The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-04-05

for adequate punishment for the ind
vidual who makes false returns on hi
property to the assessor.
| Economy in Expenditures
i | believe the people of the state, a
a rule, will not object to paying reas
enable taxes if they are convince,
that the funds which are thus contrib
uted by them will be properly and eco
nomically administered. Every dolla
collected from the people should b,
made TO perform dollars worth o
service. 1t cannot be made to do 5,
unless there is intelligent Oversight
on the part of the legislature regard
ing appropriations which you arr
called upon TO make. / can conceiv,
of no manner in which the members OF
the legislature can thoroughly famil
iarize themselves with the variou:
appropriations and the necessity fol
such appropriations, except through
carefully prepared budget to be
submitted to them sufficient time in
advance of their voting, in order that
they may fully prepare themselves .tc
vote intelligently on suggested appro-
priations. Thirty-nine states of the
Union have in the last few years
adopted what is known as the budget
system, the purpose of which is fully
to acquaint the legislature and the
people with the detailed expenditures
authorized by the legislature.
| recommend the passage of law
operating a board TO be known as a
budget commission, to be composed of
the governor, the comptroller, and the
state treasurer whose duty it will be,
within reasonable time for the con-
vention of each legislature, and in
conference with the various heads of
the different departments of the
state, to have prepared for submission
to the legislature, in the first days of
| its session. an itemized budget of all
suggested departmental appropria-
tions, salaries to be paid, work to be
done and all necessary data used in
Iascertaining the amount required for
the maintenance of the different de-
partments of the state. Copy of said
budget should be furnished the indi-
vidual members of the legislature, as
we'll as the state press, in order that
they may consider, and vote intelli-
gently, and that the people generally
may know for themselves how the
money which they are paying each
year in taxes is expended.
Back to the Constitution
The constitution, in creating the
different departments of the state
placed at the head of each depart
ment constitutional officer, and
clearly contemplated that the various
activities of our government should
be largely placed under cabinet off,
GERS. OF course, we have departed
from the principles of the constitu.
tion in this regard, and have entered
upon a policy of creating outside
commissions, when clearly in most
cases. the duties performed by such
commissions should be performed by
the cabinet officers. Like many of the
other states Of the Union, we are fast
becoming Commission ridden" peo
pie. wish to call upon you to .adopt
the policy of "back to the constitu
ton" In your creating of such com
missions as you may deem wise anC
lexpedient, let your creations be carv
ed out of the cabinet elected by th'
lpeople 1t is the sworn duty of ;
cabinet officer to devote all of his tim,
and thought to the interests of tn
state.
There is nothing in the argument
SO often advanced, that the cabine
lofficers are too busy to give attention
to the various matters that are places
undertheir charge. They are at tn
seat of the state government all o
the time, ready and accessible fo
frequent meetings and conferences. Ii
their accessibility and their constan
meetings there is the greatest advan
tage of being able to give attention
to departmental matters incident t
the various state activities. readily
i. speedily and without delay. The cab
met members are advised as to tn
various needs of the state and there
, fore can conduct different phases o
the state government in harmon
. each with the other, whereas whe
Outside commissions are created
those commissions only too often al
rogate to themselves the power o
lcaring for the particular matters un
? der their charge, independent of tn
: other departments of the state an
. without knowledge as to what may b
{ the requirements of the state in de
! partments other than their own, fire
t quently paying salaries out Of all Pre-
) portion to salaries paid for like serS
= ices in those departments not unde
: their control. The creation of outsid
, commissions not only makes for II
2 efficiency, but it makes for extravs
' gance in expenditures. AS rule, tn
l commissions do not feel any obligs
4 tions for the various departments
: the state other than their own, an
e too often we find them possessed wit
the idea of getting all they can out