The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-02
REPUBLICAN PARIya0
BECOME VERY LIBERAL
ElIhu Roots Tanner Plan viii Be Re-
ported TO Convention NJ Meeting
Next Wednesday.
PROGRESSIVE LEADER TO ATTEND
q. O. p. Delegates Say Roots Fiat
footcd Espousal of Reforms Is 10
show ProgressiSes They Are We'll
come to Return To Party.

Albany, N. Y. August 1.-Elihu
Roots strenuous advocacy OF the Tan
ner plan to reorganize the State gov
eminent and the Stimson plan TO save
$4,000 in the retirement of the State
debts, and providing for an executive
budget followed promptly upon the
visit here Wednesday of Douglas Rob-
inson, the leader of the Progressives
in this State, and Chauncey J. Ham
din. the Erie County Progressive lead
err Prominent Republican delegates
to the constitutional convention de-
clared tonight that President Roots
flat-focted espousai Of the reforms
was prompted by a desire TO show the
Progressives that they were welcome
20 return TO the Republican party and
that the constitutional convention was
ready 10 indicate that the Republican
party had determined to become even
more liberal than the Progressives.
The Tanner plan, which Will be re-
ported to the convention next Wednes-
day. provides for the election only OF
the governor, the lieutenant governor,
the attorney general, and that State
comptroller. Thus Is accomplished
the reform desired by the short ballot
advocates, as the Secretary Of State,
the State treasurer and State negi-
neer are eliminated as elective Of
ficers.
The governor is TO have a cabinet
appointed by him. with the confirma-
ton of the Senate. composed of the
heads OF executive departments, TO be
known at the Department of tSate.
department of Taxation and Finance,
Department of Public Works, Depart
ment of Health, Department of Agri-
culture. Department of Charities and
Corrections. Department of Banking
ana insurance. Department of Labor,
Department of Conservation.
Department of Justice.
In addition, there Is to be a depart
ment of justice, the head OF which
will be the attorney-general, elected
for the same term as the governor,
which will be four years after 1918.
He will have charge OF all the legal
business OF the State for all depart
ments. including those which now
have big legaA. stats. Independent OF
The attorney-general's Office, like the
excise department
Then there WIN be a department
OF audit and control, the head of
which will also be elected for the
same term as the governor II will
be exclusively an auditing office. and
will have nothing TO do with the as
sessnent and collection of taxes as
now. 1t will be his main duty to
audit and verify the financial trans
actions Of the State. and no execu-
tive or administrative duties shall be
conferred upon the comptroller ex-
.cept TO accom- plish such purpose
Although the heads OF the execu-
tive departments will be first appoint
ed with the consent OF the Senate, the
governor may remove them without
the sanction of the Senate. The Leg
islature will fix their salaries.
The Secretary of State will be the
head of the Department OF State and
he will perform practically the duties
of the present Secretary OF State, ex-
cept that the automobile bureau will
be taken away from him.
Wipe 0at whitman's Plan.
The head OF the department of taxa
tion and finance will be the treasurer
of the state. and he will take over
most OF the duties of the comptroller.
He will have charge OF the receipts
and disbursements of the State. treas
ury, including the corporation, inhert-
lance. automobile and all other taxes.
He will also have the inspection and
supervision OF any State board OF tax
commissioners which may be provided
for by the legislature. Governor Whit
man has Just established a new State
commission which will be practically
wiped out by this plan.
A superintendent OF public works will
be the head of the department of pub
lie works and he will have charge of
the canal and good roads construction
and maintenance work and the con-
.struction fall public buildings. thus
doing away with the State engineer.
the State architect and the State high
way commissioner
The Department of Health is prac-
tically left as It is. and it's head will
be the commissioner of health as at
present
commissioner OF agriculture will
continue to be head of the department
of agriculture. as at present
secretary of charities and correc-
lions will be head of that department,
and Will have the power of inspections
and supervision of institutions for the
feeble minded and insane and reforma-
tories, reform schools and prisons and
charitable institutions. This secretary
will have charge OF all expenditures
for these institutions.