Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-01-15
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! LINCOLN. Jan Ito the Editor Of
The Bee: Governor Morehead's message
Is a splendid example of terse, forceful
| English. and as such should be used in
the public schools as a model. But its
most interesting feature. especially to
the taxpayers. is the demand for economy
and efficiency in the conduct of the
states business. One particular recon-
mendation submitted by Governor More
head deserves consideration above all
others. for 1t points the way for a more
sweeping economy than ever proposed
heretofore. Reference is made to his sug-
gestion that the state establish a state
printing plant at the penitentiary and en-
ploy convicts to do the immense amount
OF printing the state must have each
biennium. IL this IS done the state will
be able to save from $4,000 to $4,000 q
year in wages alone, saying nothing of
the saving in overhead that must be
charged against the state by private firms
now securing contracts for state printing.
But why stop with utilizing the work
OF convicts In the matter OF state print
ing? There are convicts in the state
prison just as competent to perform the
duties OF private secretary to the cover
nor clerks I'm departments, stenograph-
ers. deputies. etc, as there are competent
to do the printing required by the state
The state easily might save 5000 a year
by utilizing some convict's services as
private secretary to the governor An
other $500 a year might be saved bv
giving some convict charge of the food.
drug and dairy department, for Il REQUIRES
less technical training and less book
learning" to be a competent food ana
drug commissioner than it does to be a
competent foreman or manager of a huge
printing plant.
There are some pretty good bookkeep-
ers among the convicts. why not use
them In the state institutions, in the state
offices, and farm them out to private
employers, and in this wise way not onIv
save the state an immense sum in sal
aries, but provide quite a bit for revenue
on the side? There are also six or eight
Jan'tors at the state house whose services
might be dispensed with and their places
supplied by convicts. And will any one
deny that among the 400 convicts there
are enough capable of performing such
services as are required by the legislature
while in session-committee clerks, SER
seants-at-arms. custodians. etc?
Governor Morehead has shown us the
advantages OF electing banker and
business man to the position OF chief
executive Of our fair state. A little in
vestigation will disclose the fact that
there are more bankers In our various
state prisons than there are printers
hence we have another avenue for the
practice Of economy. Let US select from
among our convlct-bankers one to nut IN
charge of the executive branch OF our
state government. thus saving the salary
OF $500, now paid to Governor More
head.
with convict officials in charge. and
convict clerks to assist them. the tax-
payers may be relieved of a burden now
amounting to a huge sum for salaries
alone. Followed along this line puttins
convicts in charge of practically all OF
our state institutions, save In positions
demanding special education and training
ana we not only will have solved our
prison labor question, but we will
also have solved to a great degree the
problem OF taxation. 1t doesn't require
any more brains or time to make good
lawyer or doctor than It requires to make
an equally good master printer.
with convicts doing the state printing
cqnVicts doing the medical work required
oy the state, convicts handling tbe
routine of all the state offices and doing
me clerical work Of the legislature, we
may soon be able to dispense with the
legislature itself, putting convicts in
charge OF our lawmaking. Then the only
expense OF the state government will be
merely the board and lodging OF all state
OFFICIALS and employees. 1 repeat again.
Governor Morehead's message. SO terse
and grammatical as TO leave no room for
suspicion OF its origin. should be care
rully read by every taxpayer.
WILL NJ. MAUPIN.