The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-05-15
RETURNS FOR TAX
MONEY Too SMALL
nAVr llADTA|rCC
ssmoni state Librarys WLJJ
2aseptlS
Declares State Organization Is
About so Per Cent Efficient
SEEKS CHANGE IN SYSTEM
Would Appoint Business Exec
utive for a Period of
Six Years
SEEKS CHANGE IN SYSTEM

Montpelier, May l5.-Declarlng III
general terms that our methods OF
conducting our business, both in the
Office and in the work, are about 90
per cent efficient Gov. James Hart
ness today notified the members OF
the budget committee that a meeting
would be called in few days at
which will be considered ways and
lmeans of improving methods OF man.
agement of the states business, f" with
a view Of ultimately preparing rec
concentrations in keeping witt the
purposes of the statute creating the
committee
The governors letter sets forth
that he believes the budget commit
itee can recommend a scheme OF re-
organization that can be carried cut
with the minimum disturbance and
vet bring fairly prompt results, and
lhe believes that a plan can be made
to At our governmental notions and
which will embrace continuing
force of a business executive and his
chiefs of departments"
The people OF the state are en-
titled to a much better use OF the
states money according to Governor
,.artness. That they vote and pay.
Ihi,a taxes is a clear indication, he
writes, OF their readiness TO contri-
butte most generously to progress, but
IL does not indicate their approval or
"extrayagant, wasteful and inefficient
methods OF expenditure"
az would not suggest change IN
the period OF service Of governor he
tells the members of the budget COM
mittee. but ] do suggest that we
turn over to a business executive tie
business of the state. This business
executive should be appointed for
period OF not less than six years
with the expenditures OF S5OOO.0Oo.
and an efficiency ratio OF so per cent,
the governor asserts the state coulu
afford to pay Hoover four times the
presidential salary and still save an
enormous sum each year, but adds
THAT no slch salary would be neces.
sary.
The governor considers the situa-
tion so grave and the possible gain
from a reorganization so large that
he cays I'VE should not hesitate to
make any recommendations that may
be necessary to prevent continual
tion of this loss" and points out that
while the legislature makes the ap-
preparations II has not been able to
put in force the best management Of
the expenditures.
This he does not ascrioe TO the
failure of the founders of the state
or to the predecessors Of present Of
fee holders but to our inability to
adapt our ideals TO the rapid develop.
ment of the science Of management
The state has not kept pace With pri.
yate interests In this regard, and he
declares that his estimate OF so per
cent difference between the function
ing of government offices and otllces
of we'll managed private Institutions
is rating II rather high than low
The money to support this inefti'
cheney is taken from funds needed in
the home, the governor asserts, and
tells the budget committee that there
is an opportunity for US to make
Recommendation the effect OF which
will be felt in every home, by lessen
ing the state tax burden so per cent,
or by doubling the advantages that
come from the expenditure OF our
state tax money" State office hold
ers should hold their positions "on
a basis OF value OF their service to
the state rat1er than political anil
ations." he declares, and he also op'
poses flat rate for office, help on
the ground that it kills initiative. AZ
present, despite the fact that we have
some we'll managed departments, the
spirit OF industry and interest In the
work is lamentably lacking, he
writes.
Calling upon members OF the com
mittee to face the situation tearlessly,
the governor says. I'VE should select
1.-The best man for each position and
should be permitted to search the
whole country as well as our own
state to find them Politically this
lis grave proposition, but we should
mot reserve these offices for few
men with political aspirations at the
expense of the 1000 times greater
number of people who pay the higN
taxes and suffer from inefficient man.
agement'
Pointing out that a governor elec.
ted by our present system for only 4
brief period. can not be expected TO
meet the requirements of a business
executive, Mr., Hartness advises that
the governor, with the approval OF
the budget committee, could be au'
thorized" to make contract with a
business executive OF the. highest
qualifications TO whom would be civ.
en- the managers power OF admins
Itraton of all the departments lie
closes his letter with this paragraph;
III these conditions are not accept.
able. then let us recognize the plain
fact that we will continue paying half
our tax money to please few Of the
! people and at the expense of the
workers in our homes who scrimp
land economlse to pay this extra tax
cost