Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-01-14
FINAL MESSAGE Of
GOVERNOR BECKETT
RECOMMENDS THAT SALARIES
OF ALL STATE OFFICIALS
BE MATERIALLY RAISED.
IN FAVOR OF SHORT BALLOT
"SoIe Purpose Of the Retaliation ACT
ia TO Make the Tax Books OF the
State Tell the Truth"

The four recommendation included
in Governor Bickett's farewell mes
sage were:
|. Increase the salaries of the state
officials from $1,000 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.
8. 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 reyauation
set to provide for decreases in actuaa
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. I
do not propose to review my own ad-
mini-tration. What Is written. Is writ
ten and will in the fullness OF time
be fairly appraised by the calm judy
ment of history. The sole claim that
| 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 lever to lift the state to
higher levels.
There are few subjects so inti-
mately connected with my admins
tratlon that last word from me with
reference to these would seem to be
entirely in order,
The laborer in Worthy Of His Hire.
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 II he could
find a comfortable home in the city OF
Raleigh for the rental of 81, 900 year.
His bills for fuel. water, light and
telephone will easily amount to S25 a
month. He ought to be allowed one
servant and the minimum sum for
which a servant can be employed is
$3.50 a week The head of q state
department is called on to pay at least
5000 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 5000. To maintain the health OF
himself and family he ought to be al
lowed a two weeks vacation and this
will cost at least 5000. He is a lucky
man if his political expenses inherent
In the office are not more than 800
year. The expenses above enumerat-
ed amount to $500 a year. This
leaves to state officer 1910 a year
with which to pay for food, clothing.
furniture. doctor bills, and the educa-
ton OF his children. Such a policy
is as unwise as II 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. respectfully sub
nit that the salaries OF the heads OF
state departments should be increased
TO $4,000 year have felt impelled
to discuss this question because what
ever is done must be done during my
administration.