Milford chronicle., 1929-06-07
VIRGINIA GOVERNOR
WOULD ABOLISH ALL
USELESS BUREAUS
IContiansd from frT tags1


agencies, which unregulated, be-
come deadly menace 10 lives OF
citizens.
zone of the most difficult of gov
ernmental problems is to draw the
line between useful regulation and
useless oppression, between requ1r-
ing a business man to regulate his
affairs so as to protect his neighbor,
or to over-regulate him in such a
way as to unnecessarily destroy his
control over his own affairs.
"Men of all parties are becoming
apprehensive of the evil effects OF
the extension of governmental actlv-
tiles interfering unduly with the
business of the individual and los
tering a paternalism that would
have astonished and alarmed the
great statesmen who marked out the
proper province of government.
duplicated Federal, State and
local functions are both expensive
in money and unsound in principle.
The national government invades
the field of State operations; the
State reaches into the local field,
and the locality often tries to do too
much by law. If the State is to be
parent to all the people, taxes
will increase out of all proportion
to sound progress or Dement'S re-
ceived.
zone of the best ways suggested
to attain greater efficiency is to con-
centrate popular attention upon
fewer officials, decrease the number
of department heads that are elect
ed by the people, make the Cover
nor in fact the executive head OF the
State, give him the power to get re-
suits. and hold him responsible II ne
fails to get them. Men of broad pub
lie interest without regard to party,
many years ago began to advocate
shorter ballot and a clearer identitl-
cation in the public mind OF the Of
fetal responsible for efficient ad-
ministration."
Equally important as the address
of Governor Byrd, was report given
by Russell Ramsey, director OF the
league. on what it had accomplished
during the past year and what its
aims are in the future.
Mr.. Ramsey, in his opening re-
marks, said that the Taxpayers Re-
search League feels that it has per-
formed its function if it plays
useful part in making the facts
about government affairs accessible
and then pointed out that the league
for the most part, has conhned u
self to the studying of the financial
or fiscal policies and practices OF
the State government and said that
when the league began its study OF
State finance, the opinion was pre-
valent that the State government
was Door. The league, he SAID,
proved this was just the reverse.
His report stated that by a study
of these financial problems, changes
have been made which have bene-
fitted the whole State.
Mr.. Ramsey then pointed out that
the financial support to maintain
and group of about 40 or 30 persons
and then related the airs OF the
league and it's program for the 1u-
ture.
He said in part:
"a major item in this program
concerns one of the most pronounc-
ed needs in the States fiscal admin
istration. namely, a greatly improv-
ed and thoroughly modern system Oh
accounting and financial reporting
At the suggestion of a group Oh the
leagues advisors, no steps were
taken to bring this subject to the at
tention of the last legislature. In
stead, the league offered to the Gov
ernor it's services and tacllltles III
supplementing the States account
ing system for the next two years.
the object being to demonstrate the
practical value of improved account
ing and reporting methods. 1t is
Thought that such a demonstration
will better enable the next leg1sla-
ture to pass on the des1rablllty OF
specific changes in the States ac-
counting system.
"a second item deals with the
States budget system. 1t has peen
we'll said that the development OF a
budget, national, State and local.
has done more to put daylight INTO
government than any other I'M
provement in the last decade. The
Leagues recommendations for mod
ernizing the budget system of Della
ware were incorporated in a bill in
troduced in the last Legislature.
Although this bill had the approval
of the Governor and other officials, |
it failed to become a law. A task
for the immediate future is to study |
in greater detail the operation OF
our present budget system with
view to determining what may be
done to give greater effectiveness
to budget administration in thls
State.
at is our purpose also to attempt
a thorough study of the States sys-
tenn of revenue and taxation. Ex-
cept for our highway and school
revenues, our State taxes are be-
wildering in their variety and fire.
uuently are illogical and inconsist-
ent. It is hoped that an adequate
and logical system may be evolved
in conformity with sound tax prln-
ciples.
"a fourth major item is a study
Of the administrative machinery of
the government, consisting OF the
present large number OF lndepeno-
ent and unrelated boards, commls-
,ions. and other officials. Some
States, notably Virginia, have ac-
highly beneficial results
,y simplifying and coordinatlng
his administrative structure. The
purpose of our proposed study OF
he subject is to determine precise
v whether and how similar change
n Delaware would be conducive to
)etter results"
Governor C. Douglass Buck, who
,aid a tribute to the accomplish
nents of Governor Byrd during his
eign as governor of Virginia, COM
the League for the aid
-iven him in governmental problems