Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-10-03
OFFICIAL. CITY PAPER
WHERE THE LEGISLATURE
"EIZZLES."

be brought about by funG mental
changes in our systems OF state,
county and municipal govern
ment. Sporadic efforts will not ac-
complish the desired results. Only
concerted and we'll studied action
on the part of the entire people
will afford the desired relief.
That is the final sentence in an edl-
torial in the Prosser Independent-Rec-
ord on the one subject everybody in
the state is discussing today-taxation.
1t is a statement with which no think
ing person can conscientiously disa
gree. The cost of our government is
piling up rapidly under the present
system; we must change it-or pay
the price.
Anybody acquainted with the legis-
lature-not the beautiful theory but
the actual fact-realizes that it is one
of the grossest infections upon the
taxpayers pocketbooks, not only in the
highly unnecessary cost that attaches
to itself but in the manner in which it
directs the spending of the taxpayers
money. As the Pasco Progress puts
it-correctiy, too:
Nine-tenths of the legislators are
like sheep and are herded here and
there and made to vote for this meas
ure or that at the dictation Of half
dozen men. These men in some
cases at least are controlled by the
-, TIA r
ly any member desiring to pass some
measure for his own section of the
state is compelled to seek these eladers
and barter his own vote for their sup
port The practical result is the Gre
alton OF clique or ring that absolute
ly dictates legislation and saddles the
taxpayers with an enormous burden
of debt.
To improve the administration of
the states affairs and secure both econ
omy and efficiency it will be necessary
to change the present system.
The Progress believes that the state
government should be conducted by a
commission of not more than Is men,
three being elected from each congress
sional district. These men should get
good salaries and should be on the job
all the time. They should be elected
upon non-partisan ticket. The states
affairs should be divided into five or
more departments: say the depart
ment of public works, department of
state institutions, department of COM
merce and agriculture, department of
judiciary and department of public
utilities. Trained experts should be
appointed by the state commission to
head each of these departments, men
who are not answerable to the people
and therefore have no motive for play
ing politics, but men who are answer
able to he commission and therefore
must show efficiency to hold their jobs.
All state officers should be placed on
civil service basis and made to give
an honest days work in return for
their salary. The present high priced
commissions should be abolished; in
short, the entire state administration
should be placed under the control of
board of IL directors elected by the
people and directly responsible to the
people, and the men whom these d.
rectors employ would consequently
have to be in harmony with the policy
directed by the board and earn their
salaries.
Governing state is a large and Sc
rious job. 1t should be done economi-
cally and efficiently. At the present
time, owing to our cumbersome and
Anticipated system, interjected as 1t is
by selfish leaders and partisan politics,
this is impossible. But we believe if
the state used the same methods that
are employed by any successful private
business corporation 1t would 60 far
towards solving the question and Civ
ing the taxpayers real value for their
money.
Every editor that is interested in
good government should take up the
cause and carry on an educational
campaign. The day is coming when
we will have this form of government
but we will all be better off If that day
is FASTENED and rot left to the natura
course of events. Let's all put oul
shoulders 10 the wheel and give Wash
ington the distinction of being the pic
neer in this governmental innovation
This last admonition is an excellent
one, even though the Progress does no
give THE WASHINGTON STANDARD cred
it for being the first newspaper in The
state to campaign actively for this
most needed reform, and though it /.
simply another way of expressin:
what the STANDARD said in its frs
editorial on the subject The encour
agement of editors to discuss the com
mission plan and advocate il, carried
on almost singly heretofore by tn,
STANpAED is bearing rapid fruit, how
ever On orr desk at the p~esen
writing are a number Of clipping
from others newspapers Of the state
we quote from but one of them. III,