Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1921-01-05

have elapsed since AIissouIa went under
commission form Of government, / have
yet to hear the first suggestion of cor
ruption or, crooked dealing by the COM
missioners.
They know that their continuation in
the office rests absolutely ON their rec
ord as trustees and honest admimstra-
tors of our community affairs.
= After having had nine years actual
working experience with the system,
believe l am safe in saying to you that
not one taxpayer in ten in Missouia. at
this time would wish to return to the
old inefficient, cumbersome political
system under which we formerly OPP
Grated.
That which has been accomplished
under commission government IN the
city Of Missoula can be duplicated in the
county government of every county IN
Montana.
There is no sound business reason
why the taxpayers should pay each
year from $4,000 to $4,000 per county
for enforcing the criminal processes of
the courts, through the expensive sys-
tenn of sheriffs, as now constituted.
There is no sound business reason
why the various counties should be COM
PEELED to maintain a large force of high
priced elective county officials, whose
duties are purely clerical
A Business Plan.
Elective officials, under the present
political plan, call for a much greater
number of deputies than if the work of
the county was carried on as business,
divorced from politics, where all of the
business of the county should be CEN
tered in three competent men, who would
have entire power to direct the entire
business of the county, through employ
es selected and employed on account of
their personal fitness for the particular
work to be done, in exactly the same
way that all successful businesses are
conducted.
Under this plan, when work was slack
in one department, the employees could
be shifted to another and vice versa.
Applying the commission plan to
county government, let one Of the three
elected commissioners be directly in
charge of road and bridge work, another
directly in charge of enforcing the Grim
inal and the civil processes of the courts
and the chairman of the board directly
in charge of all the clerical work.
Applied to State.
My own judgment is that very gem
efal application of this same plan to- our
state government in Montana would be
productive of great good and bring about
ton of state affairs.
There is no more argument for elect
ing the secretary of state, clerk of the
supreme court, auditor. treasurer and
superintendent of public instruction
than there is for electing by vote of the
people, at the presidential election, of
our secretary of state, at Washington,
the secretary of war, navy, commerce,
labor, interior and postmaster general
These are most appropriately select
ed by, the president as should all the
purely administrative and clerical posi-
tions at Helena be selected by the gov
ernor. Then hold him responsible for
their administration and good behavior.
The most plausible argument advanced
against the present primary law is that
the voters cannot know the personal
qualifications of the long list of candi-
dates for the various minor elective
state officials.
OF course they do not, but they do
have an opinion regarding the merits
of the candidate for governor and SEN
ator and congressman
Let us nominate and elect the chief
executive of the state, then give him
full power to name his assistants in adj
ministering the various departments of
the state government and we will know
exactly where to place our finger in
locating blame or praise. In that way
only will we do away with this eternal
pulling and hauling at Helena. In that
way only will we ever get rid of these
superfluous and overlapping jurisdic
ton of dozens of, Estate boards and
commissions" with their army Of tax
eating employees. In that way only can
Montana secure efficient, economical
government for our state affairs
The Chinese puzzle" of state govern
ment in Montana is yearly becoming
more and more complicated We will
never solve it until we cut the Gordian
knot and enact the short ballot" for
elective officials.
The Remedy.
But how are you going to do these
things you ask. There is only one full
solution.
Nearly all these cumbersome systems
and superfluous offices have been fast
ened upon us by constitutional provi-
siOns. Our hands are largely tied in
the matter
| wish each of you would read the
Report of the State Efficiency Com
mission" as submitted to Governor Stew
art by Messrs. Eliel, Lease and Fisk in
1913. You will then have a familiar
understanding of the limitations of any
real remedies without series of amend
uiSHtS " our CONSTITUTION.
While | am of the belief that there
should be convened a constitutional con-
vention to take up these amendments Ia
detail, in Difference to the judgment OF
many good citizens that this NAV not
be the opportune time for such action,
/ shall withhold my own judgment IN
the matter for the time being, in the sim
cere hope that we may be able to accom-
phsh most of these things by submit
ting special amendments at this scs-
sion.
If this legislature should fail in its
duty to rectify the gIaring inequalities
and correct the evils so universally rec
ognized, while the forces of sanity and
conservatism are so overwh elmingIy in
control, frankly fear the after math.
l believe it is feasible to submit an
amendment to the constitution chang
ing our county governments to the com
mission form, providing for a constitu-
tional tax commission and also putting
under one executive control the public
service commission of the state.
Department of Agriculture.
Montana's future development lies al
most wholly in the development of its
agriculture. Here lies our greatest
problem. To the extent that farming
and stock growing can be made profit
able industries in Montana IN tho sarna