Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-09-05
NEW STATE GOVERNMENT
AFTER MORE WATER
RECLAMATION, FIN A NJ c { AND
HEALTH BUREAUS EXPLAIN
ED IN LAST CHAPTER ON
NEW FORM OF STATE
GOVERNMENT

Foundations are now being laid in
the Department of Finance for the
preparation of q State Budget which
is expected to eliminate the evil of
haphazard Legislative appropriations.
The budget viii be a careful, scientific
analysis of the financial needs of the
states several institutions and depart
me1ts, designed, of course, to enable
the legislature to authorize equitable
expenditures
Outstanding among the recent
Achievenl ents of G. +. Bowerman. FL
nance Commissioner. is the ihtrodac-
ton in al counties of the state of a
new and modernized form of book
Keeping County officials generally
have acknowledged that this improved
. system affords complete records.
makes information readily available
and saves time.
Among the several regulations re
Gently promulgated by the Finance De-
Dartment was a rule requiring all state
money to be deposited with the state
treasurer In the past certain funds
have been deposited in semi private
accounts where they have not been
drawing interest for the state.
An active campaign has been carried
~ by the department through the
hanks of the state urging against the
exchange IF government bonds for 9TH
er So called securities. This particular
activity has met with splendid re-
sponse from virtually all of Idaho's
banking Institutions.
Efforts have been made by the de-
partment to examine into the bonded
I7debtedness OF the various counties.
in several instances il has been pos
sible to prevent transactions ap-
prOaching the fraudulent in the sale of
county bonds.
Supervision of the administration
and enforcement of laws governing the
assessment Of property and the levy,
collection and apportionment of taxes.
orc of the principal duties delegated TO
the finance department probably viii
not he entered upon till later. in the
year.
Marked Improvement in the regis
tratiOn of vital statistics and thor
ough cynchronizing of the work of the
three state asylums devoted to the care
Of the insane are among the more i'm
pcrtant results which have been
achieved by j. X White, commissioner
Of public welfare.
Or. r. +. Laubaugh of the bureau of
public health service in the welfire dc
partment is rapidly bringing the reg
istratioI of birth and death certificates
and other essential statistics to a rcin;
where Idaho probably will be recng-
nized by the United States Census i3u-
reau. The census bureau standards
demand 80 per cent efficiency
BY process of conference and con
ti9ual contact through correspo 1Gence
and visits of inspection. the supcrin-
tendents of the three insane asViuIns
have been enabled to profit ooJn by
their mutual mistakes and mutual pro
fciencies. Uniform system of reports
Will be installed in all of the inssitu-
tons in the near future.
Commissioner White plans 20 pro
sent at the next session of the leg;si;,..
ture detailed reports which will have
as their principal feature an accurate |
forecast of the probable future needs |
of the three asylums. The unfortunate |
Blackfoot situation will be remedied |
the moment funds are made available. !
Surveys or the three institutions will |
probably be made at some time in the !
near future by investigators represent |
ing the National Committee on Mental /
Hygiene. Al organization devoted to |
the pSycopathic research which al !
ready has done much creditable well |
fare work for the insane in co-opera- |
ton with authorities in other states.
At Lava Hot Springs, an institu- /
tion placed under the control of Com
missioner White by legislation author /
izi1g the issuance of bonds for exten- /
sive improvements, new natatoriums
covering two of the larger pools have
recently been completed. Buildings
ct the Idaho Soldiers
Home may not be credited at once as