Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1915-01-07
The Appropriation Bill.

| Governor Alexander points to the
methods followed in the past by the
legislature in presenting the appropria-
tion bill to the Legislature about the last
day of the session. This he states gave
the governor no opportunity whatever
to either approve or disapprove of items
therein, and the Legislature had no OPP
portunity to correct the errors of the
executive.
He recommends that the appropria-
ton bill be passed and presented to
him at least 20 days before the end of
the session, which will give the COVER
nor time to-investigate each item and to
approve or disapprove them, and it will
also give the legislature the opportunity
to exercise its prerogative given by
the constitution.
Previous appropriations, made in
lump sums, are criticised and condemn.
ed and the governor states that the
budget plan should be substituted, and
in the appropriation. for each depart
ment of the state every item should be
set forth down to the smallest, signify
ing for what it is appropriated, for
what expended, the amount of money to
be paid each employee, and the number
of employees.
Nepotism.
No public officer, beginning with the
governor IS office and ending with road
overseer should. be allowed to practice
nepotism. In other words to employ
relatives, either by marriage or blood
in any department of the state, county,
municipality or school district, and the
governor further states such an OPP
portunity to build up an aristocracy of
office holders, a close corporation to
spend the public money should be pro-
hibited and severe penalty attached
to violation thereof.
No State Bonds-Fewer Offices.
No bonds should be issued at this
session of the Legislature for any pur-
pose, says the governor and he sug-
gests that the state can get along with
out an migration commissioner, and the
tax commission should be abolished on
account of its uselessness
Fewer Boards.
State boards, termed by the COVER
nor, as buffers between the executive
and the people should not exist The
bank examiner and state engineer are
officers directly responsible to the ex-
eeutive and the same rule should pre-
vail as to other departments. Abolish
useless boards wherever they exist.
Consolidation of Departments.
1t is also suggested that many de-
partments may be consolidated to a
beneficial advantage. AS an illustra-
ton, the state board of health, with an
appropriation of 500 ,140 and the dairy,
food and sanitary department with an
appropriation of 5000 should be con
ISOLATED, which has been tried with
good specess in older states, A compe.
tent physician should head the depart
ment and instead of an appropriation of
! $63. l+0, which is the total of both, 1872
600 would be ample, thus saving $3l,-
400.
The archaeological station now locat-
ed in the state capital should be re-
tanned but the chemical department
should be removed to the state univer-
sity at Moscow, where chemical work
could be done with splendid benefits to
the students of the university.
Bank Examiner and Insurance Com
missioner
The bank examiner with an appro-
priation in 1914 of $24 800 and the
insurance commissioner with an APP
preparation of $11,5Oo, totaling $780,
300 should be consolidated, says Gov
ernor Alexander. and the head of the
department should be competent
banker. He should have an assistant to
handle the insurance work, a deputy
and a stenographer. Four would be
sufficient to take care of the work and
$4,000 could be saved.
Veterinary Department.
The appropriation of SOL $50 can be
ctH down to $4,000 with no decrease
in efficiency to this department says
the governor, Bounties on predatory
animals should be paid by the various
counties instead of the state. The
veterinary department, health Depart
ment, pure food department and public
utilities commission should be entitled
to free transportation just as railroad
officials are and the governor recon-
mends law providing for this.
Horticulture.
$4,000 instead of the former appro-
priation of $4,000, is sufficient for the
department of horticulture. The fish
and game department should be thor