Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1915-01-20

adequate safeguards for the future is
a proper subject for consideration
now, however remote trouble OF this
chartcer may appear. There may
be serious constitutional objections
to be overcome in the adoption of
this idea, but intelligent and serious
consideration of the subject can do
no harm.
Nepotism.
The practice of the employment
by public officials of close relatives
has become repugnant to the people.
Our state officials are now ade-
quately paid for the services that
are demanded of them, and in the in
terest of good government it is urg-
ed that o place upon the statutes
a law forbidding the employment by
state and county officers of their close
relatives.
Purchasing Agent.
The annual cost Of the state for sup
plies or its various departments
and institutions is sufficiently great
to justify the employment of a pur-
chasing agent.
At the present time each depart
ment makes its own purchases, and
there is ample proof that ordinary
business prudence is not used in
the states contracts for supplies.
The board of examiners monthly
pass on upwards of one thousand
claims against the state, and, since
the responsibility of determining the
validity of these claims rests with the
board, it appears proper that the
board should have control OF the
purchases of materials at least. II is
therefore recommended that the office
of state purchasing agent be Great
ed, and that such agent be- made an
aminers.
The State Police.
The state government should have
at its command the means of enforc-
ing law and order. l believe, there
fore, in the retention of a state po-
lice, but. except in time of trouble.
the organization should be kept down
to a mere nucleus, around which an
efficient force can be rapidly built
should occasion arise.
At present the state police depart
ment employs a superintendent, an in
spector and four s%ergeants in its reg
ular force. A number of reserves on
special assignment are also in the
field.
The regular force appears TO have
been employed almost exclusively on
the work of the criminal identified
ton bureau, which has become Il val
liable department.
| recommend the abolition of the
position of inspector and the transfer
of the identification bureau to the
state prison to be conducted under
the direction of the warden, who
with the aid of one or two trained
men, can properly perform the work
required with convict assistants. The
police force can then be reduced to
the captain and such reserves as he
may have use for in actual. field SER
vice.
II should be noted that the balance
In the regular and special appropria-
ton made for the support of this de-
partment has been reduced from $751;
1916 for January /. 1913, to $40,-
1O8.O4 on January l, 1915, the reserve
fund created by appropriations made
prior to 1913 having been reduced by
$21, 1882 during the biennial period,
the money taken from this fund hay
ing been used in addition to the eX-
penditure of the appropriation Of $12.-
500 made in 1913 for current expenses.
II is suggested hat an appropria-
ton to take care of current expenses
be made for the next two years, and
that the governors approval be made
n prerequisite TO the mourning OF eX-
pense which will have to be paid from
the reserve balance. which will allow
this balance TO remain unimpaired
for use in emergency only.
Central Clerical Department.
Nearly every department In the
state government Is today provided
by law with certain clerical help. In
a few conspicuous instances the as.
sistance allowed by law is inadequate.
but in the majority of cases the de-
partments are overmanncd with clerks
and stenographcrs.
II is suggested that such positions
provided for in the statutes should
he abolished and that central cleri.
cal department be created with an
appropriation sufficient to enable II
to perform all the clerical work In
the building.
It is easily demonstratable that this
arrangement will result in increased
efficiency and substantial economy.