The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-01-10

every department unQer MS super
vision, Governor A. o. Eberhart's
message was given to the Minnesota
Legislature. The prevention of crime
and the improvement of public health
conditions are two questions which
the Governor seems to consider OF
vital Importance, and concerning
which he has very decided opinions
The message follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House
of Representatives
Two years of most remarkable
progress have passed since the leg
islature met in regular session and
il again becomes my duty to present
TO you such information and recoma
mendations as pertain to the welfare
of the state.
Perhaps no legislature ever con-
vened under more favorable circum-
stances. Abundant prosperity has
favored 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 ready response in wise legisla-
ton as well as efficient administra-
ton.
In my message two years ago | de-
parted somewhat from the established
custom of chiefly communicating rec
concentrations covering the needs Of
the various state departments and
this practice l shall again follow. The
recommendations covering the various
departments are herewith submitted
to you in an appendix attached to this
message. Most of these recommends
tons have already after mutual con-
sultation been transmitted to you in
the reports of the various depart
ments. /, therefore, attach the most
important of them in condensed form
for ready reference with my APP
prevail
Reorganization of State Departments.
One of 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-
ization is of utmost Importance. For
more than half a century we have
operated in the administration of our
state affairs under system unbusi-
nesslike both in principle and appli-
cation. The state should be admin
istered under the best approved bust
ness methods with economy and ef-
ticiency combined. In the business
world of today these methods have
long since passed the experimental
stage and We need no longer grope
in ignorance or uncertainty, but pro-
coed to the adoption of business meth
DDS more economical in application
and with far greater efficiency as to
results.
| again emphasize the fact, that
in order to secure efficiency, it is alb
solutely essential there should be
definite fixing of responsibility of the
several departments and the most
complete cooperation between them.
That there is neither economy nor
efficiency in the creation of large
number of boards or commissions to
transact the business of the state is
conceded The legislature in Great
ing these boards or commissions in
tended 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 political eXpediency rath.
er than service, such as the fee in
spection system. There can be no
possible excuse for the existence of
the fee office. If the fee inspection
service of this state were abolished
and placed under departments where
it rightly belongs, the state could
save enough money to pay for the en-
tire reorganization of the state de-
partments as herein recommended
and yet have considerable balance to
turn over into the treasury. T. y
Bearing in mind that economy as
well as efficiency of service depends
upon 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 inn
portant changes should be made in
the present administration of our
state government.
Department of Public Domain.
When our present state constitution
was adopted, the trainers of that i'm
portant document had no conception
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, tim
Der and mineral lands in the hands
of the state auditor. The function of
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
ly the states bookkeeper, but he is
the state checking officer, and no
state funds can be disbursed by the
treasurer except upon vouchers prop
erly checked and approved by the
auditor. The transactions now. in
Volve more than two million dollars
per month. To place under the sole
care and control of the states book.
keeper and checking officer all the
agricultural, timber and mineral lands
of the state and permit him to be his
own checking officer is a practice in
direct violation of every approved
business principle and the fact that
the state has not suffered is greatly
TO the credit of our auditors but abb
solutely no defense of the system.