Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-01-12
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ALEXANDER ASKS !.
!. BOARD MERGER
IDAHO GOVERNOR IN MESSAGE
SUGGESTS COMBINATION OF
STATE DEPARTMENTS.
Declares That Large Appropriations
Do Not Produce Efficiency and
That Waste is Not an Element
of Good Government.

Boise, Idaho.-In his message to the
fourteenth legislative assembly of the
state, delivered on January 9, Cover
nor Moses Alexander recommends
that an appropriation of s2,1S4,576
should be sufficient to run the admin
istration of the state during the year,
1918.
He declares that large appropria
tions do not produce efficiency and
that waste is not an element of good
government. What the people demand,
he says, is the reconstruction of the
/ departments of state along lines of
modernism. In order to make any
government efficient, concentration
and Capitalization are required with
responsibility definitely placed. In
our state there has grown up a desire
for multiplicity of boards and com
missioners until today these overshad-
ow the real state government, and the
responsibility is taken from the chief
executive, where it rightfully belongs
and where the people have a right to
look for it, and it is instead placed in
numerous commissions with very lit
tie responsibility"
Gov. Alexander recommends that
there be a consolidation Of several
boards into one. This applies to live
stock, sanitary board and horticultural
board. Health and pure food boards
he would consolidate as also the
banking and insurance departments.
He urges the passage of a corrupt
practice act and modernized ballot;
favors the initiative, referendum and
recall, and the legislature to give the
executive power to appoint senator
in the event that some unforeseen
emergency arises.
Regarding prohibition he does not
suggest any amendment to the pres
ent law, believing that it is such that
if enforced intoxicating liquors will be
banished from the state, but that
should an Official charged with the en-
forcement of the law fail in his duty
that the governor be empowered to
suspend him from office.
workmen's compensation law is
also favored, as is a law providing for
a uniform system of bookkeeping in
the several counties of the state. Good
roads are also favored. AS to recla-
nation he recommends the passage OF
law that will do away with the re-
quirement for an entryman to make
final proof before the land is actually
reclaimed and water furnished suff
cient to raise fair crops and that no
patent should be requested from the
government and none delivered to the
settler until the company has fulfilled
its obligations. He disapproves the
law which permits the state board of
land commissioners to enter into con-
tract with private irrigation schemes
under which the state owns lands and
recommends the repeal of the law.
The governor favors a law that will
permit the loaning of the state money
under what is known as an amortiza
ton plan; approves the rural credits |
scheme of the federal government, |
and the adoption of the Torrens sys- |
tenn of transfers of land titles. A re-
duction in the amount of the bounty |
on wild animals is favored.
To the National Guard of Idaho the |
governor suggests that a vote OF |
thanks be rendered by the legislature |
for their patriotic services to their
state and nation.