Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-03-02
TOPROBE
CABIN ET
RULE PLAN
Olcott Names Commit
tee to Investigate and
Report On Consolida-
tion Plan

The move for consolidation O
state departments and reorganiza
tion OF the machinery of state II
Oregon which met with disaster a.
the hands of the legislature oi
1919 was revived by Governor Oh
colt Wednesday through the ap-
pointment of an honorary commit.
tee of five PROMINENT men to IN
yestigate the so-called cabinet
form of government in operation
in other states.
The personnel Of this commit
tee as announced by the governor
today follows:
Kav Heads Probers.
T. B. Kay, chairman, Salem /;
former state treasurer and former
member Of the both houses of the
legislature; president of the Thos.
B. Kay woolen mills.
Frank J. Miller, Albany, for
mer member public service com
mission, former member legisla-
ture and president Albany Iron
Works.
A. J. Johnson, corvallis, presi-
dent Benton county bank, former
member state legislature and
chairman Of consolidation and eff
ficiency commission created by
legislature of 1917.
Judge Charles II. Carey, Port
land attorney.
F. l. Dunbar, Astoria, attorney
and former secretary Of state of
Oregon.
To Sumbit Report.
The committee Will be asked to
make an exhaustive investigation
into the success of the cabinet
plan of government in other
states and to report for submission
to the next legislature.
The plan of consolidation sub
mitted to the session of 1919, and
which met with disaster at the
hands Of the lawmakers at that
time, was closely copied after the
Illinois plan of government with
notifications to suit the condi-
tions in this state. Governor Oh
colt calls attention to the fact
that since that time the Illinois
plan has been adopted in Wash
ington, Idaho, Nebraska, New
York and other states.
Considerable differene of opin-
ion has arisen in states where the
cabinet form Of government has
been adopted as to whether or not
its Is successful in its actual oper- |
ations," stated Governor Olcott to- |
day In announcing the appoint
ment Of the new committee.
Claims have been made on both
sides in the various states, some
to the effect that economies have
been effected by the new plan,
and on the other hand claims have
been made that the adoption OF
the plan has resulted in higher
costs, larger salaries and no ma
terially incresed efficiency.
Il am asking the committee
have selected to make as nearly
an impartial survey as possible OF
the success or failure of the plan
in other states so the next legis-
lature may be intelligently in
formed in that regard. If 1t is
discovered that the plan is a sue
cess, the work of the old consolida-
tion commission will be available
for use by the incoming legisla
ture.
''It must be remembered that
In Oregon a large majority Of the
boards and commissions are made
up of unsalaried mvmbers and CON
iitions in some states such as New
York and Illinois are not altogeth-
Or analogous with conditions I'M
Oregon. But all of these various
phases may be gone into by the
l have selected for an
Impartial report.
1--WE want the best sort of gov
srnment obtainable in Oregon at
he least possible expense. If the
'abinet form of government is su-
lerior to ours, and has so proved ,
tself, ] will lend every influence
have to secure its adoption in
his state. On the other hand If II
las proved itself more expensive,
ess efficient and generally less
satisfactory l naturally will be op-
)osed to 1t.
"The men l have selected for
his committee are men in whom
have great confidence to make a
areful investigation and an i'm
'artial report. A. ]. Johnson, one ,.
4 the members Of the new COM
nittee, was chairman of the con
and efficiency commits
ion provided for by the 1917 leg
stature, and will be in a position
0 advise the committee as to just +
that was ascertained by that COM
lission and how the results at =
aimed were arrived at" y
N..1z1s D-1-1 h