The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1921-01-13
final. MESSAGE OF
GOVERNOR BECKETT.
RECOMMENDS THAT SALARIES
OF ALL STATE OFFICIALS
BE MATERIALLY RAISED.
IN FAVOR OF SHORT BALLOT
"So1e Purpose Of the Retaliation Act
is to Make the Tax Books Of the
State Tell the Truth"

The four recommendations included
in Governor Bickett's farewell mes
sage were:
1. Increase the salaries of the state
officials from $500 to $4,000.
2. Constitutional amendment pro-
viding for the short ballot, the pri'
mary selection of candidates for gov
ernor and giving the governors the
right to appoint administrative heads
of departments.
3. Enactment into law of the recon-
mendations of the commission on ne
gro welfare. This includes tubercu-
lar sanatorium, reformatory for negro
boys, better training for negro teach
ers, betterment of transportation IA
cilities for negro passengers on trains.
4. Amendments of the revalL 9t1On
set to provide for decreases in actual
values of the land caused by the de,
pressed prices of products of the land.
The message in part follows:
Lay and Gentlemen of the General
Assembly:
1t would be a violation Of the pro-
prieties of this occasion for me to at
tempt any discussion of the big prob
lens that confront this general assem-
bly,. That is at once the right and
responsibility of the governor-elect. l
do not propose to review my own ad-
minictration. What is written, is writ
ten and will in the fullness of time
be fairly appraised by the calm judg-
ment of history. The sole claim that
I make for myself and for the woman
who has walked and worked by my
side is that in peace and in war we
have diligently endeavored to use our
position as a lever to lift the state to
higher levels.
There are a few subjects so init
mate1y. connected with my admins
tration that last word from me with
reference to these would seem to be
entirely in order.
The Laborer in Worthy of His Hire.
I think you will all agree that North
Carolina is too big and too rich to ask
or allow men to work for the state for
less than living wage. The standard
salary paid state officers in $500. We
will assume that such an officer has a
wife and three children. Certainly 1t
would be against public policy to en-
courage him to have fewer. Such an
officer would be fortunate if he could
find a comfortable home in the city on
Raleigh for the rental of $1,000 a year.
His bills for fuel, water, light and
telephone will easily amount to $25 a
month. He ought to be allowed one
servant and the minimum sum for
which servant can be employed is
$3.50 a week. The head of a state
department is called on to pay at least
$500 a year for the support OF religion
and charity. He cannot look his
neighbors in the face and pay less.
His fire and life insurance will cost
him $780, To maintain the health OF
himself and family he ought to be al
lowed a two weeks vacation and this
will cost at least $500. He is lucky
man If his political expenses inherent
in the office are not more than $500
year. The expenses above enumerat-
ed amount to $4,000 year. This
leaves to a state officer 1910 a year
with which to pay for food, clothing,
furniture, doctor bills, and the educa-
ton of his children. Such policy
Is as unwise as it is unjust. A state
officer cannot do constructive think
ing, he cannot give to the people the
most and the best there is in him when
every morning he is tormented with
the problem of how to make buckle
| and tongue meet. I respectfully sub
| nit that the salaries of the heads or
| state departm ents should be increased
to $4,000 year. I have felt impelled
| to discuss this question because what
ever is done must be done during my
administration.