The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-03-29
Governor A. @. Eberhart
Discussed State Affairs
Before Social Scientists
From Wednesdays Daily.


the library Of the normal school I'M
der the auspices of the Social Science
club last evening. The attendance
was fairly large, and the remarks
of Governor Eberhart were listened
to with interest. 49,
Professor J. A. Hancock presided
and introduced the speaker briefly.
who were not members of the Social
Science club present and felt honor
ed that the executive of the state,
should come before them.
Governor Eberhart spoke in part
as follows: *. ~.
The administration of state is
properly divided into four subdivis-
ions: .s
1.-THE first concerns the pub
lie domain. ,.s
Second, public health and
safety.
Third, education.
Fourth, revenue and account.
ing
There are a few states where the
division along this line is distinctly
marked, but it is the most conven-
lent method of division for the pur-
pose of discussion. The four sub
divisions might be called bureaus,
with a chief in charge of each bureau
and each bureau to be subdivided
into departments, consisting OF a
head of each department and such
subordinates as may be required.
Within the board of public domain
should be q department OF public
domain, lands, department. of
forestry, mines and minerals. game
aud fish. waterways and waterpower,
agriculture and immigration and
highways. =
Suggests Several Departments.
with the board of public health
and safety there should be q dairy
and food, labor and education de-.
partment. I am DESTROYS OF! having
a department of education and an.
other OF state institution, of revenue
and accounting, tax commission, rail-
way and warehouse, public examiner
4 superintendent of banks, and a
commissioners of Insurance. This in
brief is an outline which, SO far as
the departments are concerned Will
be suitable to the state OF Minnesota.
The divisions of. these departments
would be the four bureaus, each in
charge of chief. 1t is not essential
in this state, at least until the ad.
ministrative business becomes much
more extensive than it is today.
"Ther are certain reasons for this.
There are two primary elements
which enter into the successful bust
ness administration. First, success
ful cooperation between all the de-
partments; second, it will give the
difinite fixing of responsibility. These
two elements must never be lost
sight of in business administration.
whether it be public or private. The
tendency would be to create less
officials and to fix more responsible
ity upon each.
Strong Business Organization.
There Is no state in the Union
which has a stronger business Or
ganization in the conduct OF its state
affairs than the federal administra-
ton at Washington. There the adj
ministration is divided up into de-
partments and each department is
in charge of a secretary. These
secretaries constitute cabinet act
ing in an advisory capacity to the
president. The result of these
two elements of successful business
administration is q perfect co-opera-
ton, and definite fixing of response
bility is secured. ....
81 believe that in the state OF
Minnesota each head of these vari-
Gus departments should constitute
an advisory counsel to the COVER.
nor. A large number of administra-
tive boards could be suspended and
the work of these boards should be
placed in some one of these depart
ments in charge of one. commission
err as the head of the department
ut is not essential that the divis-
ion should be called a department or
that its head should be called a
commissioner, but my idea is that
the state business should be trans
acted just as private business. One
person should be placed in charge OF
his certain line of work and he
should be held responsible for the
acts of his subordinates under his
control and by acting in that way,
acting in the advisory capacity OF
such a counsel, he should report
to the governor as to the progress
of each department and the vari-
GUS heads should, by comparing notes
and working together, secure
better hold and more efficient con-
duct of state affairs. For this rea-
son, it is not essential as yet in this
state, to place these heads of de-
partments of four bureaus.
Not to Create More Officers.
"The subdivision into four great
bureaus is not necessary in this
state for the further reason that the
heads of departments can constitute
the advisory counsel to the COVER
nor. 1t must be borne in mind that
my idea in this administration is
not to create more officers but less
number of officers and place more