Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-01
STATE DOCUMENT EpivoR SHOWS
WHEREIN ADDITIONAL MON.
EY CAN BE SAVED.
.FAvoRs CONCENTRATION
OF ALL PUBLICATIONS
Complete Economy Not Possible Under
Present Laws and Amendments Are
Suggested Consolidating Work IN
der One Head-BiIls Now Paid With
out Official Approval.
Special to Times-Republican.


Des Moines, Feb. 1.-Oist Williams,
state document editor. is urging fur
Their progressive legislation in the di-,
rectiOn of economy and efficiency in
the matter of editing, printing and dis
tribution of the publications of the
state. The last legislature inaugurated
g reform Of great value to the state
but it was only a beginning, and the
experience of IA Year and, a half shows
where. substantial improvements can
be made. Leading members of the leg
iSlature have indicated desire to slis-
tain and improve the system by which
thousands of dollars have been saved
to the state. Mr.. Williams early last
week addressed the following letter to
Senator Chase of the ,retrencllment and
reform committee urging action in
harmony with the reform program:
The new law placing the d0eument
department under the state document
editor and charging It's scope was the
result of a prolonged and thorough in
yestigation made by the retrenchment
and reform committee into the best
methods of securing efficiency in the
publication business of the state. The
new system has but barely been put in
operation, but much of what has been
done in establishing this reform has
been under the watchful direction of
the one permanent committee of the
general assembly. Knowing the re-
trsnch1ielit and reform for this adj
4
the members one and all desire that
nothing should be left undone that win
tend to perfect the system.I beg leave
to specially call Your attention to the
recommendation in the report laid on
the desks oftall members a week ago.
Saving of Thousands.
Il These recommendations are in line
with purpose and spirit of the law and
feel sure that IL acted upon there will
be an additional saving Of many thou
SANDS Of dollars to the state, as well as
more nearly the fulfillment of the pri-
mary purpose Of the law-that of en-
HANGING the usefulness of the publica-
tons of the state.
/ tt"T am sure that you will not deem.
it improper if / particularly call the.
attention of your committee to the sug
gestion for concentration at one place,
and under one head all of the publ
cation business of the state. 1t was
plainly the intent this should be done
But law only does this in part.>~There
can not be efficiency If the publica-
ton business of the state is to be-
divided up and scattered about, with
no place where it received attention
as whole. That has long been just
the fault of the system. as have points,
ed out sharply in my report. Every
thing that pertains to the worll-the
orders given, the preparation of copy,
the approval OF final proofs, the selec-s
ton of the paper and the covers. the
supervision of the engraving should
be got together at some point where
accounts could be kept and expert SUI
pervision be given. and the line of di-g
vision between that which is under the
supervision OF the department and that
which is not should be wiped out en-.
tirely. In short, the effort should be
to improve the law so that it would
accomplish all that was intended by
the general assembly. The physical
work in connection with the states
publications is now,.as II long has been
QOEe IN HumDeT OIL ullleTeIit OlllcGS.s
by different persons. or firms. some at
the state capital and some in other
cities, and in some.s.cases orders are
given, the work doneHand bills paid
without even the knowledge of this de-
partment. This should not continue n
II will take pleasure in consulting
with you OF your committee or any
members of the general assembly to
assist in lettering the law and perfect
ing the reform SO well16egun by the
general assembly. l feel very much
that while the measure of success of
the law has been largely because of
the important Innovations introduced.
It he's also, been in pa,ts=in spite OF the
defects of the law, and these e4of the
class that are Inherent in all new and
radical measures.
II assure you and thru YOU the mem
bers Of the assembly that the recon-
in my report We're not
made in any perfunctory manner but
am quite ready to join with you. as