Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-01-28
By r. W. BARRY
ASSOCIATED Press Staff writer.)

lAhNOglaltu Ait16 81 "AANN&t
AUSTIN, Jan. 2s.-tPl-The 4lst
legislature seemingly either does not
ksIievs in the efficacy Of the "short
ballot suggestion Of Governor Dan
Mood. or Il lacks the courage to
carry il into effect.
In his message 20 the legislature,
the governor suggested that only the
governor, lieutenant governor and
attorney general should be ele ted
by popular vote, proposing that the
governor be given the power 10 ap-
point the administrative heads "and
have responsibility fixed on him for
efficient administration"
To date no has proposed a con-
stitutional amendment which would
place this recommendation into eff
feet. The proposal has been accept
ed By many legislators as a most
revolutionary one. at least for Texas,
although the governor pointed out to
them, this is in lire with the best
thought of the time on sdministra-
ton Of state government and is the
system employed in those states
which at present are showing the
greatest progress IN administrative
efficiency"
I Consolidation Opposed
And although he said, II hope you
will consider this before the appro-
priation measures arc passed." at
least the senate finance committee
Joined by Lieut.. Governor Barry
Miller and other senator's, has been
working on the appropriation meas
ures with the announced intention Of
passing them during the regular SEES
sion IL possible.
At least one departmental head.
w. Gregory Hatcher, state treasurer,
has publicly criticized the governors
proposal 70 consolidate and coordi-
nate departments.
Other department heads who are
elected, including the comptroller,
commissioner of the general land
office, state superintendent of pub
lie instruction, commissioner of az
riculture and railroad commissioners
h~svSneither praised or condemned
the Proposal.
Program in Confusion
Prefscing his suggestion Of adop-
tion Of the short ballot. the COVER
nor remarked: "This may not meet
with popular approval" this pos-
sibly creating IN the minds Of the
legislators a doubt which has prompt
ed them to approach the subject with
extreme caution, II not 70 ignore il
entirely.
1t is acknowledged by many per-
sons that the Legislative program as
laid out by the governor in his mes
sage, touching upon such mighty
tasks Is Capitalization or reforma-
ton Of the present penitentiary sys-
tenn, financing highway construction
over a period of years in the future,
control of public utilities and clas-
sified civil service for state employees,
is in a general state Of confusion.
There are many divergent ideas as
TO how these things should be accom-
plished and as q result ~ seems an
almost endless job for the commit
tees considering measures involving
these reforms 10 hear all sides Of
the questions involved. Several long
hearings have been held, and the
surface has been barely scratched.
In the meantime the days are rolling
~ with three weeks Of the eight
weeks regular session already gone.
j hlro OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Highway Situation Chaotic
Representative Williams Of Travis
county has proposed a civil service
bill, but il did not meet the COVER
nor's ideas exactly. As a result. il is
being redrafted and will be present
ed IN the form Of a new bill by en-
tirely different authors. Williams is
willing for the bill to 90 through this
procedure.
The highway legislation seems 70
be IN o chaotic state, with the gov
ernor making some progress towards
revising IL into a form acceptable to
all factions, although not represent
ing their ideas exactly.
The governors committee Of 81,
which met in advance of the legisla-
ture TO consider and recommend high
way legislation, split up, with the
result the governor submitted two
reports 10 the lawmakers, one BY the
majority and the other by the mi
nority.
Last week he appointed . second
committee, this one of but seven
members, and II has agreed on a
clan to be submitted early in the
week 70 the committees Of both hous-
es considering bills on highway fl
rarcing.
Bond Issue Opposed
X. - Sterling. chairman of the
highway commission. and advocate
of a $500, 1000. 900 bond issue to build