Arizona republican., 1912-03-19

officials. and state banks. institutions and corporations. coming under the
 states direct supervision, forms one
 of the great needs of the time | offer the suggestion that il may be appropriately and effectively supplied
 in connection with the establishment of rules and regulations for. and the prescribing of the duties of the state examiner.
 Merit System.
 In line with this suggestion. would urge the adoption of merit test for state employees, under which the highest grade of efficiency may be. secured IL may h" contended that the number of state employees is so inconsiderahle as to not warrant this plan. but that objection may be answered by the total absence of any good reason why the merit test should not he applied to the employees of l the state as well as to the employees of an individual ar corporation. Furthermore. the state is growing. 1 its needs are increasing. and as the years go hy todays handful of em- 1 ployes will become more and mere numerous. and the establishment at | this time of a high standard of ef- 1 ficiency must necessarily result in great saving
 Legislative Help.
 l. In the interest of economy | recom- mend. and in the light of intimate personal knowledge urge. that you make provision for the alteration of | the plan by which legislative em l ployes are now selected | am con- ! fident that thousands of dollars may | he saved bienniIlly. and a much | higher standard Of efficiency -Stab- ! lLshed. if you will make it the duty of the officer who provides other sup plies. whether for the legislature or 1 for the departments and institutions ! to employ, under a merit system. all | legislative attaches. while the abolish 1 ment of a spells system which has i not infrequently disgraced our legis- i lative bodies will rebound to your 1 everlasting credit and stand as a ] monument to your courage
 Bureau Of Legislative Research. urge the establishment of a ! l benefits to be derived from such an 1 institution cannot be computed. The
 need for it will become apparent to 1 each of you aS your legislative work 1 progresses. You will want data on
 a large variety oi subjects and find l yourselves without the means of Sr- | curing it. You will want authentic | information regarding the laws o' other states es-information disclosing
 the operation of different laws. their ! success or failure. and the amend
 ments experience has suggested. II
 is to supply this want that tn, bureau of legislative research is pro- posed. by itself or in conjunction 1 preferably the latt-r-Nith other sta tisticaI or nearly similar duties Nor 1 only will the members of succeeding | legislatures find Such a bureaus valu,
 to far outweight its cost: not only does the governors office and every other executive office feel its need almost every day in the year. but il will prove of inestimabl. value to the public-a ready reference on all ] subjects of legislation
 Build Good Roads.
 In the plan of statewide develop ment which should now enga ge the patriotic thought of every Arizonan
 nothing k more important than good highways Each dollar economically expended on the roads of the state in whatever county. between what eyer points. will mean dollar wise Fly spent Not only do good roads reduce. the cost and increase the ease l Of transportation wherever transpor- l tation by rail or water is not avail able. but Arizona has another and 1 possibly greater incentive for the establishment and maintenance oi creditahle highways our state is 2 l state of scenic wonders. climatic mir acIes and extraordinary geographical ! advantages II lies in the route of | trauscontinent1I travel. and it's many marvels will annually attract thou sands of sight ht-seerS and pleasure
 seekers. whose interest. engaged and
 retained. may frequently convert
 them into investors. developers and loyal friends Good roads are an al-
 most certain index tn a community's | prosperity. and prosperity breeds hap pness and cOntentnent
 Your plans for roadwork if I mis- take not should be laid along more systematic lines than the program l the territory has heretofore followed : and | recommend. as a basis for l this system. the establishment by the l state engineer of q comprehensive plan of public highways. with its
 main arteries traversng the state from east to west, from north tC ! south from northeast to southwest
 and from northwest to southeast. and it's feeders and branches reaching into the intermediate sections. communi- I ties and towns. Thus planned. the
 work of construction should be car
 ried on with system. with energy and | with skill. until Arizona's highways become the admiration and envy of i the world.
 Preserve Scenic Effects.
 As l have said. AriZonaS scenery 1 is a splendid asset. No similar area
 on the face of the earth. I assert
 with perfect confidence, boasts so l great variety. such compelling : beauty. such impressive grandeur as | the varying scenes our state affords i It is an asset which should he jeal- 1 ously guarded; and the thought has