The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-01-16
REORGANIZATION
OF DEPARTMENTS
Governor Ebsrh3It Again Urges
Action by Legislature.
REApP0RTD....... IT IS A DUTY

Declares Every Section of the State
Should Have Equal Representation
in lawmaking Body-5e!ieves Pub
Tic Utilities Commission Would Be
Of Great Benefit to the People.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House
of Representatives:
Two gears of most remarkable pres
ress have passed since the Legislature
met in regular session and it again be-
comes my duty to present to you such
information and recommendations as
pertain to the welfare of the state.
Perhaps no Legislature ever con
vened under more favorable circum-
stances. Abundant prosperity has ia
vored every section OF the state.
Progress and development have been
the watchwords of every community.
Culture and refinement have been at
tanned in a greater degree than ever
before. Yet there is before us a
great field of opportunities, and We
are charged with the solemn duty
of helpful cooperation to the end
that the will of the people and the
highest and best interests of the
state may find a ready response in
wise legislation as well as efficient ad-
ministration.
In my message two years ago
departed somewhat from the estab-
lished custom of chiefly communicat-
ing recommendations covering the
needs of the various state departments
and this practice l shall again fol-
low. The recommendations covering
the various departments are herewith
submitted to you in an appendix at
tached to this message. Most of these
recommendations have already after
mutual consultation been transmitted
to you in the reports of the various
departments. ], therefore, attach the
most important OF them in condensed
form for ready reference with my ap-
proval.
Reorganization of State Departments.
One CT the most important recon-
mendations of my last regular mes
sage was the reorganization of our
state departments. My further eX-
perience in administrative affairs of
this state has convinced me more
strongly than ever that this reOrgan-
izatfon is of utmost Importance. For
more than half century we have OPP
in, hn Oh ;cAr of
state affairs under a system unbusi-
nessiike both in principle and appli-
cation. The state should be admin
istered under the best approved bust
ness methods, with economy and eff
cheney combined.
In order to secure efficiency it is
absolutely essential there should be
definite fixing of responsibility in
the heads of the several departments
and the most complete cooperation
between them. That there is nei-
Their economy nor efficiency in the cre-
alton of large number. Of boards or
commissions to transact the business
of the .4state is conceded. The fegis-
latgre.A In creating these boards or
COMMISSIONS intended to keep pace
with the rapid. growth of the state
without seemingly Increasing the cost
of administration. In spite of that
fact many offices in this. state have
been created with reference to polit.
ical expediency rather than service,
such as the fee !. inspection system.
There can be no possible excuse for
the existence Of the fee office. If the
fee inspection service .ef this state
We're. abolished and placed under de-
partnents where it rightly belongs.
the state could have enough money to
pay for the entire reorganization of
the state departments as herein rec
commended and yet have considerable
balsncc' to turn over into the treas
ury
Be sring in mind that economy as
we'll as efficiency of service depends
upcs fixing the responsibility in as
few heads of departments as possible
and that these departments should be
arranged with perfect freedom of CO.
operation, it follows that many i'm.
p0ltaht changes should be made in
the present administration of our
state government.
Department of Public Domain.
When our present state constitu-
ton was adopted the trainers of that
important document had no concep-
ton Of the tremendous future growth
of the state. This is evidenced by
the fact that they placed the sole
care and control of our agricultural,
timber and mineral lands in the hands
of the state auditor. The function sof,
this important state official is to ac-
count for the receipts. and disburse-
ments of all state funds and to audit
every account presented to him for
payment. He is, therefore, not mere ]
iy the states bookkeeper, but he is
the state checking officer, and no state
funds can be disbursed by the treas
urer except upons vouchers properly
checked and approved by the auditor
The transactions now involve more
than two million dollars per month.
To place under the sole care and con.
troll of the states bOOkkeeper and
checking officer all the agricultural.
timber and mineral lands OF the state