Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-01-12
NEEDS OF STATE REVIEWED
BY GOVERNOR
Continued from Page One

the legislators to keep always before
them the question of cost. There is
grave question in my mind" he said,
las to whether or not the state can
afford to make the rapid progress
recommended by the educational
survey commission. l am sure we
will all agree that we desire to have
our educational institutions properly
maintained. | doubt the ACCESSIBILITY,
however, of making the progress so
rapid as to call for the expenditure
of almost twice the amount of money
in the next two years as compared
years" He also expressed doubt as
to 1.-The ACCESSIBILITY of placing the
five institutions under the control Of
one board of regents" and hoped for
a "fair and permanent solution of
this most important question"
The various state departments
were then reviewed, the governor
especially urging an appropriation
for the construction of woman's
building at the penitentiary.
In his discussion of the industrial
insurance department, he rccounted
tho shortage and the Gillies' trials
and requested the appointment of a
special committee to investigate the
department. He renewed his recon-
mendation for just "first aid and
medical attendance" bill.
Referring ito the highway depart
ment, he approved Commissioner
Aliens recommendation that 25 per
cent Of the surplus of all automobile
license fees be placed in the public
highway fund to be used for the
maintenance and repair Of state high
ways, instead of being turned over
to the commissioners of the different
counties. He also approved the rec
ommendation that no new state roads
be established until the present sys-
tenn is completed and paid Commits
sioner Allen the high compliment:
There is no person in the state
better qualified to outline the high
ways upon which the appropriations
for the next two years shall be ex-
pended than the state highway COM
missioner"
State Auditors Office.
| His recommendation for an exam
ination of the state auditors office
was made because there is no record
of such an examination having been
made since the state was organized"
and "the examination ought to cover
period Of not less than eight years"
He said further:
"In the state auditors Office is filed
the original voucher covering every
payment made by the state for all
purposes. These vouchers cover In
detail the items in payment for
which q warrant is issued. 1t has
been the rule of many of the state
departments to keep no detailed du-
plicate vouchers in their files. Even
where such a detailed duplicate
voucher system has been followed by
departments, the duplicate voucher is
but a copy Of the original. While a
system of bookkeeping must be main
tanned by the state auditor and also
the other departments of the state,
the original voucher is the best evi-
dence of the purposes for which the
funds have been expended. AS these
are filed with the state auditor anc
he passes finally upon the correctness
of the claims of all the departments,
the legislature would be following the
line adopted by all large corporations
in authorizing a thorough examina-
ton of the state auditors office. AS
the bureau of inspection and super
vision of public offices is under the
direct control of the state auditor,
tho examination of the Office ought
not to be in it's hands. Experts not
regularly employed by the state
should be engaged to do the work"
He recalled that four years ago he
had urged the abolition of the bureau
of inspection, in the auditors office
Discussing that department in his
message this year. he declared that
during the past four years many OF
the reports have been so strongly in
correct as to render them practically
useless" referring to examinations OF
!. state departments. He cited particu-
larly a report on the Ellensburg Nor
NAL school, the state fisheries depart
: ment and the industrial insurance de-
partment. Then, after pointing Out
. that the bureaus inspections of the
cities, counties and school districts
} had cost the taxpayers hundreds Of
thousands of dollars" since it was or
, ganized, he said:
Proposes New Plan.
, IT believe the needs of the state
, would be better served if this burea,