Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-01-25
DYNAMITE SAID TO BE IN DOVER
NoR's REORGANIZATION
SCHEME.
Executive COUNCIL
WOULD BE SUPREME
Plan Certain to Enuender Fight IL
Matter Comes Before General As
sembiy--Department Heads Opposed
TO Being shorn Of Their Powers
Labor Would Be Affected.

Des Moines. Jan. 25.-Llttle pubic
ernor Hardings proposal for a change
in the system Of state government,
made In his biennial message II has
become the subject Of every Interest,"
ed speculation at the state house low-
ever, both among department Officials
and members OF the legislature.
AS it is commonly interpreted, tho
governors proposal is to gi>e the s,a,e
executive council a meas are o. control
over all state departments not now d.
rectly administered by AN elective o.
fcer. His message points out that re-
lations of the executive council to the
state board OF health-in which exec
utive councilmen are eN- oGicia. mt.U-
bers-"ceuter responsibilities with Ire
executive council" and then suggests
that each department head De MIRO
closely tied 70 the executive counCIl'
which is to be given voice in
the construction Of new policies tina:
are to be initiated BY the department.
Dynamite Present.
There probably is as much political
dynamite in This proposal as there has
been In any question agitated in Iowa
since the rise and fall Of the move for
Co ordination OF state educational in
stitutions." II a plan to pat it into
effect ever comes formally before the
general asse nbly. present indications
are that It will be as fruitful of fight
Ing as any which has appeared in re-
cent years in Iowa.
Under the present sch me- Of state
government, each depart ent is prar-
tically supreme in its own sphere. In
nearly every case the executive head
or executive board is appointed by the
governor. con frmed nv the senate. and
then is practically free from all cone
troll during the term OF office. The
only workable power from above -
that given by the governors appoint
i've power You do as like, or I won't
reappoint you Is the only control from
above. Even this Is nulltfied in every
odd biennial period. when there is
new governor to be elected before ap-
pointments are to be made.
Mr. Harding row proposes TO intro
duce either above the present eXeCu-
tives, or equal 10 them IN administr.-
tive power, a board composed Of the
governor the secretary Of state, tie
auditor and treasurer. Some Of the
present department heads will GER
tainly oppose This attempt to re- hcm
OF their power Moreover thcE not
without political influence, q, they
never would have been appointed.
Warm Battles Possible.
A list Of the state departments which
tbn a. in,n might
be expected to affect will fully reveal
the possibility OF some warm battles.
These departments include the adju.
tant general, the industrial commits
sion, the insurance commission, the
banking commission. the bureau Of Ia
nor, the board Of parole. the board Of
control. the dairy and food department,
the department of fish ard game. the
state fair board, the state veterinarian,
the animal health commission and the
highway commission.
Two of these are now moro or lees
directly controlled by the gOvcrnol
TIE adiutant general and the 5oa~d
of parole. These Troba rs would have
little to lose under the proposed ne"
scheme.
But imagine the self perpetual; {
state fair board submitting without
question to thu Introduction 0t EJar
rev ex-officto members Imagine the
highway commissions supporters per
hitting a power equal 10 the "onfHIS-
sion's stepping into the determination
OF the states road program!
Labor's Viewpoint.
Labor would b. deeply interested IN
a move to place ne" power ABOVE