Pueblo chieftain., 1921-01-08

Between Roads
tion character is demanded by the
| people. / believe that state roads
| should be planned, constructed and
maintained exclusively by the state,
| that they should be in the hands of a
capabIN, experienced official with wide
authority and that he should be bound
to a comprehensive program of de-
| velopment and should be responsible
directly to the governor for the ef-
fcient performance of his duties. The
been generous with road appropria-
tions. We must be careful that these
| funds are judiciously expended.
Bonrds and Bureaus
| For two years have given attention
to the functioning of state depart
| ments. commissions, boards, etc, and
| have considered seriously the need for
an effective coordination of their ac-
{, ivities. The lieutenant and acting
governor recently appointed Senator
Francis ]. Knauss of Denver and
Represcntative-elect w. B. Gordon of
Lamar to give the problem special
study. Their examination of the
| statutes of this and other states and
of the valuable reports published in
4 1916 by tho survey committee on state
affairs has led to the preparation of
series Of bills which, / am sure II en-
acted, will eliminate much duplicated
work by consolidation of departments
of similar puxpose and will lessen the
| cost of transacting public business.
The committee's study led to the
| inevitable conclusion that a new code
is needed to systematize administra-
| tive work. The experience of several
other states with a board of control in
which all the powers and duties of the
| numerous commissions, bureaus, etc,
are lodged has proven helpful. The
committee found, however. that while
| such a central board might and prob
ably would be an improvement over
| our present system. the plan cannot
| be worked out comprehensivcly under
| the constitution of Colorado. In this
| conclusion l am reluctantly forced to
| concur.
New Constitu ton
our present constitution was adopted
| many years ago and under conditions
essentially different from those now
| obtaining. 1t has been frequently
amended and each amendment has
| been designed to meet specific need
| without due regard to its effect upon
the constitution as comprehensive
whole. Therefore, because only new
organic law will meet the actual needs
! of the state, II is my deliberate con-
viction that this general assembly
should submit to the people a proposal
| for a constitutional convention.
In the consideration of the proposals
for consolidation of state departments
and institutions it becomes apparent
that the institutions of higher learn
ing, now administered by separate
boards, Offer a fertile field for investi-
cation. Without in any reflecting up
on the present management or tho
high standards maintained by these
| Institutions IL appears that co-ordina-
ton Is sadly needed between tho var
ious boards of control so that tho in
terests OF education in the state and
not the special interests of any single
institution should conaroi all plans for
institution should control all plans for
! inEly. recommend that steps he
| be takon by this general assembly to
survey the administrs tive neods OF the
| University of Colorado. the State
School OF Agriculture, tho School Of
i Mines. and the two normal schools to
guide tho assembly in future efforts as
coordination or consolidation.
| budget System
partment in its first two years
strengthens my conviction that the
recommendations of the head OF that
department, when approved by the
governor, should havo moro force and
effect than at present. When changes
of administration occur tho budget for
tho ensuing biennial period should be
| prepared by the outgoing executive. It
| Is not to be expected that a newly
elected governor will have sufficient
| information regarding tho specific
needs OF state departments and insti-
tutions to formulate n financial plan
at tho outset of his term. Your concur
renee in this view, | believe, will 70
suit In more efficient fiscal syetem
for tho state and leave to the general
assembly all of its prerogatives.
again call your attention to the ad-
vantages Of central purchasing
agency and tho abolition of the state
auditing board.
| Protection to Investors
| Many OF our people have been do
frauded by unscrupulous promoters.
A stringent law to curb and. IL pos
sible, to prevent the sale OF worthless
securities is demanded and. in my
| Judgment, should be enacted by this
General Assem- bly,. At the same timo
the honest promoter should be pro-
tected and tho development of tho
State thru legitimate speculative in
vcstment5 ought not to be retarded.
| Tho Direct Primary
There has come tho conviction. af-
ter giving tho direct primary law a
| thoro trial. that 1t IS too unwicldly
and too expensive to be continued, 1t
| places a. premium on financial stand
| ing rather than on capacity FOR pub
J lie sorvico. If It is possible to draft
a. law Jhich will remedy this evil and
also keep the power of selecting nom
inees for office directly in tho hands
OF the voters l would favor it. How
ever, IL this should prove impossible,
would welcome tho party convention
as highly preferable to tho diroct pri-
mary. because 1 believe 1t Ia subject to
| less abuse.
soldicrs' Memorial
| Tho preceding General Assembly
provided a fund of $4,000 for mem
orial to the sons of Colorado who loet
their lives in the Great War. II de-
veloped. however, that the veterans
who wero specially Interested in the