Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-02

system, Mr.. Scott, whose admirable adj
dress is referred to above, said: THE COM
prehensive and admirable address OF
Robert II. Richards, to you at your meet
ing in May blazed the way, ] am glad OF
this opportunity to emphasize all he then
said II can add any plea to attract
your cooperation in the establishment of
better State organization | shall be most
thankful l should like to have you
consider a budget system for Delaware
under two headings: First, as a means of
economy. second, AS means to inform
| voters so they may vote more intelli-
| gently"
"The survey of our State admnistra-
| ton by the New York Bureau of Munich
| pal Research" he said, found that it
includes liz separate agencies which
are in most eases independent OF each
| other and without any direct and effective
overhead supervision. Of these agencies,
the heads of six are elected by the voters,
SO are appointed by the governor Tin
/ most cases with the Senate's approvaD.
| two are appointed by the Superior Court
of the State, twelve are appointed by boards
and administrative officers other than the
| governor, and fourteen Are ex- officio
| bodies.
The report further points out that
| Delswares present administrative system
is not adapted to unified financial plan
ming and financial control. 1t adds: In
order to a old duplication of effort, TO
eliminate waste to draw clear and posi-
tive lines of authority connecting all work
of the State in one unified plan, to estab-
lsh the responsibility of the governor and
the chief officers to the people, it is recon-
mended that the work of all the existing
officers. boards, commissions, and other
agencies should be distributed among the
following nine departments, each to be
headed by an officer appointed by the
governor and responsible to him: De-
partment of State, department of finance,
department Of labor and industry, depart
ment of health, department of public
welfare, depa rtment of agriculture, de-
partment of highways and drainage, de-
partment of education, department of
law
Il should Hke you to pledge yourselves
as individuals and also to pledge the
bankers association as body TO the Sc
curing of such an organization of State
administration. The responsibility of
preparation, presentation and explanation
of a budget should be placed upon the
governor. | had thought that a satisfac-
tory budget could not be prepared with
out the unifcation and classification of
departments similar, at least, to that pro-
posed. But we may not delay To pass
bills to amend our constitution to con-
solidate all State agencies into departments
may be difficult, NAV require much time.
1t should not be difficult to pass a bill to
amend the constitution TO provide bud
get system. The duty of submitting to
the Legislature at the beginning of each |
session a detailed budget as | have said |
should be placed upon the governor |
Until proper organization of State agencies |
is accomplished he would have to obtain /
his information as best he may. A budget I
prepared under such difficulties should /
demonstrate the necessity OF consolida- |
ton
Second: / urge the budget as a means
to inform voters so they may vote more |
inteligentlv.
INFORMING THE People.
IF we believe the rule of the majority |
affords the best-known basis of govern
ment, and If we are willing to acquiesce /
therein, then. of course every effort should /
be made to develop an understanding and /
electorate. II has been said /
MANY times and truly that there need be /
no fear of the decisions of the majority /
of our people if ISSUES have been placed |
as will arouse their interest and under |
standing. Then the decision of the ma
jority Is ultimately right. The budget |
system affords the best means of inform |
ing all the people Of the business of the |
State, its plans and policies. If the |
governor Of Delaware be required by
law to submit to our Legis- /
lature detailed budget showing Just |
what expenditures will be needed until /
the next session and just what taxes
should be levied to meet such expendi-
tures. II the Legislature be required TO /
consider and determine all items of such
a budget without having power 10 in
crease any item of expenditure
other business. And if the
governor and his heads of departments be
given the right TO the floor of the Senate
and TO the floor of the House of Repre-
sentatives to explain items of the budget
and 10 answer questions relating thereto.
a means Of informing the citizens of
the State concerning business of the State
will thereby have been provided of the
utmost Importance in qualifying the voters