The diamond drill., 1921-01-15
LANSING
REORGANIZATION OF
DEPARTMENTS ASKED
Need For More Efficiency And
Eeanomy Pointed Out BY
Governor Groesbeek.
(By Stan corresondent.)

uate boards, bureaus and commissions
In Michigan into departments is the
one to establish a department OF ag.
riculture. Most emphasis Is laid on
this idea OF all the plans along that
line that are being suggested to the
new legislature. now in session.
AS expected because OF advance
rumors. Gov. Groesbeck. In his inaug-
ural message to the legislature, took
strong stand In favor OF consolidat.
ing state commissions and bureaus
into departments in which there
would be more efficiency and less
duplication OF work. The governor
makes his recommendation especial.
ly in view OF economy and with an
eye to the lowering OF the tax rate.
already staggeringly high, if prelimin-
airy estimates are to be followed.
EFFICIENT CONTROL AIM
The proposed department OF agri.
culture is model OF the other pro-
posed departments which would make
for efficient state control. without du-
plicated work by different boards. A
bill will be offered In the legislature
to include probably all OF the follow.
Ing in the new state department OF
agriculture:
The agricultural section OF the sta.
tistical division OF the secretary OF
states office; the food and dairy diyi-
sion OF the state food and drug de-
partment; the orchards and nurseries
inspection bureau; the seed inspec.
tion agency; the fertilizer and feeds
inspection bureau the soil division
of the geological survey; the agricul.
tural fair division; the state fair com
mission. the state board OF veterin.
arians: the board OF swamp land com.
missioners, and other activities. in.
cluding the animal welfare depart.
ments and new duties or the depart
ment that would reach channels hlth-
erto not included specifically in any
board or commission.
The state farm bureau has estab.
lished beyond doubt that its member
ship is strongly in favor OF the
changes advocated generally; that
more knowledge OF the states agri-
culture can be had through statistics
than has been the case in the past:
that much may be done In the way
OF reforestration; that the pure seed
law should be enforced instead OF
merely adorning the statute books:
and that economy should mean Just
that In state administration
STATE FACES DEFICIT
With a deficit OF six million dollars
facing the state lawmakers at the
outset OF the 1921 session and a budg-
OF calling for seventy millions about
to be laid before them, II hardly IS
necessary to emphasize the word
economy. II is the watchword OF the
solons at this time. How TO meet the
actual needs and how to raise more
revenue withou. adding to the bur.
dens the taxpayer already is chafing
under. are the tax problems now
faced. The suggestion OF state in
come tax Is being made. Another sug.
gestion is 20 increase fees paid TO
various state departments. But Il
probably will take the major part OF
the session TO show what really con
crete plans may be made along these
lines. Meanwhile the eyes OF many
are glued on the requests OF the state
institutions for funds, TO see how It
will be- possible TO cut them down in
drastic fashion and still not ruin the
institutions.
Many new requests for funds will
be made that will add TO the task OF
finding ways and means to care for
the total Already IL is certain that
strong effort will be made 10 have
the state assume the payment OF
worthwhile soldiers bonus.
GREET LADY SENATOR
One OF the notable features OF the
opening OF the 1921 session OF the leg
islature was the seating as mem.
ber OF the senate OF Mrs. Eva M.
Hamilton. OF Grand Rapids. the first
woman member OF a Michigan legisla.
ture. The lady senator" was given
a rousing welcome by her brother
senators from the other thirty.one dis
tricts OF the state. Senator Hamil.
ton is interested In welfare legisla.
ton, but announced that she had no
intention OF trying to start any.
thing that would turn the senate up.
side down.
The house OF representatives has
decided TO add to it's standing commit.
tees one on public utilities because or
the amount OF proposed legislation
Affecting such concerns. and the
people OF the state. as well, along
public utilities lines
LEADERS ARE NAMED
Organization OF both houses was ef.
fected according to plans indicated in
advance OF the opening OF the ses.
sion. there being no "upsets" In the
caucuses or elections In senate and
house. Following are the officials who
will act during the fifty.firat lerlsla.