The Irish standard., 1915-01-16

- AOtOA AAoA AA 0OuIAOIu QO1uuOSOIa
something like this:
Dear Sir: The hotel inspector has
ordered me to put in new floor. One
of your deputies has instructed me to
tear down the building. Which shall
do first?"
In another case, as showing the want
of coordination, the head of one de-
partment says that he has not been
able to carry out highly desirable
agreement with another department
head, because his predecessor got at
loggerheads with the other man about
six years ago.
For the most part, the state Of
ficers do work and consult together
as occasion arises. But If they do not
there is no power to bring them to-
gether; in fact, their offices were pur-
posely organized so that they should
be independent of any authority but
the egislature-which is not In ses-
sion seven-eighths of the time.
AS for control of expenditures, about
80 per cent of the state expenses are
made by bodies over which the govern
ment of Minnesota either has no con-
troll at all or only such control as may
be had by the appointment of new
members of an executive board that
changes once in six years.
Plans of the Commission.
To meet this situation the efficiency
commission proposes and will recon-
mend to the legislature that all activi-
ties Of the state be made subordinate
to one authority.
For all boards having executive au.
thority, single executive, responsible
to the head of the government, is to
be established.
All appropriations are to be made
upon information furnished by these
executive departments - the budget
plan.
Civil service regulations are to pre-
vent the spoils system in the executive
departments. f-.
1t is found that all the activities of
the state may be carried on under six
departments, one of which is not strict.
ly department, but rather group of
constitutional officers.
At the head of the government
stands the governor.
Tho of uauorn1 ic laval om,o.
for ALL
The auditor is financial critic for
all.
The secretary Of state is the record
ing officer and the chief election off,
cial.
General financial duties may be laid
on the treasurer, including:
Receipt and disbursement of state
moneys.
Purchase of supplies for state de-
partments, including printing.
Custody of the capitol and the Of
fees.
The above constitute depart
ment of general administration and
finance.
There follow:
Department of Public Domain.
Department of Public Welfare.
Department of Labor and Com
merce.
Department of Agriculture.
Department of Education.
Except education, each is to be un-
der director, having permanent bu-
reau chiefs under him. Men like the
state forester, the insurance commits.
sioner, the labor commissioner, the
health commissioner, should be re-
tanned in the service. The directors
will be appointed by the governor and
will naturally constitute the COVER
nor's cabinet. The other men will have
expert knowledge of their bureaus or
divisions and will constitute perma-
nent staff.
In each department there will be a
family council Of bureau chiefs.
From such a system cooperation of
all the parts necessarily follows.
Still another form of cooperation is
proposed. Government tends to be-
come bureaucratic, especially when
the heads of the sub-departments are
permanent in their positions. For best
results the public should frequently
be consulted. The legislature comes
fresh from the people, but the legis-
lature is not in session. 1t is pro-
posed to establish with each depart
ment an advisory board, without ex-
ecutive authority, to consult, advise,
bring in fresh ideas, keep in touch
with the people.
Executive boards are to be abolish.
ed. They stand between the several
departments and unified scheme. Ad-
visory boards are to be retained. They
keep the government from getting in
q rut.
In fact, in nearly every department
there Is need Of q board because
quasi judicial or sub-legislative duties
have been laid on the government by
tcoauause % Pass q .,.