The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-01-23
STAIEPLAN
Change liked
Wide Favor Won by Reor-
sanization Scheme Of
fered Assembly
Bv j. c. BASKERVILL
The 1'ineE-Ncws bureau
Sir Walter Hotel

by the Joint legislative committee
on governmental reorganization
proved body blow to a number
of state department heads, espe-
cially some of the "Divine Right
elected state officials. But reports
received from over the state lndl-
cate that these plans are Delng
approved by the rank and flle Oh
the taxpayers over the state anu
that thew are expecting and de-
handing that the general assem-
bly, eliminate every state depart.
ment and agency not aosoiuteiH
necessary. A saving of about 81
0OO 600 a year will result It these
Mans are carried out, the commit
tee says. .o
The virtually unanimous vote
with which the report of the COM
mittee on governmental reorgan-
ization was approved in both the
house and senate is necessary to
nut the recommendations con-
tanned in the report into effect.
At almost any other time the de-
partment heads and employees af-
fected would probably be able to
muster enough political strength
to defeat the proposals. But with
economic conditions and public
opinion now arrayed almost solid
" against them, indications are
that they will be able to make
very little resistance.
"The steps recommended in the
report of the committee should
have been taken years ago, but
previous general assemblies have
lacked the nerve to buck the po-
litically entrenched departments
and divisions involved" was the
opinion freely expressed here Sat
urday. 1t is agreed that the pres
ent economic situation, coupled
with the temper of the public
generally demanding radical cur
tailment of governmental costs,
are going to prove the most pow
erful influences in bringing about
the changes recommended.
While it was feared by some
that the reorganization committee
would recommend some radical
and revolutionary changes en-
bracing the abolition of some of
the more essential departments
and divisions of the state govern
ment those who have studied the
report agree that it has not rec
commended the abolition or dis
mantling of any state agency that
is performing an essential service
to the state. Many of the older
state department heads had hoped
and even believed that the reor'
ganization committee would rec,
ommend the abolition of many oil
the new departments, bureaus and
commissions or their consolidation
with some of these older state de
partments. There is no doubt that
efforts were made to try to lnfiu'
ence the committee to do this. Blu,
the committee decided to do its
own thinking and recommending
the results were decidedly differ
ent from what some had hoped
for.
Among the various departments
and agencies which are either left
as they are now constituted OF
whose powers and duties would be
enlarged, are:
The Budget Bureau.
The State Treasurer's office.
The State Highway Commission
The Board of Equalization.
The Department of Revenue.
The Industrial Commission.
The Insurance Commission.
The Division of Purchase AM
Contract.
The Attorney Generals Office.
The State Board of Health.
The Secretary of States office,
Department of Conservation
and Development.
The departments and agencies
which the committee would abol-
ish entirely or consolidate with
other agencies. are as follows:
Executive Counsel.
Department of Personnel.
State Board of Elections.
Tax Commission.
Commissioner of Veterans Loan
Fund.
State Library and Library Com
mission.
Corporation Commission.
Director of Standards and In
spections.
State experimental and test
farms.
Savings and Loan Divisions of
Department of Agriculture.
Publicity Division of Depart
ment of Agriculture.
Gas and Oil Inspection Division,
Department of Agriculture.
Weights and Measures Division,
Department of Agriculture.
State prison consolidated with
highway Department..
State Fair.
Superintendent of state-owned
farms.
Not all of those agencies listed
as being abolished include the
abolition of the services rendered
by them. however. For the duties
and services now being performed
by many of these are merely
transferred to other divisions.
In place of the office of execu-
tive counsel, it is expected that
the governor will be authorized to
employ commissioner of par
dons. And while the committee
recommends the abolition of the
department of personnel, it would
merely transfer its duties to the
budget bureau and have that divi-
sion carry on the same work. The
work heretofore done by the state