Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-06-04

their subordinate bus >auA In the
language OF the report:
Fac major department Is to be
made - OF one or more bureaus and
an adm nistrai i've office The latter
would concentrate the administrative
service work for the department as u
whole and would have general con-
troll and supervision over the prep
aration of departmental estimates
and over expenditures cost account
ing and reports For most depart
ments this office would keep the con-
trolling accounts OF the entire de-
par'ment. prepare accounting state
menfs and reports, supervise the col
lection OF revenues If any. and make
all disbursements II would be- under
the supervision of the department
director and in direct charge OF q
chief clerk >.
The Capitalization of authority and
responsibllIt! would ~ achieved Ca
By the cabinet system by which ii
department heads instead OF So boards,
commissions. etc would be directly
responsible TO the Governor for the
conduct OF the state business, and
% by the aboishing OF commissions
in favor OF the single commissioner
or bureau chief On this latter head
the report says
In accordance with the general
policy advocated in this report, it IS
recommended that boards and commits
sions be abolished wherever possible
-"
On the other hand the report rec
ognizes the function of board OF a
commission as q policyforming agency
If not as an administrative body. Thus
four advisory councils are suggested
In connection with the Department OF
Welfare-the State Lunacy Commits.
sion, the Advisory Board OF Parole, the
Advisory Counc.i on Charities and the
Advisory Council on Corrections"
An Advisory Council on Health il
another suggestion. The policy OF the
report would be for members OF such
advisory councils 10 serve without
though members OF
the State lunacs Commission, be-
cause o: the larger demands made
upon them, should be paid for The time
they actually devote TO their work.
The report also looks forward to
changes u the State ORGANIZATION
which would require constitutional
Such changes are:
Appointment by the Governor OF
the Attorney General instead OF the
la,ter's election h.! the voters of the
state
Supersedng OF the State Treasurer
by Director OF Finance. Pending the
passage OF Constitutional Amend
ment. the State Treasurer, as at pres
ent elected. on joint ballot OF the
House aud Senate. would serve as such
Director
Selection OF the State Comptroller
by the General Assembly instead OF
his election by the voters.
The report notes he recent tendency
in Maryland 70 centralize administra-
ton duties in single commission
rather than 10 distribute them among
a plural HEADED board. The creation oi
a Commissioner OF Motor Vehicles in
stead OF q Commits sion is cited Is
case in point As the Police Depart
ment OF Baltimore City does not come
within the puryiew of tn report, what
IS perhaps an even more striking eX
ample. he substitution OF one Commits
sioner in place Of three-nan board.
is not mentioned
The report tinds in the creation OF
Central Purchasing Bureau with re
sponsibility practically vested in on
individual the State PURCHASING
Agent and of q State Employment;
Commissioner further illustrations OF
the tendency towards Capitalization al
ready manifest in this State.
In this connection the report pays
compliment 10 the Maryland Merit
system law. drawn b. Philip b. Perl
man. Secretary OF State. when 1t says
THE civil Service Of most other
Governmental bodies IS in fact ad
minis,ered by commission, so that
the action OF Maryland in this regard
establishing q single Commissioner
is in advance OF most other States and
cities