Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-05-05
WAR ON USELESS


DEPARTMENTS
We have been convinced Tor some
time that, sooner or later, the con-
scrvative people of Virginia VIII
arise in their might and demand the
abolition of useless Offices and the
consolidation of others. The conven-
inc of the last constitutional conven-
t;on was hailed with delight by many
who supposed that an instrument
would be prepared which would be a
great Improvement upon the Under
wood constitution, which was forced
,,pon the Old Dominion in 1869 at a
time when the people were ready TO
adopt any reasonable code OF laws IN
order to get back into the federal
Rlnion. After pruning that Instrument
|of two Objectionable features, 1t was
adopted by large majority But 10,
and behold, those entrusted with the
sacred work of framing the new IN
strument failed entirely to give salts
faction, and realizing this fact, 1t
WAS not submitted to the people for
ratification, but proclaimed. This act
has been followed by the multiplied
tion of offices by the legislature.
CONSERVATION reigns among the
Various boards and minor officers IN
the State service by reason OF
Communication in a Roanoke paper
Inv R. Holman. Willis of that city.
member of the House of Delegates,
land last session floor leader OF that
body. Mr.. Willis says the time has
come when there should be halt,
consolidation, centralizing and uni
.fication of the boards and the merg-
ling of the duties thereof to the heads
/ of departments which are charged
with a general supervision and dlrec-
tion of such affairs.
Mr.. Willis says:
The chief duty of the coming State
Democratic Convention when 1T meets
in Roanoke will be to declare against
the growing tendency to multiply use
less or superfluous boards and ofh-
ceS. I.
For wears there has been great
popular clamor in the State against
the multiplication of Offices. There
are great number of closely related
branches of governmental work that
1lave been divided into different boards
that could and ought to be co-ordi-
mated and correlated so as to work d
great saving for the State.
For instance, besides the State
Board of Education, which has gener-
al charge of the public education of
1.-THE State, we have in~addition a num-
Ibcr of boards of trustees Of Visitors
lin charge of number of institutions
Hof learning which are supported by
the State. Again we have Il State
Board of Health and numerous mlno'
kboards which have charge Of partl-
crlar institutions maintained by the
Estate, which might properly come un.
der the general scope of the work OF
the State Board of Health. Among
THESE are the boards Of the various
State insane asylums,. the board OF
the cpileptic colony, etc. Instances
might be multiplied ito considerable
Rlencth, but these scrre:-Sto show the
general scope of the system:
AS it is, the head of each COLLEGE
or the superintendent of each asylum
&c the advocate Of mis- particular
r,nch of work, from the employees
IF the penitcntiary to the persons 'n-
raced in educational work. all ap-
neer before the General Assembly
Zach clamoring for as large apnro'
nriation as he can get. There Is nc
vol thought out or correlated plan
nroposed by any person familiar with
the general scope of the States ac'
Invites. :,
: Among the instances that may be
s;ted. it is pointed out, of superflous
oa;ces are the commissioner Of hos.
n;tals. who has practically no duties
tha s secretary of Confederate records
,ubo has nothinr to do ont issue Ger
+;ficates. and the registrar of the
land office, all ct salaries well worth
Zinc to the Stats. and all dom!
work that could easily he incorporat
eJ in another department and be done
by clerk.