget
purposes is thus in accord with the
most progressive undertakings in
other States and in the United States
and foreign governments. and
should do much toward placing the
pay Of State employees in Virginia on
a comparable as well as a faircr and
more equitable basis.