The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-05-17

nately, it has not thus far been aide
to put in force the best management
OF these expenditures
I 1T should be our purpose to recon-
mend a scheme of re organization that
can be carried out with the minimum
disturbance and yet bring fairly
prompt results.
! 1T Is not difficult for MS to accept
general proposition Of business man.
agement Of our affairs, but when we
discover that it entails continuing
/ personnel of chiefs OF divisions and
general staff, we object strenuously
and say that It is not in keeping with
orr plan Of government. Notwith-
standing this attitude, | believe We
can find a scheme that viii fit our
governmental notions and at the same
time one that viii give us a continu.
ing personnel 1t does not necessarily
carry with L longer service Of gov
ernor but II does embrace a continu-
ing force of a business executive and
his chiefs Of departments. 1t would
make it possible for all to hold their
positions on a basis Of value of their
service to the state rather than poll
tical affiliations In a certain degree
we have a continuing personnel at the
present time, but t is far from suiIi
cient to bring up our efficient use Of
funds. We must choose between the
old way. that spends five million dol
lars for two and half million dollars
J.. worth Of work, ana a modern way that
will get the same work for half the
money.
This is very simple proposition.
II does not involve great technical de-
tails. ii deals only with plain facts.
1t S our duty as citizens as well as
members Of this committee to 30 into
this problem free from all e2tangle
ments, handlcaps and presidents that
relate to an old economic world that
has passed out OF existence
BY making orr standard Of measure
real service to Vermont homes and
better opportunities, rather than con
sidering the political Significance Of
thij or that policy Of management we
VII greatly enhance the welfare OF
our people and state,
In taking up this problem 1t is we'll
too for us to realize that our eiiicien-
cy of management Is not due to fail
ure Of our predecessors in Office nor Is
II due to lack Of vision OF our found
crs. The present inefciancy has been
caused by our inability to adapt our
deals to the ideals TO the RAPID de-
yelopment of the science OF manage
ment This has resulted in our hav-
ing many elements in our scheme OF
management that are definite insists.
our terms Of political offices are ne
cessarily short ! would not suggest
a change in the period Of service for
governor but do suggest that we turn
over to business executive the bu T.
ness of the state This business eX-
ecutve should be appointed for a peri
cd of not less than six years
We could afford 10 pay a Hoover
four times the presidential salary and
til save an enormous sum each year.
We would organize the business of the
state on'business principles and would
do Il in the shortest possible period.
but II would take from four TO six
years fer the personnel and the ma
chinery OF the new organization TO be.
come fully CO ordinated even under
his guidance.
But II viii not be necessary for Us
TO pay the salary Of three hundred
thousand dollars year to accomplish
this purpose. IL can be accomplished
by changing our standards Of fitness
for service and make the payment of
salaries for Our chiefs one that will
attract the ablest men for each posi-.
ton The next suggestion would ne
to get rid OF the fat rate for all Office
staff members The fat rate for of.
fee workers kills initiative
I'VE should select the hest man for
each position and should be permit.
ted TO search the whole country as
we'll as our own state to find him Pc.
lit.cally this is grave proposition.
but we should not reserve these Offices
for a few men with political aspire
tions at the expense OF the one thou
sand times greater number Of people
who pay the high taxes and suffer
from inefficient management
IF We confne our Investigation to
details we will not achieve great sue.
cess. We must look for the big ele-
ments and cut OF the confusion of dis
cussing detail In other words, we
must not fix our attention so eXcm-
siyely on the waste Of leaking spigot
when the old barrel is being drained
through the bunghole. our lack OF
efficiency is in a measure due TO our
lack of a co.ordmating force, and that
cannot be established with political
interference
"Thc Budget committee comes the
nearest to filing this need. bat us
principal function On the r1st seems 90
have been to prepare BUDGETS suggest
changes and provide funds for emer-
gencies. etc,
"T viii quote one of the sections
C65S) of the General Laws relating
to the Budget committee:
said committee Hfan meet at
Montpelier at east every SIX months
aud ofteucr i requested by the gov.
error. ard shall examine the lnan.
cal condition al all state departments
and institution, ana shall have au-
,th3rty to take any means il deems
necessary 10 enforce the provisions
of the budget and ascertain whether
Cr not suci departments and insttu'-
ions are being operated at minimum
expense consistent with efficiency
and Within the concentrations as pro.