Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1919-08-22
Davis Law Meas
ured by Results
First lnStaIlment of Promised
Story on New Form of State
Government.

Boise. August 16.-"Let Ne Have
Results. II his compound of i'm
portuning and command formed the
keynote of an address made by
Governor ID. w. Davis at the first
meeting of his state cabinet. BY
way of reply the commissioners OF
the states nine thoroughly central
lied and eo-ordinated departments
have begun to accomplish big things
for Idaho
For several years political scien-
fists have been agreed that the the
ory' upon which the Davis law is
based is indubitably sound In Ida
no as we'll as in other states, the
measure was opposed, conscientious
ly in many instances, by individuals
who raised the hue and cry Of i'm
practibility.
Four months of operation of the
new scheme in Idaho seem to have
proven conclusively that the skeptic
must cast aside his skepticism, that
the doubter may cling no longer to
his doubt. That thoroughgoing eff
ficiency which propoAents of the
Davis law had anticipated is demon
strating itself in results.
Red tape and costly duplication
have been supplanted by direct
action and Capitalization. Idaho is
experiencing the dawn OF a new era
in civil administration.
Splendid nonpartisahsnlp has
haracterized the attitude of many
persons of opposing political faiths
who have placed the scamp of un-
qualified approval On the new law
Perhaps the most striking of these
prominent Democrat who mas served
the state as chief eXuctive and who
knows the responsibilities attendant
upon this office.
THE Davis law providing for the
consolidation of state governmental
functions" declared former gov
ernor James H. Hawley, rs the bes
piece of legislation placed in the
laws of Idaho since the adoption Of
the constitution"
Capitalization of au,norIty ant
responsibility is having two marked
effects. 1t is bringing peter mer
into public life and it is arousing II
the people a higher regafo Tor theil
duty in the matter of selecting eX
ecutives capable of managing thei
great governmental business.
In past years many business ant
professional men have hesitated t.
take state office because OF wha
conitant loss of caste. Under tn,
new system, however, able busines
men can be drafted because they ar
called to departmental headship
which enable them to use and dis
play to best advantage the mtellec
and energy they possess.
Definite fixing of res onsibilit,
is salient feature of the Davi
law. Authority has been so cen
traiized that the public official
answerable for the success or failur
OF his administration. 1t is obyiou
that the public will exercise In
creased care in selecting men I
whom duties SO vitality importan
are to be delegated.
Results achieved by four month
of the actual operation of the me-
system may readily be determine
by reference to reports made 9
meetings Of the governors cabine
in the following paragraphs will t
found high lights" taken from tn
statements of the variouscommi
sioners.
Idaho's north and, south highwa
subject of oratorical froth for tt
past six state campaigns, will ha,
become substantial reality by I'll
summer of 1921. according to WI
liam J. Hall. Commissioner of tt
department of public works, und,
whose jurisdiction more than SIS
O00.0 900 will be expended for ros
improvements, In the coming bi
ennium.
Commissioner Hall, who in a.
dition to directing the bureau
highways, also is supervising Il
construction of the new wings beir
added to the capitol building. a
!: vising' in the management OF Il