The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-14
COMMISSIONS
Peril STATE.
SENATORS SAY
Resolution Is introduced to
Appoint Board for Gov
eminent Study.
SEEN AS DANGER SIGNAL
Duplication and Wasted
Energy, Expense Are
Among Charges.

Charging tnat The administrative
branch of the Indiana state govern
ment is replete with boards and
commissions, usurping legislative
functions and duplicating efforts.
five senators today introduced BIZ
partisan resolution in the senate
providing for investigation and rec
ommendations-by commission
to restore the government to its
original purposes and sphere of
activity"
Two Republican senators, includ-
ing Lee j. Hartzell, president pro
tenn. of the senate, joined in the
measure, which is to be passed con-
currently by both the upper and
lower houses.
Members of the commission Will
be appointed three each by the pre-
siding officers Of the legislature and
three by the Governor. They will
serve without salary, but will have
expenses paid.
Seen as Danger Signal
Reasons for the resolution are set
forth in the following preamble:
1.-THE year 1881 is the 115th ami
versary of our admission to state
hood and the seventy-ninth ami
versary of the states existence I'm
der the present Constitution.
During these Seventy-nine years
there has been a substantial and
dangerous change in government in
the direction of ever increasing CEN
tralization of power in departments,
boards, bureaus and commissions, all
exercising authority that is granted
by our Constitution solely to the
legislative branch of our state.
Many thoughtful persons Of all
political parties sincerely believe
that in this trend away from local
self government and the centralizing
of authority, by the chief executive
of our state in such departments,
boards, bureaus and commissions,
there is a danger signal that no
longer should be disregarded.p
Duties Arc Defined
There is reason to believe that
in the administration of our state
government as it exists today" the
preamble continues, there are
many unscientific developments and
Embellishments, resulting in dupli-
cation and overlapping Of service,
wasted energy and unjustif1able ex
pense."
In closing the resolution defines
the duties of the commissioners as
follows:
THE duty of said commission
shall be to make a study of the gov
eminent in all it's aspects and to
report to the Speaker of the house
and president of the senate not later
than Feb. l, 1881, such recommended
tions as may seem to it advisable in
regard to a reorganization of the
administrative branch of the gov
eminent to eliminate Implications
and to secure greater efficiency. econ
omy and dispatch in transacting the
public business; whether in it's opin-
ion the government has departed
from the concept of the founding
fathers who wrote the Constitution
of the state of Indiana, and, if so,
in what direction or directions;
what steps, if any, should be taken
to counteract Capitalization, to re-
store the government to it's original
purpose and sphere of activity as
contemplated by the founders of
our Constitution and to make Sc
cure to all coming generations the
ineStimable benefits and blessings
Of local elf-government."
Another Commission Asked
Other senators joining in the in
PRODUCTION were Joe Rand Beckett
rep, Johnson and Marion), j.
Francis Lochard Dem, Dearborn,
Jennings and Ripley, Charles R.
Morris Dem, Jackson, Scott and
Washington. Chester A. Perkins
Dem, st. Joseph.
Another commission to study pos
sibilities Of consolidating counties
and reducing the number Of judicial
circuits is provided in a senate reso-
luton introduced by Senator Rob
ert L. Moorhead CRep., Marion).
This commission would be COM
posed Of seven members, appointed
by the Governor, and will report
findings to the 1888 legislative ses-
sion.