The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-01-25
STATE DEPARTMENT
CONSOLIDATION seen
TO SLASH EXPENSES
Too Many inspectors and State
Employees Running Up Bills,
Senator'S Agree

Su88e8tlO0 That provision be made
It this session Of the legislature ia
! survey to determine what consoli.
aations Of state departments may b
made to cut expenses ana improv,
administration Of the states bushes.
received hearty support ct Z meeting
Of the senate appropriation commit.
Zee last night.
Although no formal action wa
taken many members Of the commit.
t., expressed the opinion that II
would be . move In the fieht direc-
ton. Several concrete suggestions q.
to how the idea could b made effec.
tive were presented and the result
mag be the introduction Of . bin t.
accomplish that end.
After the committee meeting was
over the subject still occupied the
minds OF some committee members
and one Of them recalled that Gov
ernor Shafer made some mention Of
the idea In his inaugural message
Most Of them admitted that they had
/ not read the message carefully, how
ever, and were not certain on that
point.
Too Many Inspectors
The matter was brouRht up during
q round-table discussion Of the num-
Der Of state Inspector and other state
employees who are travelling at state
expense. Practically every committee
member, at least everyone who said
anything, agreed that there are too
many such inspectors and that their
expenses are too high.
The suggestion that many OF them
Travelled the most at election time
brought assent fror. both the Nom
partisan and Independent committee
members. All departments Of the
state were under discussion. Some
are controlled by the Nonpartisans
an others by the Independents.
Senator Murphy. Walsh county,
said he had seen seven different state
agents In the hotel Of q small city on
the same night and Senator Whit
man. Grand Forks, was 80 ungracious
as to suggest that they travelled In
crews. He left the intimation that
they travelled in groups to save money
but put IN separate expense accounts.
Senator Murphy suggested that the
next budget board make thorough
investigation Of all departments Of
the state government and make rec
concentrations to the next legislative
session as to consultations and elm
nations.
Urges Minnesota Plan
William Watt. Cass county, a menu
her Of the last budget board. said
the Minnesota plan Of consolidating
certain power In the hands Of few
men seemed to be working out well
and suggested that q budget commit
tee could be formed which would
meet at stated periods. perhaps quar-
terly. and pass on the expenditures
OF the various state board, institu-
lions and departments. Suggestions
as to major expenditures, increases IN
salaries and similar matters would be
submitted to such q board before de-
partment heads could take final ac-
ton.
Since the suggestion to consolidate
certain state departments was con-
tanned In Governor Skaters message.
and since the governor has intimated
tina: he Is preparing bills covering all
OF his suggestions, it is probable that
the committee will find q bill already
at hand before Its sentiment crystal
Lies to the point Of preparing legis-
lation on the subject.
The committee approved bills ap-
propriating $122.500 to the workmen's
compensation department and $751;
$50 for the department Of motor We
hicle registration.