The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1921-07-01
STATE ADMINISTRATION NOTES.

Reduction in state operating ex-
penses amounting to 81 900 in month
ly salaries and travelling expense adj
G;tional has been recently made by
Director Edward Clifford, of the De-
partment of Labor and Industries.
Under administrative code reorgan-
cation of state departments, the La
boz and Industries branch already
represents the consolidation of the
Industrial INSURANCE Department,
Medical Aid State Safety Board.
State Labor Commissioner and Indus
trial Welfare commission.
Regular work Of these various de
partments is largely field inspection,
with headquarters in the larger cities
of the state and auxiliary headquart-
ers in the cities next in rank. These
latter, including Everett, Bclling-
ham, Walla, Port Townsend, Aber-
deen and Centralia Labor and Indus
try Inspection Offices in the latter, in
Guiding Everett, Bellingham, Aber-
deen, Centralia, Port Townsend and
Walla Walla have been abolished By
order of Director Clifford, and the
work will hereafter concentrate in. Sc
ittle, Tacoma and Spokane. Office
rent is another immediate saving eff
fected by this consolidation. Director
Clifford has no desire to deprive
the smaller cities of state offices, but
believes he will have the support OF
the citizens generally in any revision
which reduce expense without impai'-
ing efficiency of service.
Another notable reduction of De
pertinent of Labor and Industries eX-
penditures has been made in the past
few weeks in the medical division.
BY utilizing week ends in personally
visiting all districts of the state, eX-
cept the extreme eastern section in
Spokane and vicinity, DR.. +. A. Bird.
chief surgeon for the Department, has
registered a saving of more than
$1,000 in compensation paid from the
accident fund on injuries that have
rot received the attention they re-
Quired to get the men cured back at
work. This saving does not include
what is represented to the men, them
selves, in returning to the payroll at
wages instead of injury benefits. Dr.
Birds activities have also been pro
ductive of another benefit in inducing
better medical treatment. The add
tional supervision is made possible by
the department consolidation by
which both industrial insurance and
medical aid accident cases now pass
through one chief surgeons hands in
stead of travelling circuitously
through two separate departments as
under the old system.
Another notable saving in state add
mnistrative expense was effected last
week when Director 7. f. Skaggs, Di-
rector of Business Control, announced
no new appointments to replace 4
state purchasing agent, at salary of
$4,000 year, and a supervisor Of
public buildings and grounds at 3d.
GOO, both with expense allowances
that would probably bring the total
salary saving here represented to ap-
proximately $4,000 year. The Su-
pervisor of Buildings and Grounds.
Major Louis NJ Lang, left the Dc
partment of Business Control at the
urgent request of the Governor, it is
announced, to accept the position of
chief of the state highway police
force created by the last legislature
to enforce new automobile rules and
regulations. Major Lang was consid-
cred particularly fitted for this posi-
ton because of his experience as a
chief of Police of Seattle, Spanish
American war veteran and an officer
III the military construction service
during Americas part in the World
War.
As now organized, the Department
of Business Control will be able to re-
distribute the work of both purchas-
ing agent and supervisor of public
buildings without filling the vacancie-
and this policy of taking up the slack
is followed as in line with administers
tive code economy policies.
As emphasized by Governor Louis
f. Hart in his address IN CITY county
and district taxing officials called in
conference on reduction of public ex-
renditure at Olympia on June 20
whatever general benefit results is ex-
pected from the course followed by
the local administrations The Gov
ernor plainly stated that he would
rot presume to suggest or interfere
with administrative reductions to be