The Elbert County tribune., 1915-01-15

put into effect and administer a syB-
and md hard efousht legal contests un-.
the bitterness existing betwesn EN- en-
self the employer pays large sums OF
money to insurance companies who in
der to. make profit can pay the em-
received.
The system OF workmen's compensa-
tion. except In certain cases OF serious
and wiilful misconduct, gives the ems
pleye right against his employer to
a fixed and definite or easily ascer-
tainable sum ON the mere occurrence
OF an accident In the course of the
sation is fixed according to. the degree
OF injury disability and according
10 the injured employees earning abil
ity and Is not made later than GER
tain number of days after the Injury,
thus furnishing funds to the employe
or his dependents when they are most
needed. II limits the employers lla-
bility, which is now unlimIt ed. In case
OF injury where death does not follow.
It remoyes the danger OF excessive
expense in the collection OF the amount
OF compensation due. Appeal may be
made from the commission's ruling to
the courts. but experience in the states
where the law is now In force shows
that seldom Is appeal made Work
and public charities from the burden
OF caring for injured workers and
their dependents. relieves the courts
of much litigation and tends In con-
sidera bic degree to remove the bitter
ness SO frequently following contests
In the courts between employer and
employe-
The people are demanding that this
LEGISLATURE. Increase the efficiency ana
eliminate the extravaganza and waste-
fulness OF she present organization OF
our state government 1t Is earnestly
urged that early. in the session your
flfu fftI nm 1Ftiff foo mr. = m
tee MS you may appoint for the pur-
pose, make a thorough survey of ev-
mant. with view OF making. known
all existing incfficiency and lack OF
Many fields of inquiry suggest them
selves. As the state has grown de-
mands have arisen for boards. bureaus
and commissions TO perform certain
need resulted in the creation OF new
office. From time to time these needs
in many cases ceased to oxist--but the
office remained. This multiplicity of
offices having different policies and
covering the same field has caused ex-
ecbtive and administrative authority to
become more and more decentralized,
until at the present time II is difficult.
unified policy. After such a survey is
made. ali duplication. lack of co-ordi-
nation, unnecessary boards. bureaus
tion substituted.
budget.
1t is highly important that there
should be available in collected form
accurate statietics on the expense Of
our state government. This Leglsla'.
ture should pass n law making 1t n
duty OF the heads of every department
to file with the state treasurer on or
before January first preceding each
tail of the amounts required by their
respective departments for the biennial
period following. The state treasurer
should submit such estimates to the
committee on appropriations for in
Information. Provision should be made
for the publication of these estimates
The committee on appropriations. hav-
ing the treasurer's estimate of avail
able revenue and the. estimates of ex-
pense for the biennial period. would he
greatly facilitated in its work. and aid
IN preventing. over-appropriation Pub
lication of these figures would inform
the public more accurately on the ex-
pense of its state government
Abolish Classified ApproprinfIons
The present system of classified ap-
propriaticns encourages the vice of over
appropriations. AS a result. depart
ments. of government classed below the
second class. and having no mill levy
for their support. in many Instances
have, been without funds for as long
as half the biennial period. TO secure
efficient results. each department of
much revenue ii has to work with
Otherwise. the operations of the de-
departments affected by over-appropri-
atlons are restricted. and In several
instances in the past. have been com
pletely demoralized. II is lust as un-
wise and unbusinesslike for a state
to spend more than It's income as 1t is
for an individual or business concern
to do the same. The states revenues
priations should be kept within the
available amount. A canvass of states
has been made, to determine how many
states have classified appropriations.
and of thirty-five states replying to
the inquiry, only one. Missouri. has any
classification. In Missouri the expense
OF the Legislature Is placed in the sew
enth, and last. class. and as n result
there has not been an unpaid appropri-
alton in thirteen years The. moral is
portionntely by over appropriation.
there viii be litrle danger OF the same
This evil can be overcome by the en-
actment of a law providing that all
appropriations have equal rank ms
claims against the states revenues
nue. to pay all appropriations in fun
each separate appropriation shall re-
ceeive an amount bearing the same ra-
the total available revenue bears to the
total amount appropriated.
Prohibition.
At the November election the people
decided that on January, 1916. this
state is to become dry. The duty now
devolves upon you to carry out the
peoples viii by appropriate and nde-
quate legislation. Great care must be
taken in preparing this law to avoid
legal difficulties and to make 1t en-
forceable. IL n poor law is drafted
wholesale evasion and consequent law
lessness Will follow surely and the
taxpayer of every county viii be COM
PEELED to pay heavy tribute You should
be guided by the experience of other
states. After years of experiment Kan
sas has prohibitory laws that are en-
forceable and effective
Certain rights of purchase and sale
for medicinal and sacramcntnl purposes
are provided by the constitutional
amendment and these rights should be
safeguarded but not extended Whole
salers should not be permitted to sell to
retailers for any purpose whatsoever
Adequate means of enforcement and
punishment for violations should be
provided. Those upon whom the duty
OF law enforcement viii fall untimate-
ly should have the power to discharge
fully this duty. Adequate means Of
law enlargement viii prevent the law