The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-10-09
DIR. E. Dana Durand of the state

.Dr. r. Dana Durhnu vi 'ne Sta'o
university. expert statistician Of the
state efficiency commission, address
ed the Mankato Commercial club
last evening at the meeting held In
the Elk's cafe.
DR.. Durand distributed printed
pamphlet, showing the work OF the
commission. the general plan being
illustrated with diagrams. DIR. Dur
and said Governor Eberhart had
been induced to appoint the commits
sion largely on account OF the enor-
nous increase in the expenses OF the
state administration. He said that in
the eighties II had cost only one dol
lar per year per capita to run the
state government, whereas II now
was costing eight dollars. He re-
marked that during that period Of
time the expense running the state
government for one year had grown
from one million to about sixteen
million dollars.
Too Many Boards. -
DR.. Durand said the state ad-
ministration was numbered. with too
many boards and too much division
of responsibility. He spoke OF in.
stances where absolutely contradic-
tory orders were given to the same
concerns by representatives OF diff
ferent branches of the state govern
ment. He said there were at present
seventy separate branches of the
state government.
DR.. Durand briefly outlined the
proposed system. The main admins
tratIve functions were to be taken
care OF by five departments. with a
director at the head OF each, and
the governor at the head of all.
There was TO be a director OF pub
lie domain a director of public
welfare, q director of education, a
director Of labor and commerce and
a director OF agriculture. Each OF
these departments was also to have
its boards, TO take care OF semi-legis-
latiye and semi-judicial functions.
Concentrate Responsibility.
The general plan was to concen-
trate responsibility and unity the
government Instead OF having the
various departments. lobbying with
the legislature to see how big n
fund each could get the legislature
to give, there would be q report,
scented to the legislature for action
as state budget for the next year.
DR.. Durand spoke also OF the civil
service feature of the new system.
DIR. Durand declared that the peo-
pie OF the state should do all they
could TO get the legislature to pass
Governor Eberhart's measure, with
out multilating It with any amend
ments.
Judge Cray said the club should
do what II could to help with the
passage OF the measure. He said he
had himself visited the commission
while at work. spending two days
with the members and he was
greatly impressed with the pains
taking efforts OF the members at do
ing the right thing for the people
in "a thoroughly conscientious way.
w. ID. Willard said he thought
the Blue Earth county members OF
the Legislatures should be urged to
support the governors measure.
On motion by Mr.. Willard the club
expressed itself In favor of this.
That the Dan Patch Railroad com
pany will make Mankato a hub for
q series OF suburban railways and
will begin by building n line to st.
Clair as soon as the work OF i'm
proving the road bed between North
field and Mankato was accomplished,
was a promise made at last nights
meeting Of the Mankato Commercial
club. by d. II. Naylor, manager OF
the company's financial department
= Mr.. Naylor stated that the road
between Northneid and Minneapolis
was as good as could be wished. But
be said the company wanted some
funds to FIX It up between North
f1eld and Mankato. He said the COM
pany therefore had planned to issue
notes at eight per cent running for
three years. and he would like to
see Mankato business men invest in
these notes and thus aid the pro-
feet. He said the line. could be tap
o ped at Eagle Lake for the st. Clair
road.
y" Receipts On the increase.
Mr.. Naylor promised that after the
road bed was repaired and improved
as planned. he had no doubt that the
yearly passenger traffic OF Mankato
would be increased by a quarter of
a million. lie also declared that dur.
ing the month of July. when the Dan
Patch had hold OF the line between
Ma'nkato and Fairbault, the ticket
sales on that branch were, $4,000
greater than they were during July