The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-01-04
recommendations Result of Experience

ACCOMMODATIONS Result OF experience.
The recommendations / shall make
are not based on theory or heafsav but
are conclusions ] have reached by daily
contact of over fourteen years with
the business of the state.
Our large private corporations are
successful not because of the efforts
of some particular individual, but be-
causc'of the united efforts Of a number
of persons, each of whom is held re-
Sponsible for some phase of the cor
poration S activities. An individual.
not a group of employees, must render
account and pay the penalty if his
stewardship is not satisfactory. The
modern state is business corporation
and should be run as such. Individ-
uals, not boards or commissions, should
be held to account by the taxpayers.
BY imposing upon one officer duties
now being performed by one or more
boards or commissions, such an officer
will require assistance, but each officer
much be held responsible for the acts
of the state $ employees under him.
AS the heads of the numerous de-
partmcnts of 4 private corporation are
advised and directed by its president
and directorate, the heads of state de
Partmcnts should be under the exccu-
tive and board to advise and act with
him.
Board of State Control.
l am of the opinion that in addition
to the six elective state officers. con
stitutional and statutory, the central
executive authority should he vested
in a board of state control, composed
of the governor, the commissioner of
agriculture and forestry, the director
of state institutions, the purchasing
agent and the state engineer, the gov
cruor acting as chairman of the board
aud his secretary Of civil and military
affairs as its secretary and recording
officer. Appointments made by the
governor should be subject to the ap-
proyal of the board of control, except
appointments of members of the pub
lie service commission, the commission
err of taxes, the bank commissioner and
the members of this board, and these
officers should be nominated bv the
governor and confirmed by the senate.
This board, with the chairmcu of the
finance committee of the senate, the
ways and means and appropriation
committees of the house, should per
form the duties now imposed on the
budget committee. The board should
/ also assume the duties of the board of
Ipuhhc printing. The governor should
have the power to remove any execu-
tive officer appointed by him and con
tirmcd by the senate or approved ly
the board. who in his Judgment Is not
properly performing the duties OF his
Office. This board of control should
meet at least once each month, assume
the duties now performed by the board
of visitors to state institutions, and
also have the powers of visitation and
investigation over all institutions re-
ceivmg state aid, directly or Indirectly
and if, i'm the opinion of the board
moneys derived from the state are not
being properly expended, suspend fur
thcr payment thereof until satisfied that
the fault has been corrected. They
should receive no further cmulment
than their official salaries, but should
j he allowed their actual and necessary
/ eXpcuscs. The salaries of the chiefs of
the different departments should be
fixed by statute but the number OF
employees allowed to each department
( the purpose of their employment and
their compensation should be in al
eases determined by the board Of con
troll Each institution, department on
Office should receive Il fixed appropria
tion for its support and out Of TIN,
fixed appropriation should bc paid every
expense incident to the conduct OF the
institution, board or office, including
even the printing of its biennial
report. The board should require
monthly reports of all work done anc
the substance of these reports should be
given monthly to the public.
1. State Treasurer.-Th salary OF
this official should bc $4,000. His
duties as treasurer should be the same
as at present; and in addition thereto
Iif it is thought best to continue the
department of weights and measures
he should act rs chief ofthe bureau o.
weights and measures and, subject t.
the approval of the board of control
appoint such. inspectors as may. seen
best.
2. Secretary of state.-The salary
of this official should be - 900 as sec
ltldlN VI NltIts ,NVV is tNltI OF III
bureau for licensing motor vehicles, an,
$500 as chief Of the bureau Of publicity
and he should also act as a member o
the board Of corporation tax appeals
3. Auditor of Accounts. The salar,
of this official should be $4,000. Hi
duties should bc confined to auditin!
the bills presented against the stat
and further, he should act as q membc
of the board of corporation tax ap
peals.
4. Attorney General.-Thc salary o
this official should be $4,000. Hi
duties should be the same as at pres
emit. He should not have the right t
contract for assistance, legal or other
wise, within or without his office, j
behalf of the state, without the ~
prevail of the board of control or TO
detective service in an amount in eS
cess of $500 in any ease without fiji
approval OF said board
S. Bank Commissioner.-The salar
Of this official should be $4,000. Hi