The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-06-19
SALARIES IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
BUSINESS

R.W. Rigsby, who served two years as
city manager of Asheyille. now has posi-
ton with the government, connected with
the administration of the public works pro-
gram. While he was in ASheville Mr..
Rigsby's salary was the subject of more or
less contention, some citizens of Ashevlll2
taking the position that Mr.. Rigsby's serV-
ices were not worth the salary he was
drawing. Now Mr.. Rigsby lands a govern
nsent lob at a salary said in the newspaper
accounts to be two or three times what he
was being paid in Asheville.
Another city manager who has gone INTO
theagevernment service is W. 7. Goodman
Of Rock Hill, S. c., who takes position
With the home mortgage organization at 4
salary much larger than he was receiving
as. manager of the South Carolina city.
Manager Goodman had been on the job IN
Rock Hill for more than twelve years, hav-
ing served longer in that position than any
other city manager in the United States has
served in one place. Through the years
Manager Goodman's salary was the sub
iect of discussion and some of his fellow
citizens thought he was oyer-paid.
The Rock Hill Herald makes the ap-
peintment of Mr.. Goodman the text TOR a
discussion of salaries in public and private
business, and arrives at the conclusion that
a man is worth what he is worth III the
public service or in private business. Inc
/ ,r, nf
managers has been that an efficient man
ager. could direct the business Of munlcl-
paHty SO as to save money for the taXpay-
erS.o "A first class manager might save the
equivalent of his salary, and more, and
give the municipality more efficient admin
istration of business than that provided by
the old system. If that was the case the
manager would be worth the money.
81 The fact is that salaries of public off,
Gals are considered high now because OF
the low earnings of men engaged in prl-
vate business. Everywhere, perhaps, ottl-
cial salaries have been reduced, but many
citizens still look up them as being too
high. A few years ago, during the boom
p6TIOu, NuSu Cue aver dye HIGH " 90 hi''NNAA'S
big meney in private business, few people
looked with favor on public employment.
The salaries paid public officials were con-
sidered so low that many men believed they
could not afford to accept public office
or public employment. Conditions have
changed greatly and the generally accept
ed view now is that the man who is pulling
down a salary from local, State or national
government is in favored position, re-
CARELESS of the amount of the salary.
As matter of fact, public officials who
have had responsibilities and real work to
do. have never been over-paid in this cOun-
try. The tax payers have been burdened
with useless offices and Office-holders who
are not needed and who have little or moth
ing to do .:
In private business a man is worth what
he is worth to business. The Rock Hill
Herald makes reference to distinguished
American business man who declined an
annual salary of a million and half dol
lare. offered him to take charge of great
corporation.. Of course there are people
who cannot understand how man can be
worth that amount to business; but the
exclamation is simple. If the great. corpo
ration was losing money and the million
andia half executive could manage It's al