Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-01-30
CONSOLIDATION OF
Departments PLANNED
Over 50 Departments to Be
Merged Under II Heads
or Boards

A plan of consolidation and abolition
of state commissions and boards, sug-
gested by Senator Barrett, and virtual
ly approved by the senate committee
on consultations last night, win save
the state $l,OO0,OOO biennally. The
plan is now in the hands Of the house
committee.
Savings are made principally in over.
head expense. Twelve departments are
provided which are to do the work Of
probably more than so now in existence.
One department is the Board of Con.
troll, which will remain as at present.
The other departments are Education,
Finance, Labor, Public Utilities, State
Engineer, Insurance Commission, Board
Of Health, Agriculture, Animal Indus
try, Land, Water and Forest, and Game.
The departments suggested and
duties are as follows:
No. l. Board of COntrOl-No change.
No, 9. Department Of Education
Consisting of five members (of which
the Superintendent of Public Instrue.
tion shall be ex.officio member) to be
appointed by the governor. One from
each congressional district and one
from the state at large. Duties: To
take over all the boards or commissions
pertaining to state school matters.
No. 3. Department Of Finance
Duties: All matters pertaining to the
State Treasurer's office and to take
ever the State Banking Department.
No. 4. Department of Labor--Con.
sisting Of two directors to be appointed
by the governor. Duties; All matters
now handled by the Labor Commission
Industrial Welfare Commission, Indus.
trial Accident Commission and Board
of Inspectors of Child Labor, the pres.
ent Labor Commissioner to be retained
as one Of the directors during the term
for which he has been elected labor
commissioner with supervision over the
inspection Of factory and workshops
now performed By ~ four COMMISSIONS
No, 5, Corporation Department, o.
| Department Of Public Utilities. (Rail
road Commission Duties: All mat
ters now handled by the Railroad Com
mission together with those handled by
the State Tax Commission.
No. G. State Engi1eer's 3 Department
--Duties All matters now handled by
his office and to take over the STATE
Highway Engineers duties and afte
the expiration Of the present Stat,
Engineers term the State Engineer Il
be appointed by the governor.
No. 7. Insurance Commission--Re
commenting that the Corporation Com
missioner's duties be added to this de
partment.
No. 8. state Board of Health--Du
ties; In addition to its present dutie
the board be delegated to take owe
the Dairy and Food Commission 30 fa
as they relate TO enforcement Of law
relating to foods.
No. 9. Department of Agriculture
Duties: Take over the duties Of tn,
State Fair Board, Horticultural Board
, Pure Seed Board "possibly others.'
: No. 10. Department Of Animal In
) dustry or State Board Of Animal In
dustry-Duties: To take over the worl
Of the State Livestock Sanitary Board
Stallion Registration Board and tn
duties Of the Dairy and Food Commits
sioner, so far as they relate to dair,
cattle Of the state. The present com
missioner to be continued in the worl
during his term Of office.
No. II. Department Of Land, Wate
and Forest--Duties; All matters nov
handled by the State Water Board
Desert Land Board, State Board o
Forestry and possibly others.
No. 12. Department Of Game-Witl
three game commissioners consisting o
the Governor, state Game Warden an,
Master Fish Warden. The State Gam
warden and Master Fish Warden to b.
appointed by the governor and remov
able by him at his option.