The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-10-20

and to society, and he may train our
socialist friends SO as to give them
better concepts of civic reform, But
Townley knows the fate of reformers.
lie knows how Bruno was burned at
the stake for publishing some truths
OF astronomy He knows that in try.
ing to advance reform there is dan.
ger in going too fast and hence, he
seems disposed to make haste slowly.
But when the roses come again,
then we shall publish book of Let
tiers. Essays and Decisions.' Then
you may read Of civic reform and of
ways to prosperity and happiness.
There arc ways by which the state
may live and prosper without the levy.
ing OF annual taxes. There are ways
of making public institutions self-sup-
porting and of making public servants
even more efficient than private serv-
ants. Until that is done, until public
service is 100 per cent efficient, there
can never lie any true and lasting
civic reform. 1t ayails nothing to say
that a Judge or other Office holder is
an old-liner or Nonpartisan. 1T does
avail to say that he is 100 per cent
efficient and that, he gives all his
time to the duties of his Office. BIT
as the contrary custom has so long
prevailed. it isgvains to look for civic
reform without some stringent and
persistent measures to advance the
standard of efficiency in public serv-
ice. Hence, it is for Townley and his
newspapers to take a leading part in
advancing the standard. . How many
OF our elected state officers can fairly
claim to be 100 per cent efficient?
How many try to devote all their time
to the duties OF their Office? | know
of two-Thomas,. Hall, secretary of
state, and Kositzky, state auditor.
The members of the board of con-
troll are paid, a good salary, $1,000 a
year, and the law specially provides
that they must give all their time to
the duties "of their Office. Do they all
do it? Do they run the trolley car
to the capitol with the efficiency of
car service by the corporations? Do
they have the car we'll heated and
on time? And why do the employees
of the state have to pay carfare go.
ing to their work in a state convey
ance?, Whoever heard of a railroad
company or street car company charg-
ing employees for going to or return
ing from their work? The reason of
it all is that in state matters there is
no supervision. There is no head.
Every state officer is free to go and
come as he pleases. No one calls
him to time. He is free to work or
play. Nobody cares. The governor
has deputy or secretary and I think
it his duty to keep time on state Off.
GERS and to give the press a weekly
report.
The state board of regents has con-
troll Of the institutions of learning.
The board of control has control of
the other state institutions and of the
capitol and the governors mansion
and the car line to the capitol. And
the governor he has control of them
all and right to remove them from
office. He is the boss of the state.
He is responsible for every wrong.
The truth is that our governors have
been too much disposed to make good
fellows of themselves by letting things
run in slip-shod way and it is high
time for Governor Frazier to get a
big stick and to give US a new deal
md square deal. L.
October 20, 1917. T..