Evening journal., 1920-12-02

the creation Of so many extra agen-
cies did not solve the pr0blem,-itl
only complicated and aggravated it.
ut has taken the exhaustion Of
our natural resources, the wiping
out Of our frontiers, the disappear
ance of free land, and, finally, the
extraordinary expenses incident TO
the World War to bring American
people face TO face with the fact /
that government, after all, 70 be sue
cessfuly must primarily be efficient, |
and to be efficient it must be con- /
Quoted in an orderly manner, with |
each administrative agency having
a real reason for existence but CO.
operating with all other agencies
and forming with them a system Of
administration for the direction Of
which there is some one held res
ponsible.
Happily, public opinion Is running
, in this direction. People are de-
b manding the elimination OF useless
b Offices and commissions. They are
/ demanding the simplifcation Of
{ governmental process. They are de-
J manding the fixation Of administra-
E tive responsibility. They are de-
manding full value received in re-
e turn for taxes paid. They are de-
n manding the introduction Of busi-
T ness methods into public affairs.
5 They are scrutinizing public appro-
p priations to n degree never before
% known in this country. We are get
o ting back TO the original govern
{ mental conception Of our political
e forefathers; namely, that there
{ should be a responsible executive at
70 the head Of the government who
p should be held responsible for the
r proper administration of the govern
IS ment.
T. "Illinois furnishes the most dis
J. tinguished example of this trend.
BY the consolidation Of the admin
q istrative agencies, numbering over
p 125 into nine departments. Idaho,
it Nebraska and Massachusetts, have
g accomplished much in the same di-
z rection, while many other States
l. have made a start by consolidating
l. and co-ordinating a department or
.e two. Constitutional difficulties have
ir been the most formidable obstacles
s, TO this movement, but even where
Is they exist much can be accomplished
h by legislative enactment.
D. every substantial progress is be-
g ing made in other directions toward
s. efficient administration. Where the
IS. consolidation of administrative agen.
)d cies has not been undertaken other
as methods have been initiated to pro
OF mote efficiency, such as the estab'
lie lshment Of uniform accounting sys.
a. tens and cost systems for all agen
es cies Of the government. The creation
of central purchasing agencies II
Sc noted in ten States. These pur
n chasing agencies in many cases have
h the power to standardize material
st and wages, as well as TO economic
on in the buying Of all supplies
e. Through these purchasing agencie
Ir- budget-malking authorities can OBJ
a tain q pretty accurate inventory o.
sir the various State agencies.
lie Efficiency is needed in the ex
sir penditure Of appropriations quite a
no much as it is needed in order to oh
tain an intelligent budget program
IA Happily, there Is a growing recogni
la ton of this fact quite as much a
re- there is of the need for simplifica
ms ton and coordination of admins
Of trative agencies and the introductio
les of business-like methods in the dail
M routine of these agencies. For es
re- ample, to promote efficiency in at
es. ministration, heads Of department
Of must be held accountable for result
go rather than for details. Animate
bic By the very commendable desire
TO economize, legislatures recently hay
ost been hampering the efficiency OF d
in partment heads by picayunish pr
ent visions in connection with appr
eir priations such as fixing the salai
re- of a stenographer, the price IN
or may be paid for a lead pencil, Il
or number Of inspectors a departmel
eN- may have, etc, etc.
to Getting results is an administr
tive, not a legislative function, al
to TO get results, heads Of department
un- must be left with a free hand. n
get fciency depends quite as much up
,rl- initiative as upon any other hum'
TO- quality. The province Of the legl
so lature is to fix the amount OF mon
're- the head of a department may ha'
be The law creating his departme
lra- fixes the limitations of his authorl
the Given the money and the authori
roy he should be allowed to go ahe
EN- within these limitations and get,
Cn- suits. 1t is absurd TO expect n
aiis TO be efficient If he Is Dounu uo'
pom with petty rules. Clearly, those W
one sit in Legislative halls are not qua
lost fed To pass upon the details OF
ica, executive department. They shot
hoV be satisfied with making appropr
IRA, IRA, ton and allowing the departm'
'Ial I4 head TO obtain results in the "
sNeO that appeals most efficient to hi
sln "Modern budget making must "a
~ this view. If there is proper pl'
se e- ming and balancing Of the bud
~. prior TO its introduction and II
leHs passed according TO the plans
II forth, more harm can be done IN
~. lSe tempting too much detail in the
,i.ILy pervision of it's expenditure u
na5 may be done by permitting
,ana ,ala beneficiary Of the appropriations
Insn lpon work out his appointed task in
VINO VINO way that appeals most efficient
oare him.
-, 80 81 have not attempted to set do
;4 the details that should be follow
i, ~ bv State administrative agencies
nnao s,.' order that they may prove eifici'
~ Details are a variable quaint
he What would be efficient in Sts
for like New York, Pennsylvania, NJ
ouid sachusetts and Illinois, would not
For efficient in small States like ID
.e,.,,- ware. and vice versa. ] have q
tbo attempted 10 outline what TO
'''N .sl &; fund as,,atfal IN cffici