Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-01-07

called mill tax levies to remain upor
our statutes as they are now, shall
permit all of the present standing
appropriations to stand and shall adj
other appropriations, the result mus
inevitably be that there will not be
enough money to meet the demands
BUDGET.
A budget has been prepared which
will show the requirements Of the
various departments of the state and
also an estimate from the various in
situations as to their needs. The
monies asked for in the aggregate ex
coed any possible revenues of the
state by hundreds of thousands OF
dollars. This is not the proper way
to present a matter of this kind ia
the legislature. As a matter of fact
we have no annual report as to the
whole state of North Dakota. 1t ia
true that We have reports from the
various departments of the state and
the state institutions, but for anyone
to try and arrive at the real cost of
maintaining and supporting the state
government with all of its allied in.
terests, and having from a brief COM
~prehensive report some knowledge az
to the conditions of the whole state,
we have nothing. For instance, the
State of North Dakota has no such
report of its business as may be had
from the Northern Pacific Railway as
to it's business. We should have and
a law should be passed, authorizing
the Governor to name three men who
shall not be connected with any
branch Of the state government, or
with any state institution, and whose
duty it shall be to visit all state in
situations, look into their needs and
determine where economies can be
practiced and make such recommen.
dations as they deem wise. They
should investigate the various depart
ments of the state, analyze their
methods and conditions, and, after a
full ,deliberation, these men should
make a general report to the legisla.
ture, showing what in their Judgment
every branch of the state government
should receive in the way of money
and why. These men would also re-
port as to the probable revenues and
would not make recommendations for
expenditures beyond the anticipated
With such a report it would
be possible for the members of the
legislature to have something com.
prehensive to work to and bills for
appropriations could be acted upon
intelligently. AT least one Of the men
this committee should be an ex-
pert accountant. If the states bust
ness is ever to be conducted upon
the same basis as any other great
corporation, a method along the lines
will have to be adopted.
AS long as the state government con-
sists of isolated units, there is not
much chance for anyone to get a COM
understanding Of the
whole state without a world of trou-
BILE in trying to tie the reports from
the various state offices and state in
situations together, and the present
method of asking each institution and
each branch of the state government
TO make an estimate as to what mon
ey they need simply e that much
money will be asked for than
can possibly be given. If this duty
was delegated to three men who would
first determine the actual revenues
If the state, and then would consider
The requirements of every branch of
The state government and of al state
Institutions, it would give us a re.
port In so comprehensive a form that
Dur legislature could act intelligently
the matter of appropriations, and
earnestly hope that legislation of
his character will be passed at this
session.
ACCOUNTING.
Two years ago the legislature pass.
I'd a bill authorizing the employment
If expert accountants to make an In
7estigation of the states affairs and
% check up the various state officers
md state institutions, municipalities
md counties. The legislature author
zed the expenditure of $15,O0v.0v for
his work. The law continues, but
he appropriation was but for the one
The Temple Webb Company of St.
Paul were employed to do the work
1t the state capitol. They spent many
in the work and went into
each and every department. of the
state very thoroughly. Their reports
ire on file in my Office and ! ask that
/ committee from the Senate and
House be appointed, who shall 60 over
he reports as made and report to
,ou. l suggest that the legislature
appropriate a sum sufficient to con-
.i1ue the operation of this law, to pro-
vide for bringing the state depart
nvestigation of the various state in
'%titutions and of a few of the coun-
les AID municipalities. As to the
and municipalities only three
,r four of each should be examined
~ the experts. This work should be
lone in cooperation with the State
Examiners Office and in cooperation
With county and municipal officers, the
dea being not alone to make the ex-
in the counties and muni-
,ipalities, but to recommend and have
certain books and forms by
he municipalities and counties and
methods as to the keeping OF
he books that shall be used in every
and every municipality, there
~ %lessening the work of the examin.
,rs and creating a uniformity through
,ut North Dakota in all municipalities
md in all counties. l believe that the
work which has been done has been