Semi-weekly herald., 1915-02-15
Stewart Pleads for
Efficient Government
CONTINUED from Page ~

the business Of a great public cor
portion like the state of Colorado The
army Of employees, the methods and
equipment needed TO make this army
efficient have been lost sight of. With
out an appreciation of administrative
problems, without concrete knowledge
Of methods, equipment, or results,
citizen organizations, publicists and
the press in general have assumed to
reach conclusions; to express opinions
ana to formulate these into constitu-
tional, statutory and administrative
law. Without knowledge either as to
organized agencies or public business,
CT as to personal qualifications; with
ont knowing what had been accom-
phshed, or what had been left un-
done. citizens have assumed to elect
and depose, institute and repeal. 1t
las been only recently that the
thought has become current that the
problem of administration of public
corporate business is just as cXaeting,
requires as great ability, initiative
ami lesourcefulness, and as close ap-
plication 10 assure success as the prob
lem of any private corporate admin
istration; that in large measure pub
lie business is administrative and nom
political; that the success of public
administration depends on ability in-
te.iigently to direct and control the
r'ill;nrs OF details rather than ability
to organize and crystallize popular
opinion in support Of political theor-
les.
Let me briefly specify the main de-
fects in the executive branch of our
state government-this is not only
true of Colorado, but practically in
every other state in the union. They
are:
l. Multiplicity CT Independent Of
fees, departments, bureaus, boards,
and commissions.
2. Diversity in form of organiza-
tion, with, however, a predominance
of the board and commission system,
3. Lack of unity and responsibility
everywhere.
4. Lack of an efficient system of
civil service.
5. Lack of definite responsibility.
6. Lack of budget system.
Accordingly, the government of our
state is incoherent through multi
tude of disconnected and unaffiliated
departments and bureaus, over which
neither the governor nor the legisla-
ture nor the people have effective
control. For want of coordination
there is a duplication of work and an
unnecessary number of employees.
A study of the conditions Of Colo
RADIO should concern itself not with
what the state should do so much as
the way we should do it. 1t need
not inquire into the efficiency or hon
esty of individual officers or employees.
1t should not primarily be looking for
graft; it should try to find what is
wrong in the system of government,
not in the work of individuals. 1t
would probably find that the trouble
with the state government lies in its
general organization and methods of
finance, and not in minor details; that
the machine is clumsily and thought
{ lcssly thrown together, and cannot be
improved by any group of men. 1t
would probably determine that relat-
ed bureaus should be grouped into a
few executive departments; that these
executive heads should be appointed
by the governor, giving him in fact
what in theory he has--responsibility
for his administration. BY so doing,
a group of Independent governments
would give place to one state admin
istration. 1t would certainly provide
for merit system properly safe
guarded which should insure the con
tinuation of efficient service. 1t would
certainly provide budget system to
substitute the method for our present
madness. Haphazard extravaganza
would give place to systematic consid-
Grafton of appropriations. The COVER
nor would receive from the depart
ments and submit to the legislature
complete estimates. The legislature
would be relieved of the clamor Of
individual unrelated and biased re.
quests. 1t would dispose of the pres
ent lack Of correlation; compensation
without standards or reference to ca
pacity, overlapping functions, irregu-
lar or entirely absent reports; inef-
fective or entire absence of supervis-
ions; obsolete bookkeeping, inadequate
or absent advice and legislation, and,
generally speaking, an utterly irre-
sponsible and oxtravagant govern
.,ontaI cehop,e