The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1915-03-05
EXPECT GOVERNOR
TO AID. in PASSING
EFFICIENCY BILL |.
Friends Of Measure Say Chief Execu-
tive Of State Will, Send Special
Message to Legislature.
IS SPECIAL ORDER FOR MARCH 10
Fear Of Decreased Appropriations
Said to Have Silenced Department
Opposition Expense the Same.

- IL 4S cApSCCcu Iudt 0OVC4 AOA w LII :
field S. Hammond will be of help in
la final "whirlwind" campaign for the
passage of the. economy and efficiency
bill A special mes
sage from. the governor, urging the
passage of the bill in practically its
present form, will be read in both
houses of the legislature within the
next week, it was reported today:
Opponents of the bill heard today
of the coming message, and expressed
the opinion that it will tend to draw
party lines in the legislature and
Fstiffen the backs of those unwilling
to swallow the bill whole at this time
It is an unusual thing for COVER
nor to interject advice to the legis-
lature in, the midst of session, and
the last time it was done when Gov
ernor A. o. Eberhart demanded the
passage of state utilities bill. The
effects of that message were disas-
trously politically. H.
Special Order March 10. ~.
The friends of the commissions s
bill, however, believe ringing mes
sage from the governor will have
great weight with the legislature
The special house committee which
has the bill, after a session of several
hours last night, brought in a re-
port today recommending the bill to
pass and asking that it be made
special order in the house for Wednes-
day, March TO-, at p. m.
The committee took similar action
Saturday night and was to report
Tuesday, but instead Chairman 4. c..
Spooner asked for an extension of
time. It was granted, for 15-day
period, but between Tuesday morn
ing and Wednesday evening the for
ces were rallied and, it is under.
stood, assurances were received that
the governor would lend his active
support. ~ =
Swing Appropriation Club.
r State house officials in some cases
have changed their attitude toward
the bill. Active opposition to it has
been stilled in several cases, it is
infc iofS
may suffer. The friends of the bill
are in control Of the house appropria-
tions committee, which is the umpire
to pass on all requests for increased
department allowances and higher
salaries. Either this committee or
the senate finance committee can ex-
ercise veto on any increases. While
the two houses have to agree on the
bills, it is almost impossible to get
an increase where either house takes
a stand against it. The appropria-
-tions club is a most effective one.
The special committee of the house
inserted in the bill salaries for the
new offices it creates. All directors
of departments, as the bill went to
the house today, are to receive $4,000
a year.
Expense Probably Unchanged.
Passage of the bill would not re-
duce state expenses, it is admitted,
except on the assumption that the
new officials would insist on econ
omy. .'.~ .#.@. -
State Auditor J. A. o. Preus has
been working for weeks on the an
swer to Senator George H. Sullivan's
resolution asking an estimate as to
the money that will be saved by it..
The Preus figures, based on esti-
mates, show that expenses under the
new plan will be about the same as
they are at present. They will be
reported in detail to the senate
shortly.
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