Semi-weekly herald., 1913-08-28
'HICn COST
OF STATE
CON R0L
GOV. LISTER ON EFFICIENCY
AND ECONOMY" BEFORE THE
GOVERNORS CONFERENCE
tconanued from Page l.,

1So4 eAlA0Ga Alvin = - 4sB
RACED In the same line Of work, who
an men Of ability and thoroughly COM
potent With complete corps Of eff
Giant assistants, doubt not but that
the bureau could render valuable SER
vice in the matter Of auditing and
checking the financial records Of the
state, county, city and other public
offices.
Reference to this particular law, in
operation in the state of Washington,
has been made for the reason that,
by some, it has been considered as
solution Of the problem calling for
the creation of department Of eff
cheney and economy. 1t covers one
Of the lines necessary in bringing out
efficiency in public offices. Its powers,
however, do not reach to many of the
vital elements entering into an eff
cient and economical administration
Of public affairs and even though the
law might be constructed to give the
deputies or examiners the power to
make recommendations regarding the
general management Of institutions or
departments, it is hardly fair to ex-
peet an examiner or auditor, receiv-
ing salary of IS per day, which is
the salary allowed to those checking
up county and city offices, and who
il employed presumably on account
Of his ability as an accountant, to
have the knowledge necessary to make
Recommendation covering changes in
the general management of institu-
tions. Superintendents are placed
in charge Of institutions on ac-
count Of their qualifications for the
work; and in most cases receive sal
aries several times greater than the
salaries paid the examiners.
Efficiency and economy mean much
more than keeping correct system
Of records. While this is important,
1t covers but small part of the
work to be done in the proper ad-
ministration of public affairs. Eff
cheney and economy mean having thor
ough knowledge, at all times, regard
ing all of the details of management
The language of these terms means
to know whether an excessive price is
being paid for articles purchased;
whether or not the articles purchased
are needed in connection with the work
of an institution or a department, and
whether those articles are Of the kind
and quality needed in getting the best
results. They mean to see that, after
purchase, articles will be intelligently
used and not wasted or discarded be-
fore full service has been secured.
They mean that in the construction
Of bdildings, and other improvements,
the state will get that which best
serves the purpose and at the lowest
possible cost consistent with the con-
struction of buildings or the making
CT improvements of permanent char
acter. The term, efficiency and econ
omy, mean that constant effort be
made to gather together all informa-
ton that will be Of benefit in render
ing intelligent and efficient service to
the state.
We're / called upon to name COM
mission on efficiency and economy, ]
would feel that it should consist Of
persons big enough and broad enough
to consult with those in charge Of in
stitutions or departments, get the
ideas of persons who have had years
Of experience in their special lines
and who would never recommend q
change in methods until absolutely
convinced that the change recommend.
ed would be an improvement over the
methods being used. Such a commits
sion can accomplish little by criti-
cism. Its work should be to con-
stantly devise ways and means for
improvement in systems and methods
In connection with state affairs,
such commission should be appoint
ed by the chief executive of the state.
A governor is elected by the people
and held responsible by them, not only
for the acts of his immediate depart
ment, but also for the acts of the
departments and institutions over
which he has control. The president
Of railway or any other large cor
poration is held responsible by the
stockholders of his company for the
proper management Of the property
placed in his charge and today, to u
greater degree than ever before, the
chief executive of the state is, by his
stockholders, the people, held respon-
sible for the proper product Of every
department under his control. The
governor Of \ state is the head Of \
business larger than that of any pri-
vate corporation doing business with
In the borders Of his state. He can
not delegate to anyone the RESPONSE
bility for the proper handling of the
immense business placed in his hands
by the vote pf the citizenship Of his
state; nor can he take the position,
after making appointments to the
4 - - A. Ins~a - NJ ants L., III. ch ~r.