Semi-weekly herald., 1913-02-03

tAih VIGIL SdldiiCos III tiilb tOiiHCNSiob
we reproduce the following Denver
special to the Pueblo Chieftain under
date Of Jan. 26, which reviews the
situation:
"The determination of Governor
Anmons to clean out the capitol of
all excess position baggage has caused
CONSERVATION among the employees
who have been in the habit of work
ing about two hours day and spend
ing the rest of the time down town
looking after personal matters.
During the week the governor will
issue an ultimatum that Saturday aft
ernoon closing must stop save during
July and August There has been a
habit of closing all departments Sat
urday at noon the year around. The
governor feels that one-twelfth the ex-
pense could be saved by looping that
off. Another way the governor in
tends to save money is to consolidate
boards. The state board of horticul-
ture will be abolished and this work
will be done at the agricultural col
lege. The dairy commissioners office
will be abolished and this will be
turned over to the agricultural col
lege. The state board of agricul-
ture so far as it pertains to the capi-
tol will be discontinued and this work
will be turned over to the college.
The bureau of mines probably will be
placed in charge of the State School
of Mines. The various mining in
spection departments will be CONSOLE
dated thus saving several salaries in
that department. Practically every
one of the boards in the capitol have
chief clerk and stenographer. They
average about half dozen letters a
day apiece. There will be reduction
of stenographers and chief clerks and
one chief clerk and one stenographer
will do the work for several boards. If
it can be accomplished there will be
created number of positions called
assignable clerks; who will be under
the direction of the state auditing
board The number of clerks in va
rious departments will be reduced and
the assignable clerks will be supposed
to work wherever there are letters to
write or other work to do. 1t is a
well known fact that the payroll un-
der the last Shafroth administration,
outdo the payrolls of Buchtel and Me
Donald combined 1t is also well
known fact that the volume of work
accomplished did not exceed the
amount accomplished by either Nc
Donald or Buchtel. During the two
Shafroth administrations boards and
bureaus galore were created and new
positions established purely to assist
Shafroth to the United States senate
"Take for instance the insurance de-
partment. Two new clerks were add
ed and it is well known fact that
| w. L. Clayton, the insurance commits
sioner has not averaged one hour a
| day " that department since he was
J appointed He was given the job pure
y to deliver northern Colorado to Gov,
ernor Shafroth. He made good, the
state paid him for his work and those
in charges of the finances do not fee
that the increased expenses in the of
fee is longer necessary, hence it will
be reduced.
Take again the positions in the two
courts of the state. Mr.. Perchard ant
Mr. White do practically all of The
work for the two courts and there are
half dozen others drawing salarie.
who are seldom seen around the build
ing. When the next payroll is made
up there will be some vacant chairs il
these two courts. Again, each of tn,
ten judges is allowed stenographer
They average about ten opinions {
month each of six pages to the opin
ion. There is belief among the mem
bers of the finance committee thai
there might be some assignable ste
nographers given to the two courts
and about seven of the positions va
Gated. Take the work of the state
board Of charities and corrections ant
the board of pardons. Under the Buch
tel administration three persons die
the same work that six are doing TO-
day. In fact, there is not depart
ment in the entire building that has
not increased it's payroll and its num-
Der of employees. There is not boart
that is delivering the goods to the
state so far as results are concerned
Governor Ammons realizes this arc
he intends, if possible, to reduce the
number of employees to correspond tc
the amount of work to be done and tc
appeal to the people for support in his
position. To be sure he will lose the
support of the politicians, because
when the employees at the capisol lose
out the politicians will begin to lose
their precincts through the work oil
those employees.
1.-THE joint finance committee and
the governor together with the treas
urer and auditor feel that at least 9
half million year can be saved il
the work of the state and the pay.
ment therefor is put on a substantial