The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-01-08


q temperance legislation or claims to
be in favor of it. Some of our citizens
would prohibit the sale, the manufsc-
of all kinds within the State Others
would prohibit their manufacture and
sale, but not their use. Others would
distinguish .n between spurious liqqSrs
majority, however, apparently favor
the licensing of the sale of intoxicat-
ing Liquors o eithsr by the counties or
am convinced that sooner or later the
people of this State, will pass upon
some kind of a prohibition measure.
county option in place of existing local
option? l hope this question may be
taken up at once and disposed of at
the earliest possible date, so that other
matters of great importance may re-
ceive the attention of members. 1t is
very advisable that this be done be-
cause of the intense feeling and bitter
ness which frequently accompanies con-
sideration of this matter, bitterness
entirely unwarranted by its Importance
any other standpoint. The existence
of such feeling, however, does not make
for the calm and deliberate considera-
ton of measures and such considera-
ton is much needed, especially at this
session. Since nearly every member
knows now what his vote will be, it
matter at any length is either desir-
able or necessary. Whatever deter
mination you may reach upon county
option, / trust that all other proposals
the people of this state will receive
your attention, and that you may be
some measures that will make for tenn
perance. Economic questions are of
great Importance. Social and moral
questions are re 0 OF even greater impor,
they ought not to be relegated to
secondary place.
TO Reorganize Civil Administration.
A matter of great concern and of
far-reaching consequence will come be-
fore you at this session. For many
years students of public affairs and
those concerned in the activities of the
State have believed the civil admins
tration should be reorganiZed. We have
now a number of offices. departments
and commissions acting Independently
and unrelated to each other. There is
lack of coordination and lack of SUI
pervision. Necessarily there is dupli-
sary work. The information acquired
by one commission may be needed by
another or in one of the State offices,
but either because of lack of knowl-
edge in one place that the information
has been obtained in another or because
of a difference of nomenclature or in
the purpose desired and must be Sc
cured again from original sources. The
duplication of work necessitates
large number of employees. If one man
can perform the services required in
two departments, it is a waste to en-
ploy two men. If the men are in the
field. the State must pay not only double
wages but double travelling expenses.
To Secure Greater Efficiency.
But there is matter of still greater
Importance. These commissions, boards,
departments and offices, working along
different lines and ofttimes at cross
purposes, make effort for good govern
ment far less es;o effective than # direct
definite goal. Efficiency is the high
est type Of economy. The purpose of
reorganizing the civil administration Of
this State in October, 1918. appointed
the Minnesota Efficiency, and Economy
citizens of the State, representing all
parts of it geographically. The COM
mission organized and selected its
performed a notable work. Several
months ago it published its preliminary
report and announced that its final re-
port would be ready for the Legisla-
ture of 1915. That report has been pre-
pared and will be brought to your at
tention. 1t proposes three things: First,
a reorganization of the civil administra
ton of this State. Second, the inaugu-
ration Of the merit system for the Sc
lection of State employees. Third the
establishment of budget for use in
connection with appropriations. Now,
it's third Recommendation, the estab-
lishment of budget, will encounter no
sition Every one will pronounce it
good thing. Something toward its
establishment might be done even If
the other recommendations were unap-
proved. but the work would be done
much better, much more effectively. and
be of greater value. If the proposed re-
commission, department or Office for
which appropriation is made or which
has the expenditure of money, would
some time previous to the meeting of
the Legislature makeits estimate of the
amount of money required for its oper-
alton for two years following, and the
any expenditures which. it may have
been directed to make. These estimates,
after an examination by the Governor
and the heads of the various commits
their approval, would constitute one
part of the budget. Similar estimates
many sources of income would consti-
tute the other part Of the budget. The
Legislature in making it's appropria-
t0ns would have before ore It fairly as
and it's means This of course would
be Of great value. 1 hope whatever
you may decide to do in. reference to
this. matter, to place before the next
Legislature something like a budget. 1t
so happens that no time elapses be-
tween the inauguration of the Cover
nor and the meeting of the Legislature,
so estimates must necessarily be made
under the supervision Of the Governor
whose term is ending.
"TO Victors Belong the SpOils.'
But there will be opposition, and very
pronounced opposition, to the first ano
second recommendations of the commits
sion. There is much sentiment for the
doctrine ITO the victors belong the
spoils." 1t is urged that those who
are active in political campaigns, who
give of their time and their means for
recognition at the hands of those candi-
dates when successful, and that prac-
tical recognition is the bestowal of
public Office: It has been the practice
to reward fidelity to party and cam
paign activity with appointment to adj
ministratiye place; In the main we
that policy and especially is this true
in the more conspicuous of the appoint
i've offices: But in many of the less i'm
portant places toward which the scru-
tiny of the public is not directed the
strongest and most efficient men have
not been selected. and often men who
have been removed, to the detriment of
the public service, for no other reason
than their political opinions. 1t is
have been fewer partisan appointments
to Office and partisan removals from
Office in Minnesota than in many other
states. 1t is proposed that, except the
heads of departments and few other
officers, those who desire to enter the
service of the State shall be examined
Qualifications for public service deter
mined by that board. Those found to
possess the necessary qualifications
shall be entitled to place on list of
eligibles, the place. upon such list to
be determined by the ratings received
in the examination Whenever va
cancies occur this non partisan board
will nominate from the eligible list
candidates, and the heads of depart
ments select from them to fill vacancies.
The appointments will no longer be de-
pendent upont party service nor upon
political opinion This will tend to
bring to the service of the State eff
fcient and well qualified employees who
will feel that they cannot rely upon
nnSitinnS denond 1,nor