River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-03-30
Government by Commissions.

commissions. Following are some
of his statements:
aThe tendency of this sort of leg
islation must be apparent to the most
superficial observer. ' 1t more and
more tends to concentrate in the
hands of a few individuals the pow
ers and duties of all administrative
Offices. 1t was the centraizing ten
dency in government which the
founders of our constitution en-
deavored to overcome and they en-
deavored to leave to the people the
largest measure of local self-govern-
ment consistent with the general
welfare. The tendency of these
laws is exactly opposite of this and
is to place with central authority a
vested power over the affairs of To-
calities and individuals.
GA statement Of the facts as they
exist at the present time must bring
forcibly to the mind Of every citizen
the real condition of affairs in thi,
state. There are in this state so
boards and commissions appointed
by the governor, making total of
I43 appointees, who in their turn,
control I445 employees and cost the
state $5o3,o74.74, and who disburse
of the states funds biennially the
enormous sum of $4,2I7,8r6. 70
Other than those appointed by the
governor there are five commissions
or like officers, making a total of II
appointees, employing IS persons,
costing $lI7,92o As for maintenance.
So that in the state there is grand
total of 36 boards and commissions,
consisting of 100 appointees, employ
ing 1900 persons, costing 7II,8o5.Io
for maintenance, and disbursing BIZ
ennially $4,335,737,I5, while during
like period the entire disburse-
ments of the state amount to only
$Io,487,43I.2o Compared with
these extra constitutional boards and
commissions who derive their au-
thority by appointment we have
three like departments, the respon-
sible heads of which are chosen by
the people, employing IS persons,
costing $I44,oIo.36 for maintenance
and disbursing no moneys whatever
in excess of those disbursed as a part
of the cost Of maintenance. employ
ing I445 persons, the other rs; one
costing S7II,8o5.Io, the other $I44,-
oIo SO. The power of the appoint
i've commissions, when organized in
the interest of one political party
creates in and fitself most power
full political machine, able to main
tain itself at almost any odds, and
not only that, but able at each ses-
sion of the Legislature to increase its
power and augment the number of
its office holding agents. These are
matters of grave concern and ought
to receive the earnest attention of
every member of this legislature.
X X 4
"Power without responsibility is
always dangerous, but power with
to constituency which
can readily call it to account, is not
dangerous. 1t is the first requisite
of efficient administration.
y 4 X
"The Dairy and Food Commits
force to-day consists of nine
and cost, during the last
two years, $27,88o. There is a bill
before this Legislature now asking
for seventeen additional agents.
X \ X
"The following boards: commits
sioner of labor statistics, fish and
game wardens, state treasury agent,
board of commissioner of fisheries,
oil inspectors, state board of health,
lumber inspectors, commissioner of
public printing and the geological
and natural history survey disbursed
during the last two years, $385,73o,
an enormous sum of money to be
placed in the hands of the various
boards without any particular head
who is responsible to the people of
the state.
These latter boards, with their
consist of more than 500
persons.
"Two years ago we created the
so-called BARRIERS Commission.
After two years of trial, petitions
are pouring in demanding the re-
peal of the law. In the face of that,
another bill has been offered to in
crease the license from ST. to S."
4 = !
81 suggest for your favorable con-
sideration, first, whether boards and
commissions, whose work is wholly
executive, ought not to be depart
ments of state, each with single re-
sponsible head; second, whether
power of removal of their members,
for cause stated, ought to be given to
the governor as the chief executive,
thereby compelling him to exercise
a supervision of their work and
making him, and SO making them,
responsible to the people for its adj
ministration.
GOD IN HIS WORLD.
BY LYMAN ABBOTT.
Many converting tendencies have