The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-05-18

and say that u - not IN keeping with
cur plan Of government Notwith-
standing this attitude. believe We can
find a scheme that will ~ our gov
ernmental notions and AZ the same
time one that will give Us q eoutiug-
ing personnel Il does not necessar-
ily carry with Il longer service Of a
governor. but i does embrace a con
tinuing force Of business executive
and his chiefs Of departments. II
would make il possible for all 70 hold
their positions on abasis Of value Of
their service 70 the state rather than
politicl affiliations. In a certain de-
gree we have a continuing personnel
At the present time. but IL is far from
sufficient to bring up our Efficient use
Of funds. We must choose between
the old way. that spends five million
dollars for two and half million dol
lars worth Of work, and a modern way
that will get the same work for hall
the money.
This is a very simple proposition.
II does not involve great technical de-
tails. II deals only with plain facts.
Il is our duty as citizens as well as
members Of this committee to go into
this problem free from all entangle-
ments, handicaps and precedents that
relate 10 an old economic world that
has passed out Of existence.
by making our standard Of meas
ure real service TO Vermont homes and
better opportunities, rather than con-
sidering the political significance OF
this or that policy Of management, we
will greatly enhance the welfare OF
our people and state.
'1n taking up this problem il is
well, too, for us TO realize that our
inefficiency of management is not due
TO failure Of our predecessors m Office,
nor is it due to lack Of vision of our
founders. The present inefiiciency has
been caused by our inability to adapt
our ideals to the rapid development OF
the science Of management. This has
resulted In our having many elements
in our scheme Of management that are
definite misfits Our terms Of political
Offices are necessarily short. would
not suggest change in the period OF
service for governor, but ! do suggest
that we turn over to business execu-
tive the business Of the state. This
business executive should be appointed
for period Of not less than six years
We could afford to pay a Hoover
four times the presidential salary and
still save an enormous sum each year.
We would organize the business OF the
state on business principles, and would
do it in the shortest possible PERIOD
but IL would take from four to six
years for the personnel and the
machinery Of the new organization to
become fully coordinated, even under
his guidance.
"But, it will not be necessary for us
to pay the salary Of three hundred
thousand dollars year to accomplish
this purpose. 1t can be accomplished
by changing our standards to 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 be
to get rid of the fiat rate for all once
staff members. The fiat rate for Office
workers kills initiative.
ave should select the best maa tof
each position and should be permitted
to search the whole country as well as
our own state to find him. Politically
this is a grave proposition, but we
should not reserve these offices for
few men with political aspirations at
the expense OF the one thousand times
greater number Of people who pay the
high taxes and suffer from inefficient
management.
"If we confine our investigation to
details we will not achieve great sue
cess. We must look for the big ele-
ments and cut off the confusion OF dis
cussing detail. In other words, we
must not fix our attention SO exelus-
lively 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 coordinating force, and thar
cannot be established with politicai
interference.
"The Budget Committee comes the
nearest to fillig this need, bat its pr'n-
cipal function in the past seems to
have been to prepare budgets, suggest
changes and provide funds for emer-
,gencies, etc.
Il will quote one Of the sections
(s53) Of hte General Laws relating 20
the Budget Committee:
"'Said committee shall meet at
McrtueIfer If least every six months