The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-05-15
GOV. HARTNESS RECOMMENDS.
CONTINUED from Page L.


they vote and pay high taxes is clear
indication, he writes of their readiness TO
contribute most generously to progress,
but it does not indicate their approval
of "extravagant, wasteful and inefficient
methods of expenditure.
No Change in GovernOrship.
Il would not suggest a change in the
period of service of governor he tells the
members of the budget committee, but
do suggest that we turn over TO buSl-
ness executive the business of the state.
This business executive should be APP
pointed for period of not less than six
years With the expenditures of
100000. and an efficiency ratio of 5O
per cent. the governor asserts the state
could afford to pay a Hoover four times
| the presidential salary and still save an
enormous sum each year, but adds that
no such salary would be necessary.
| The governor considers the situation SO
grave and the possible gain from a reor-
ganiZation so large that he says I'VE
| should not hesitate to make any recon-
mendationS that may be necessary to
prevent a continuation of this loss and
points out that while the legislature
makes the appropriation it has not been
able to put in force the best management
of the expenditures
Unscientific Management
Il
of the founders of the state or to the
predecessors of present Office holders but
40 our inability to adapt our ideals to
the rapid development of the science of
management The state has not kept
pace with private interests in this regard
and he declares that his estimate of 90
per cent difference between the function
ing of government offices and offices of
well-managed private institutions is rat
ing it rather high than low.
The money to support this inethciency
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 recommendations the effect
of which will be felt in every home. by
| leSSening the state tax burden 30 per
cent, or by doubling the advantages that
come from the expenditure of our state
tax money" State office holders should
hold their positions ION a basis of value
to their service to the state rather than
| political affiliations" he declares. and
he also opposes a fiat rate for office help
on the ground that it kills initiative. At
present, despite the fact that we have
some well-managed departments, the
spirit of industry and interest in the
work is lamentably lacking, he writes
Act With Courage.
Calling upon members of the committee
TO face the situation fearlessly, the gov
ernor says: I'VE should select the best
man for each position and should be per-
mitted to search the whole country a.
well as our own state to find him. Po-
| litically this is a grave proposition, but
| we should not reserve these offices for a
| few men with political aspirations at the
expense of the 1000 times greater num-
/ Der of people who pay the high taxes
and suffer from inefficient management =
Pointing out that a governor elected
/ by our present system for only a brief
period cannot be expected to meet the
| requirements of business executive, Mr..
| HartnesS advises that "the governor with
/ the approval of the budget committee
| could be authorized" to make a contract
! with a business executive of the highest
| qualifications Ito whom would be given
the managers power of administration OF
! an the departments He closes his
| letter with this paragraph.
| If these conditions are not acceptable
then let us recognize the plain fact that
we viii continue paying half our tax
money to please few of the people and
ut the expense of the workers in our
homes who scrimp and economic to pay
this extra cost