Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-01-28
BY r. W. BARRY
,..oei.ted Press staff writer.)

ASSOCIATED freks St1Ai ritcfaD
AUSTIN, Jan. 25.-tR-The 4lst
legislature seemingly either does not
b4lisve in the efficacy Of the short
ballot" suggestion Of Governor Dan
MOODY. or il lacks the courage 10
carry il into effect.
In his message 70 the legislature,
the governor suggested that only the
governor, lieutenant governor and
attorney general should be elected
BY popular vote, proposing that the
governor be given the power to ap-
point the administrative heads "and
have responsibility fixed on him for
efficient administration"
To date no ore has proposed q 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 te
them, "this is in line with the best
thought OF the time on administra-
tion Of state government and is the
system employed in those states
which NJ present are showing the
greatest progress in administrative
efficiency"
Consolidation Opposed
And although he said, Il hope you
will consider this before the appro-
priatien measures are passed." at
least the senate finance committee
Joined by Lieut.. Governor Barry
Miller and other senators, has been
working on the appropriation meas
ures with the announced intention Of
passing them during the regular ses-
sion If 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
rieE*knre and railroad commissioners
have neither praised or condemned
the proposal.
Program in Confusion
Prefacing 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 10 approach the subject with
extreme caution, IL not to ignore it
entirely.
Il 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 as Capitalization or reforma-
4Hnn nF shn urAwa ~mN-As--- --
TEN, 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
70 how these things should be accom-
plished and as a result il seems an
almost endless job for the commit
tees considering measures involving
these reforms TO 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
by with three weeks Of the eight
weeks regular session already gone.
i hlro VBGKQJ-VBGKQJK(RkLP
Highway Situation Chaotic
Representative Williams Of Travis
county has proposed q civil service
bill, but IL did not meet the COVER
nor's ideas exactly. As a result, IL il
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 20 through this
procedure.
The highway legislation seems to
be In q chaotic state. with the gov
ernor making some progress towards
revising 10 into a form acceptable 70
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 TO the lawmakers. one by the
majority and the other by the mi
nority.
Last week he appointed q second
committee, this one Of but seven
members, and IL has agreed on a
plan TO be submitted early in the
week TO the committees Of both hous-
es considering bills on highway fl
nareing.
Bond Issue Opposed
r. v. Sterling. chairman Of the
highway commission. and advocate
of q sS0o.ooo.0o0 bond issue to build