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1921] HOUSE JOURNAL 17
S. R. 2, H. R. 15, Joint resolution to meet in joint session to open and pub-lish
the returns for State officers.
Passes its first reading. Rules suspended. Passes its second and third read-ings
and is ordered enrolled.
JOINT SESSION
Pursuant to resolution, the hour of noon having arrived, the Sergeant-at-
Arms announces the approach of the Senate, and that body, preceded by its
officers, comes into the hall and are assigned seats, Lieutenant-Governor O.
Max Gardner, taking his seat at the right of Mr. Speaker Grier.
The joint assembly is called to order by Lieutenant-Governor Gardner, and
immediately thereafter his Excellency Governor Bickett, is escorted to the
desk and delivers his message, which is as follows
:
Final Message to the General Assembly or 1921
Lady and Gentlemen of the General Assembly:
It would be a violation of the proprieties of this occasion for me to attempt
any discussion of the big problems that confront this General Assembly. That
is at once the right and the responsibility of the Governor-elect. I do not pro-pose
to review my own administration. What is written is written, and will, in
the fulness of time, be fairly appraised by the calm judgment 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, and as a light
to lead the people into more excellent ways.
There are a few subjects so intimately connected with my administration
that a last word from me with reference to these would seem to be entirely
in order.
THE LABORER IS 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 a living wage. The stand-ard
salary paid State officers is $3,500. "We will assume that such an officer
has a wife and three children. Certainly it would be against public policy to
encourage him to have fewer. Such an officer would be fortunate if he could
find a comfortable home in the city of Raleigh for a rental of $1,000 a year.
His bills for fuel, water, lights and telephone will easily amount to $25 a
month. He ought to be allowed one servant and the minimum sum for which
a servant can be employed is $7.50 a week. The head of a State Department
is called on to pay at least $300 a year for the support of religion and charity.
He cannot look his neighbors or himself in the face and pay less. His fire
and life insurance will cost him $300 a year. To maintain the health of him-self
and family he ought to be allowed a two weeks' vacation, and this will
cost at least $200. He is a lucky man if his political expenses, inherent in the
office, are not more than $100 a year. The expenses above enumerated amount
to $2,590 a year. This leaves to a State officer $910 a year with which to pay
for food, clothing, furniture, doctors bills, and education of his children.
Such a policy is as unwise as it is unjust. A State officer cannot do con-structive
thinking, he cannot give to the people the most and the best there
2—House
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