Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-08-10

'stons In each department, and are
then submitted to the s~ecretarysof The
department, where they are complied,
The secretary Of each department
makes weekly report to the COVER
2 showing the work performed Il.
his ssdepartfnent. .Through8 these. the
'goyernort Is able to visualize admins
tratives conditions and, results: and ahe
,makess these reports the. basis, 81 his
annual reports to- the lsstsIatire and
the public. a $sa h, "
THE civl Administrative sCode
accompltshes the states work { with
fewersemployees and With. greater 81
fciancy than under the Former sys-
itern.GsA racticabeAlMstrationsso OF Its
principles may besfound In any swell-
organized business. In every depart
ment store, for example. there will be
found "a Responsible form OF admin
istrative government In whichEfeyery
employee makes ansaccounting to
someone In higher authority, and NO
department Is left for administration
ltossa group Of individuals. with d.
.vtdeds authority q and responsibility.
There Is nothing complicated or mys-
FERROUS about the code. It "ts Just
thts--a bill that provides for "a simpli-
fed responsible form OF government.
1t does away with the duplication and
overlapping Of duties In; manySsde-
partments, and consequently br1ngz
about an increase in results per
dollar OF expenses and n actual re-
duction in the number Of employees.
It makes possible a definite program
for each department and subdivision,
with appropriations Justly common
surate with the work in hand. It
takes care OF the states money by
centralized purchasing. standardiza-
ton of salaries, and uniform control
Of expenditures. 1t provides for the
formation of a budget for the legis-
lature's guidance. embracing esti-
mates of all resources and ex-
penditures. Finally. it enables the
governor to make detailed reports to
the legislature and to the people so
that every voter and every taxpayer
may know whether the states affairs
are being efficiently administered
Much Duplication.
Even under the Illinois and Me-
braska systems, there is still unne-
cessary duplication Of governmental
machinery. There is not sufficient
coordination between. the depart
ments and the elected state officials.
illustrations are sometimes clearer
than general statements. In the
Nebraska system, it would seem the
duties Of the state treasurer and of
state auditor could be performed by
the department OF finance; and the
duties of the state commission of
public lands and buildings could be
performed by the department of ag-
riculture and the department Of pub
lie works. The duties of thle state
railway commission, which is also an
elected commission could be per
formed by the department of. public
works. Would it not be preferable to
elect fewer state officials and hold
elected to strict accountability
for the enforcement of the laws?
Elect a governor. a lieutenant COVER
nor and secretary Of state with the
power in the people to recalls for
malfeasance in office. In many in
stances. the present state officials
such as the treasurer and the auditor
would become the appointed head OF
the department because of the train.
ing and experience Of the Official Tt
select an efficient and capable admin
istrative officer, the voter must know
the duties to be performed in the par.
ticular Office apd the qualifications o,
the aspirant to perform those duties
Each voter should place himself, OF
herself, in the same position Is a,
owner of a department store, when 9
manager Is to be selected and should
select the individual who gives TIL.
greatest assurance of being able t
produce the best results. Should
these changes find favor with tn
people, constitutional changes woult
follow as most Of the elected stat.
officials are Offices provided for In tn,
various constitutions.
Experiences taught us that thu
term OF" Office of most of our COVER
nops and state officials is too Short
A governor elected for two years
spends the first year in getting &C.
quainted with the business Of the state
and the next year in getting re-elec'
ted. If the term were for four year,
with a. constitutional limitation Of one
term, rhe. people would get four year.
Of service. All state officials should
be elected for four years. One stat.
E(Massachusetts) elects governor
annually. Another state, New Jer,
sey) elects a governor every three
years, while 20 states have a fou,
year term for their governor and q
states elect their chief executive
every two years.
"A1l of Dur legislative bodies arr
IN arre aasennh,;as non.ar o. mia
petarson ~ The rraat thi,La.a :,
povs-nmartaI nrohIam. 80 - -.
booL. .Denrorrav and cnuernma,
IAN example Of the superior legis.
latiye efficiency of a smaller over 3
larger body is furnished by our fed
.eral senate Because of it's fewer
members. the. senate has been able tt
develop greater skill in Legislation
than. h house of representatives
And because of its greater skill in the
work Of legislation: the senate ha.
become the more powerful body. The
trainers of the constitution believed
the advantage would be strongly