The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-03-22
SURVEY BILL NOT
/. POLITICAL MATTER
Senator J. Sheehan, Author of Bill
Grants Interview Upon Return
From Legislative Duties
at Carson City


at Carson City
The Nevada efficiency survey bill,
passed by both houses of the re-
cent legislature and now awaiting
only the signature of Governor
Scrugham to become state law, can
in no way be considered a political
matter, according to Senator j.
Sheehan of this county, who upon
his return from Carson City granted
an interview to a representative of
The Silver State concerning gem
eral legislative accomplishments as
they apply particularly to this sec
tion of the state. Questioning Sen
ator Sheehan concerning the bill,
which has been accepted by many
people of the state as perhaps the
most valuable legislation introduced
during the recent sessions, and in
fact during many years, brought
forth the following reply:
"My efficiency survey bill is be-
fore Governor Scrugham for sigma
ture and will become law unless he
vetoes it. 1t is true that state ad-
ministration leaders have made the
charge that the bill is political in
nature, but l fail to see what
they can base their opinion upon.
The bill provides that a commission
of five men, not selected by the
governor, it is true, but named by
the heads of the five dominating
industrial associations of this state,
shall have the power to investigate
all state and county offices and ex-
penditures, direct expert auditing cf
books of the various offices if they
see fit, and report back to sue
ceeding legislatures. The heads of
these associations who will name the
members of the commission are
George Russell. livestock assccia-
ton; William Burns, labor fedora
ton; j. G. kirchen, mine operators
association; w. H. Bridges, bankers
association; and Chas. Il. Hender-
son, head of the Nevada Economy
League, former United States sem
ator from shis state and a man
very close to the governor.
"Of these five heads of industrial
organizations who will name the
survey commissioners" Senator
Sheehan continued, "Russel is a
Democrat, Burns is a Democrat,
Kirchen is Independent, Bridges
is a Republican and Henderson,
is Democrat. Thus the nam
ing of the commission win be
in the hands of three Democrats,
one Republican and one indepen-
dent. So fail to see where anyone
can accuse me of doing politics in
getting the bill through. l think it
is good legislation, because experts
can report to the commission their
findings in the different offices, the
commissioners can thoroughly di-
gest and segregate the resulting
information, and have ready an in
telligent report for members of
future legislatures, so that remedial
Legislation may be applied if needed.
1t is not possible for a large num-
ber of inexperienced men to go to
Carson City, secure a fund of in
formation concerning state and coun-
ty affairs that they do not know
| is accurate or correct, and in sixty
days turn out legislation that should
be given attention. 1t is possible
that under this plan the legislative
duties could be performed in half
of the time now required, if an
efficient survey commission is func-
tioning properly, which would more
than save the cost of such COM
mission. AS it is, expenditures are
eating up the Nevada taxpayers,
and if the legislature attempts to
change conditions the members are
accused of false economy and told
that they will ruin efficiency. They
have no way of determining def
nitely just what is the right thing
to do. If the various state and
county departments are efficient
they have nothing to fear from the
survey
Senator Sheehan said that his
chattel mortgage central state re-
cording bureau bill has. become law,
as has also the bill providing for
one central state bureau for the re-
cording of brands, later amended
providing that a brand upon live
stock is prima facie evidence of
ownership.
The two-cent gasoline tax meas
ure, which will provide new revenue
estimated at $4,000 per year, has
been signed by the governor and
is now law. Half of the gasoline
tax money will go to the state high
way fund, while the other half will
be pro rated to the various coun-
ties for general road work accord
ing to the number of registered
automobiles in -such counties. Out
of the 100000 thus to be given to
counties, Humboldt county will get
approximately $4,000 per year.
The bill giving one mill tax on
all livestock for the support of the