Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-22
SUGGESTIONS OF
GOVERNMENT FOR
DEFENCE COUNCIL
National Body Communicates Its
Ideas to Governor
Townsend.
AS A WORKING PLAN
stafY Correspondence OF Every Evening

the governor turned over to the attorneys
who drew the bill:
T. Membership. (al Appointed mem
bers council should contain from
seven 10 thirty civilian members zap
pointed by the governor and subject TO
removal by himl, without reference 10
party, to represent the activities, indus
| tries and resources of the State. (Ihc
| importance of the appointment OF mem
| bers on a non-partisan basis rs seli-evl-
dent. Civilian members, properly repre-
sentative of the activities industries, and
| resources of the State, are recommended
to effect the mobilization of these elements
now necessary for war purposes. These
civilian members should be fitted for this
task by their experience and should have
ample time 10 devote thereto, SO that
| the burden of this additional war work
shall not fall on the already ovcrburdencd
State executive officers Experience has
shown that the work Of State councils IS
primarily outside OF the normal functions
of the State executive machinery. The
statute should provide the number of
the members and should particularly
designate the activities, industries and
resources with respect 10 which the mem
bcrs are required TO oe expert
o. Ex-ofiicio members The principal
State executive officers should be made
members of tho council eN-otIlcio. (Fhe
presence of executive officers in the council
assures the articulation OF its activities
with those of the State executive de
partmentS and the assistance of those
departments IN It's work
II. Compensation The members Of
the council should serve without com
pensatlon; other than actual travelling
expenses.
Ill Powers and duties The follow
ing powers and duties should be vested in
the council.
(a] General powers The general power
and duty independently to initiate and
carry on within the State measures 10
coordinate the war activities Of the
State with those Of the Federal govern
ment and other States. 10 bring about the
highest effectiveness within the State in
relation TO the war, and 10 meet the
emergencies arising III the State because
Of the existence Of war III Is important
that this general statement Of powers and
duties should tie so worded rs clearly
to show that the council is responsible for
Independently initiating measures for the
welfare of the citizens and the effective
ness Of the work Of the State and to
obviate any lmputatlon Coninlng lis
action and expenditures 70 work expressly
requested by the national or State govern
ment)
,bl Cooperation L The duty 10
cooperate with the Council Of National
Defence and other Federal agencies and
to carry on within the State the plans
of the Council Of National Defence or
other Federal agencies.
> The duty to communicate with
other State councils OF defence and TO
cooperate with them III their work.
Jci Coordination and Capitalization.
l The power and duty 10 coordinate war
activities and supervise the public solicita-
ton Of funds within the state Of voluntary
organizations and committees. This
power is important in order that the
State councils may efficiently coordinate
the work Of voluntary associations engaged
In patriotic service IN the State IN pur-
suance OF the resolutions OF the Council
OF National Defence.J
. The power to call on and direct
the cooperation and assistance Of State
and local governmental bodies and Of
ficials This power and the preceding are
essential TO enable the State council ef-
fectiyelv 10 centraIize and coordinate the
war work Of the State, one of It's most i'm
portant functions
Id Internal organization. /. The
power to adopt rules for It's internal or
ganization including the power to form
committees outside Of its membership
2 The power TO organize subordinate
bodies.
3 The power to appoint without ref
erence TO State civil service law las an
emergency measure only clerks, stenog-
raphers and experts, and TO determine their
compensation.
f. The power and duty to appoint a
salaried full time executive secretary.
I'm all cases, the efficiency Of the State
council has been increased by the APP
pointment of paid executive secretary
TO undertake the direction Of the execu-
tive work The value Of having details
Of the work attended to by person who
Is constantly Al his post, especially on a
council, whose members receive no re-
muneration, Is evident
(c) investigation. l. The power and
duty To investigate at the request of
the State or national government or on
its own initiative such matters Us relate
to the general welfare and safety Of the
State or nation In time Of war, and in con
nectlon Herewith TO issue legal process to
compel the rendition Of testimony and
the production OF documents with pro-
vision for privacy.
This power is essential for effective
surveys, for checking disloyal practices
and for many investigations preliminary
to action BY the council. II is also useful
in securing the execution of the requests
Of the council by folow-up investigation.
The enforcement Of this power is usually
delegated to courts Of record 1t should
be made a misdemeanor TO divlllge any
information gathered by the council in
its investigations except in pursuit Of
the order Of the governor or by a majority
Of the members of the council)
IL Reports i. The power on its own
initiative to report TO the governor or
the Legislature and to recommend legisla-
uon.
2. The duty to report at regular in
tervals to the governor and through the
governor to the Legislature at each ses-
sion and TO render to the appropriate State
authority full account Of the expenditure