The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-01-21
A TIP TO MONTANA POLITICO-
ECONOMIZERs

the people refuse to be stampeded by the yowls
of job-seekers who go about over the state in cam
paign years making extravagant promises of
economy.
This, notwithstanding the fact that Nevada has
the greatest per capita cost for state and local
government in the Union, and the additional fact
that while the population of the state has been
declining during the past 10 years, valuations
and taxes have been increasing and the cost of
government has grown enormously.
Two years ago the legislature set UP a commits
sion with powers to make a survey of the state
and to recommend such changes as would make
for real economy in government. This commits
sion has reported to the legislature now in session
and has recommended drastic alterations in the
governmental structure of the state and counties.
Discussing the report, the Nevada State Journal,
The leading Democratic newspaper in the state,
says:
"The document is signed by ]. H. Sheehan, for
mer state senator and now vice-president of the
Wingfield banks in Nevada; F. N. Fletcher, for
many years secretary of the state tax commission
and now director of the Nevada Public Economy
league; Roy A. Hardy, Nevada mining man of
prominence; E.. u. Hooper, Reno contractor, and
Charles 3. Henderson, former United States SEN
ator. Associated with the survey board were ].
III. Fulton, Mrs. Francis Friedhoff, w. H. Goodin
j.. and George B.. Thatcher.
at is the joint views of this respective group of
citizens and offers a solution of a problem that
Nevada and every state in the union faces-the
mounting costs of government. 1t is temperate
in its views, fair in it's decisions and sincere in
its recommendations.
can effort on the part of any group to make
political capital out of the report or to kick it
around as a political football should be met with
instant and firm rebuke.
Charges of extravaganza in government, dir
ected at one official or a group of officials, is the
popular method used by disgruntled politicians Oh
demagogues to gain public attention. Nevada is
too small a state to make this kind of politics
profitable and the report of the survey commits
sion will disclose to the people that Nevada is
functioning as economically as it is possible with
the present system of government in force.
"The changes recommended deserve more thar
passing consideration. The report states at thu
outset:
90 3 = , the legislature from time to time places
new duties and functions on offices already exist
ing and created numerous boards whose e~X-offici
members were already in the employment of tn
state. New commissioners with salaried official
were also created. The final result of this natura
though makeshift policy of the legislature was
state government consisting not only of the con
s%titution, elective offices in the administrative de
partments, but a bewildering array of boards an
commissions and appofhtive officers
A'The outstanding features of the report revolv
around the Capitalization of state government en-
pioying in a measure the method used by any larg
corporation, expanding big sums of money an
carrying on a big business. 1t is natural bushes
view to- take and one that will not destroy tn
democratic form of government nor disturb it
any way. The people are entitled to elect an
this power is not disturbed, but as a matter
fact the power of the people would be create
as they would know directly on whom to place tt
responsibility"
The report recommends: Adjustment of a
elective state offices except three and the creatio
of seven executive departments under which Il
many co1ivities. of the state government wou
each be assigned to its proper place; consolidate
of the present IL counties into 10, reduction
the number of judicial districts and the abolisl
ment or consolidation of numerous local office
q singie-house legislature of limited membershi
Or sessions every four years instead of two.
Some of these recommendations can be carrie
out by legislation, while others will require CO.
stitutional ,aurendments to make them ~operativ
The Nevada Legislature is now considering II
report, JYAiehsisedesigned t. 4shoy hen>aReney es
he saved bv adoptinO BUSINESS methods IN 0oxyox-