The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-08-15

does. ana OF COuSe the success OF
each department is dependent entire
ly upon the ability of the man who is
at the head of it.
1--WE have serving in that capacity
today men who are worth $4,000 per
annum to private business concerns
but whom induced to give portion
of their time at certain financial
sacrifice to the public good. When |
selected the present men | bore in
mind that man who was not worth
at least $4,000 per annum to himself
was not sufficiently capable man to
conduct state business. In order to
obtain them for state work, it was
necessary to make apublic service ap-
peal
"Do YOU know that of the men who
apply at this office for state appoint
ments of one sort and another, about
Us per cent are derelicts, failures?
And vet they feel terribly put out be-
cause we cannot see fit to give them a
position of public trust. Men in
capable of making business success
| for themselves cannot expect to-
handle the business of the state.
Cabinet Worth While.
commissioners as a cabinet is an in
spiration. Every commissioner gives
a report of the work of his department
during the preceding month upon the
conclusion of which, his report is
made the subject of general discus
sion and questioning. Such meetings
are coming to be looked forward to
and l am certain, will become vital
factor in properly conducting state
business. Never before have depart
ments been correlated in Idaho in this
manner. Cooperation and co-ordi-
nation has succeeded rivalry and petty
jealousy.
when the next legislature meets,
the committee on finances and ap-
preparations will have submitted for
its benefit and information, detailed
report of expenses probable in con-
Quoting the business of each particu-
lar department. Heretofore legisla-
tive bodies have selected men on ap-
preparation committees who OF neces-
sity could not be familiar with the
financial requirements of any particu-
lar phase of state business. Con-
fusion, general inefficiency and bun
glesome apportionment of state funds
resulted. But with the present budget
system, such a committee will have,
for the first time, an accurate, con-
sentative and detailed report available
from every department of the amount
of money likely to be required in the
following biennium.
Private Business Basis.
mo private business could long
continue and conduct their operations
after the methods employed in the
past by Idaho. We believe that with
the budget. system, we have taken a
long step toward placing the govern
ment of the state OF Idaho on bust
ness basis which compares favorably
with that of the average corporation.
I'm the past, the only reason that
Idaho and every other state govern
ment was acapable of continuing their
business was because they were
backed by inexhaustable capital which
they could draw upon in increasing
amounts to meet deficiencies caused
by poor business methods simply by
increasing the tax levies. The budget
system is a real step forward in con-
Quoting state business.
Practical Benefits.
Asked if any particular recent state
events had transpired to indicate the
increased efficiency of a responsible
form of government, Governor Davis
replied:
Undoubtedly, but for the reorgani-
cation of the land board, the reclama-
ton department and the inclusion of
the state engineer as an officer in that
department, the water shortage situa-
ton in southeastern Idaho this sum-
mer would have resulted in serious
trouble. Had we been confronted with
continuous string of committees
from that section which under the old
| system would have necessitated a
series of land board meetings, mud
ding discussion, an inability to get
facts and figures and a necessity to
investigate thoroughly the law in the
matter before making a decision, the
situation would have passed to such
point that anything the land board
might have done would have proven
Intellectual
"In spite of high feeling and all
acute situation which meant inevitable
loss to considerable number of farm
ers of that section, the problem was
expeditiously and satisfactorily
handled this year. 1t was settled
without great difficulty on its legal
merits in spite of council emanating
from some influential men in that
section that headgates should be
blown out and all available water
utilized by those who could; get It.
Only. co-ordinated department
familiar with the questions involved
AMI authority to act, averted a real
catastrophe.
Collect Old Investments.
another specific instances is the
work that the department of public
investments is doing in cleaning up
the state financial records and placing
the state loan department on a purely
business basis. One farm on The Boise
bench upon which $4,000 was origin
ally loaned, has never paid the state a
single cent and the state has been
obliged to pay the taxes. That $15,OO
investment has swelled to SIS,