The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-21

The State of Montana financial difficulties. Stewart
has made that clear his able the legislature 1t
careful examinations neither the the
andtor has found it possible to publish his biennial report How
of Montana has spent all the collected in 1916 has deficit
of and starting the new year on credit that is making
This is bad outlook the still
result of prohibition legislation Even the rapid increase
the w, w'" Of the t state ma" % not ct, secure @ the ,
OF taxation should drop to two mills the valuation of the
ton Of the state little $4s7oooooo Should
the constitutional limit in the next two safe would
In wav this financial embarrassment may have beneficial results
drive home many the necessity greater
efficiency in the administration of the state The has already
sbty of coornang the Of effccng
thereby some saving in state expenditures There can be doubt
that the opportunities this direction great Montana
this respect IN the same position most of the other states Even
in their administration and from the expenditure OF public
money Investigations made recent several states such
naon have learned administer public affairs
economically and efficiently! The outlook however encouraging
efficiency much they do Only fifteen
"n in state an" s @ s Tue All "a" ] fr % hn wa
little dcccn and honesty But we have made rapid strides since and
The stho of achieving to We
know that no state municipal administration its work
hold State after state has found out that must rely expert
service expert management aud public
@ nave been rsGsze as the foundation stones efficient
Wisconsin, Colorado and other states have passed comprehensive civil
service laws in the decade and the rapidly
to follow the example of the Older The quicker they eliminate
partisan politics from public administration the will they
the benefits OF wellorlcrcd and government.
The demand for however must not be misintepret 1t
the elimination of the greatest
results at the lowest possible But cutting
say expenditures does the curtinct OF the
activities of During the last years cry
raised all the country against the high government
bureau OF census IN report published in 1913 showed that between
1903 and 1913 the expenditures Of the AZ
over 100 per cent The capita cost of for all the
from 81 II 1903 to 1927 in 1913 "a
to accurately what has been the corresponding
expenditures OF the State of Montana Though both the state auditor
and state published reports though
we have state accountant the financial reports
in such shape to furnish the facts readily. dollar
to dougnu in thousand could Give am intelligent
of conditions the state on the basis of the
reports which published One of the first public
Importance which the people Of Montana should insist upon
organization OF the system OF state accounting and the adoption
more logical form OF financial That would be important
step in the direction of efficiency and economy.
Though difficult exactly growth the expenl
u1Hs OF the State OF Montana it safe that
has been considerable Some of this have been
nent the result of deeper which changed
attitude towards governmental action We have pay for o
nnt to do We have imposed duties upon m
factory inspection accident Insurance. rate regulation
new expenditures which the government only from Increase,
revenues No one has invented which could n
who looks to the for many new services shon
gr.ciolisy bear his share OF the increased
The pep" of Montana particular that for som
me " come e government expenditures must continue grow
not only absolutely but relatively This bcacsc as new State
Montana has to organize its machinery more rand
an the growth OF population 1t like industrial plant wc
has to make considerable initial otays order get started r;yh
Our spirit besides, such demand expansion of or t.
government Even when the state pnched and
body talking economy the legislature is swamncd WITH HI
nyoyng greater governmental activity pereased
We normal schools for the farner~
buildings better facilities for erpa1s better ad
etc. etc These demands from being extrayapnnt W. @
all we want The question is it, Are we in po
L