Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-01-30

amount of moneys and credits re.
| turned was $419,732,506.00 A one mill
levy on the total value of this prop
erty brings to the state approximate
~ one million dollars.
| By glancing at this budget re-
port, you will ascertain that in near
iy every instance there has been a
request made for an increase in sal
airy. These salary claims are the es-
Inmates of the various departments.
For your convenience and for the
purpose of attempting, at least, to
bring order out of chaos, have
taken the officers and help in the va
rious departments of the state and
classified and grouped them with q
suggested salary.
You will observe that heads of de-
partments recently created are in
some cases drawing double the
amount Of salary Of department
with equal responsibility that was
created some years ago. 1t occurs to
me that the time is. now ripe to clas-
sify and unity the salaries of all state
employees.
Always, there is effort on the part
Of those clothed with the power of
law making to devise ways and
means of fixing responsibility, both
to themselves and the people, on the
part of those who are left to carry
out the mandates of the law
1t is comparatively easy to fix re-
sponsibility on an elective officer. In
our own state, the executive council
composed of the governor, secretary
of state, auditor of state, and treas
urer, have been clothed with certain
responsibilities and in certain mat
ters at the present time act some
the affairs of the state.
The members of the executive
council are now ex-officio members
OF the State Board of Health and ap-
point such board. This is an arrange
ment which is very. satisfactory, and
centers responsibility with the exec
utiye council and thus elective offices.
At the same time, it makes it pos
sible for the executive council to have
expert advice and counsel, and to
know what is being done in the de-
partment.
l therefore suggest that each de-
partment head be more closely tied
to the executive council and that they
have voice, in the construction Of new
policies that are to be initiated by
the department. This will make it
possible to have a wider grasp Of the
states business, and am sure will
tend to greater efficiency, for with
this authority they will be able to
stop whatever there is of overlapping
in departments.
In this connection, want to sug-
gest that the various departments be
furnished help for the business under
ordinary conditions, and that the ex-
ecutiye council be given fund for
extra help which can be used as
there is demand, and that they be
given authority to change help from
one department to another to take
care of the peak load.
Taxes are necessary In any form
of government. That they shall be
equitably distributed is a prime neces-
sity in representative form of gov
eminent
Under the present arrangement,
the executive council sits as an equal.
izing board. They are clothed with
authority now to eQualize between
counties but cannot equalise as be-
tween individuals.
suggest that you consider the adj
visibility of widening the scope Of
the power of the executive council as
a board of equalization so that they
may have power to equalize as be-
tween individuals.
l further suggest that you consider
the advisability Of making the coun-
ty auditor also the county assessor
and placing this officer as such as.
SCISSOR under the executive council
when acting as board of equaliza-
ton, authorizing conference of all
these county assessors with the ex-
ecutiye council once each year. With
the executive council having added
power, the auditor as county asses.
sor with power over the township as
SCISSORS. it would be possible to bring
about greater equality in taxation
matters.
The executive council should be
given a small fund for carrying ON
this work as board of equalization.
Your attention is directed to the
work of the Bureau OF Labor within
the state, and the wonderful growth
which this department has made in
the confidence Of the people.
During the past year, the head Of
1 this department has represented the
federal government in employment
/ work. within the state. and also has
had. charge Of state employment work
in conjunction with the regular and
Ordinary duties Of his Office.