The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1915-03-18
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ECONOMY CRITICISM
John Stone Pardee, Secretary of Ef-
ficiency and Economy Commission,
Talks on Gordon Bills.
IS GLAD ATTACK MADE IN OPEN
Is of Opinion That New Plans Would
Render Commissions Work Useless
Would Make Governor a Clerk

Would Make Governor a Clerk
Many points of Importance are
brought out by John Stone Pardee,
secretary of the Economy and Eff
cheney commission, which framed
the governmental reorganization bill
now pending in the state legislature,
in his reply to the criticism of the
measure made by Samuel G. Iverson
former state auditor. The Iverson
criticism to the scheme was made in
a letter written to Representative
Sam Y. Gordon.
"At last some one has been found
with courage to come out in the open
and oppose the plan presented by the
efficiency commission" said Mr.. Par
dee. "On behalf of the commission,
which has courted criticism,I wish to
thank Mr.. Iverson.
Make Governor Clerk.
In further commenting on the criti-
cism of the former state auditor, Mr..
Pardee describes clearly just what
the Gordon substitute bills contain.
He said that they make the governor
a sort of a clerk for the appropria-
tions committee of the legislature,
the duties of which is to get up
"phantom budget" In addition, he
said:
Commissions Work Useless.
"He believes the commission went
too far. 1t should have confined it.
self to such program as is outlined
by the Gordon committee bills. With
all due respect to Mr. Iverson-for
whom l have great respect--there
was no need of thirty men to devote
their time to such a task The mat
ter contained in these bills was IA
miliar to the last legislature. With
perhaps one exception these bills
could have been drafted over night
almost any time! Unless there was
a demand for further study the COM
mission need never have been called
together.
Bills Have Merit.
what sare~these4 bills ?~4There are
five making changes in the depart
ments-giving the custody of the
capitol to the board of control; put
ting hotel inspection in the dairy
and food department.; oil inspection,
ditto; switching the fire marshal to
the insurance department.; putting
the governor directly in charge of
the game and fish commission.
These bills have merit If the leg
islature is going at the problem piece
meal, it will have little difficulty in
agreeing on these measures.
Plan Would Help.
another bill proposes to make the
governor sort of clerk to the ap-
preparations committee to get up Il
phantom budget. 1t would help. 1t
would give the legislature informa-
tion better digested than any it can
get now.
"The last proposes to establish a
state contabulary which will give all
the beauties of the present boiler in
spection system and magnify the ex-
cellence of the oil inspection system
as it has been practiced. Each dis
trict inspector will report to eight
bureaus-five if the foregoing bills
are adopted.
Would Oppose Provision.
IF l were reformer, I should
deprecate the provisions of that bill
which destroys the civil service pro-
lection now given by a law to the
factory inspectors and dairy and food
inspectors, in the light of Mr.. Houk's
testimony that civil service protec-
.tion has doubled the efficiency Of his
inspection force.
but that is a detail. Mr.. LIVER
sons fundamental criticism of the
civil administration bill that it COW
ers too much grounds It proposes
one administration instead of a mul,
ttude of independent little govern.
ments.
Forty Not Counted.
mot counting some nebulous
boards and a few excresences, we
have about forty state governments
Mr.. Iverson does not see The Cor.
don bills would reduce the number
of them by five and Mr.. Iverson i:
satisfied with that. They affec
about per cent of the states bust
ness and Mr.. Iverson is satisfied will
that. They promise a saving O
about 1 per cent in state expenditure
and Mr.. Iverson is satisfied will
that.
Iverson is Satisfied.
"They leave forty or fifty indie
pendent governments still withou
any direct supervision and Mr.. Iver
son is satisfied with that.
"They propose that the governo
shall submit program for the de