The Washington herald., 1921-02-24
Wyoming Official Reveals
, Log Rolling Methods in
Use of Federal Money
EIGHT COMPLAINTS
Governor Brings. Matter to
} Attention of Savings Div.
American Bankers Assn.


ernor Robert d. Carey, of wyoming
reveals the log rolling methods
whereby (1) public funds are OBJ
tained without due thought on the
plans or methods of administration
CD FIRST from the State and then
from the nation, (3) each on the as
sumption that somehow or other the
cost is reduced by half whereas "a
the plans actually result in (5) in
efficiency. (6) interference WIN
local activities. CD a large army OF
swivel chair experts and (S) ex-
travagant waste of public funds.
In bytnging these matters to the
attention of the American Bankers
Association, Governor Carey writes:
During the present session OF our
Legislature there have been repre-
sentatives from every conceivable
SFederal) bureau urging upon our
people to provide funds and in some
instances 1 find that there are no
Federal funds at this time and that
Il depends upon the action of Con-
gress whether there will be any.
Rureaucrats Forcing Legislators.
After they get law started in
our Legislature their next move Is
to prevail upon the members TO wire
our delegation in Washington to
vote for certain appropriations tor
their particular bureaus. Most OF
these departments are overloaded
with overhead expense and actually
very little money is spent WITHIN
the different States.
II have Just been going into the
AGRICULTURAL extension work ana y
find that the proposed plan they
have for the administration OF this
department calls for something IKE
eighteen employees, while the ac-
tual workers out in the state in
the different counties number only
twenty-eight. II We had twice that
number out in the State and one
person directing this department,
much more could be accomplished.
Bureaus Use Propaganda.
Nearly all these bureaus are
strong on propaganda and at this
session of che legislature our mem
bers have been besieged by letters
md kilograms which have been in
pired by representatives of depart
ments and in most instances these
or nothing about the work. 1 have
felt that il they once get hold of
the State there is no way to shake
them of.
bureaus Costly and Wastefui.
Many of these agencies have been
&rreated through the efforts of Con-
kressmen to get appropriations for
things that they believed might
please their constituents. and by
'pork-barrel legislation money has
been provided for activities which
rightfulIy, should have been taken
care of by individual States. When
one considers the fact that the cost
of maintaining these different COM
missions and bureaus comes indi-
rectly from the people themselves.
he realizes that the favor secured
Is dearly paid for and little is gain
ed. BY the creation of these va
rious bureaus the expenses of the
government have been steadily in
creasedL
Menace of .FedernI Aid, Lure.
"One of the favorite methods pur-
sued by the Federal government for
: getting control within the States
has been by making appropriations
for Federal Aid" provided the
States availing themselves of these
funds make like appropriations. As
a rule State legislatures feel that
they must meet this Federal money
or the State will lose something.
and in consequence in many in
stances these Federal appropria-
tions encourage extravaganza with
in the respective States.
IAN example of this is the agri-
cultural extension work. which Is
provided for under what is known
as the Smith-Lever act. In wyo-
ming. in order to carry on this work
and to receive the Federal appru-
priation. we are putting up between
four and five times as much as the
Federal government. yet the work
is carried on according to their
rules and regulations. not ours.
know that we would be much better
on and could do more effective work
for our farmefs by running an in
dependent department and taking
Sno advantage of the aid proffered
|by the government. However, we
have been carrying on the work as
kprescribed by the Federal govern
h1ent simply to get the small
bmount Of money that 1t is willing
Ito give U.S.
states should BE Consulted.
Il do not want to go on record
as being opposed to Federal aid
appropriations, but / feel that II the
States are expected to make appro-
priations to meet Federal aid. the
representatives of the States should
be consulted as to the expenditure
Of the money. and that some bureau
chief in Washington should not be
the sole Judge or have the right to
make rules and regulations for the
conduct Of a state department to
which the State is contributing as
much as or more than the Federal
government.
Il have no desire to condemn the
heads of all governmental depart
nents or agencies as there are many
instances where they are most
anxious and willing to cooperate
with the States but there are just as
many who are most arbitrary, are
unwilline to acquaint themselves
with true conditions. or to consult
with state authorities. There are
many of these agencies that must
bef contfnued as they are handling
business that should come under
FederaIt jurisdiction, but believe
that where the interests of States
are involved the State authorities
should be consulted and their wishes
considered, also in doing business
these agencies should not be gov
erned by hard and fast rules. The
eo.ntry is large and conditions vary.