Imperial Valley press., 1921-05-31
GOVERNOR s
\ PLAN F OR
ECONOMY
NOW Law
Reorganization Meas ure S
Making for Less Costly
Administration of State
Government Are Signed
by Stephens.

SACRAMENTO, May 31.-Califor-
MAS state government will be reor-
ganized along lines described as eco
nomical, simple and efficient under
the terms of eight bills passed by the
recent legislature and signed by Gov
ernor William D. Stephens here today
The measures were proposed to the
legislature by the governor.
Students of government say enact
ment of the reorganization bills is a
brilliant stroke for good government,
efficiency and economy. Saving Of
100000 for the state biennium will be
achieved and nearly IS of the present
state boards, commissions and cffi-
cals will be placed under seven major
departments. The plan embraces more
than seven-tentEs of the states execU-
tive agencies.
Urging the reorganization measures
at the opening of the legislative ses-
sion, Governor Stephens declared con-
centration of administrative authority
would reduce overhead costs, make for
economy of management and dispatch
in public business and tend toward re-
duction in general expense.
J The bills passed by the legislature
in furtherance Of the governors plan
were introduced in the upper house
by Senators w. ]. Carr and M. B.
Harris and in the lower house by
Assemblyman John Robert White.
The seven departments into which
the bills divide the government are
chose of finance, labor and industrial
relations, public works, agriculture,
education, institutions and civil serv-
ice. I'.'
Heads of each department, subject
to approval by the governor, are given
complete power to organize or reor-
ganize the work of their departments
to create additional divisions neces-
sary and to name necessary chiefs and
assistants. The salaries Of depart
ment heads and division chiefs are
fixed in the bills.
Under the department of finance,
under one of the measures, Senate
- No. 876, there will be handled the
functions now performed by the state
board of control. department of pub
lie accounting. childrens' agents, state
purchasing department, superinten-
dent of capitol buildings and grounds,
state burial ground trustees, Cotton
Hall trustees, Pho Pico Mansion, SUIT
ter's Fort trustees, Monterey Custom
house trustees, capital planning COM
mission, state printing department,
motor vehicle department, state Ii
brarian and state board of library
trustees. The department will be sub
divided into the divisions of claims
and disbursements, budget and ac-
counts, purchases and custody, print
ing, motor vehicles and libraries. The
state board of control is continued as
the governing body of the department
of finance, the three members being
respectively heads of the divisions of
claims and disbursements, budgets and
accounts, and purchases and custody.
Senate Bill No. 896 created the de-
partment of public works under which
will be consolidated the present state
Carey act commission, advisory board
to Carey act commission, state engin-
eer, state land settlement board, water
commission, highway engineer depart
ment of engineering and highway COM
mission. The department is divided
into the five divisions of highways, en-
gineering and irrigation, water rights,
land settlement and architecture.
A director of education is to have
charge of the department of educa-
ton, provided for in Senate Bill No..
500. The state superintendent of pub
lie instruction is made ex-officio such
director. The department will take
over the work of the boards of trus-
tees of the Chico, Fresno, San Fran
cisco, San Jose, Humboldt, San Diego
and Santa Barbara normal schools and
the California Polytechnic school and
the California school for the Deaf and
Blind
The department of labor and indus
Continued on page 2.)