Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-09-03

partments. Constructive suggestions |
from public bodies or private citi-
zens will be invited and considered.
We must solve our ills together. Con-
l shall begin the practice OF
calling together all department heads
regularly every two weeks. Mutual
problems will be discussed and mu-
tual encouragement and cooperation
expected. Ways and means will be
considered to improve the public serv-
ice wherever possible.
The ceaseless cry Of the taxpayer
is that expenditure be kept down.
The average man insists on dollars
worth of service for every dollar
spent. The business of state is
huge business. 1t involves the collec-
ton and spending Of millions of dol
lars and believe that the taxpayer
is not distressed so much by the need
for the expenditure as he is by the
oft-time wasteful and extravagant
method of expenditure. We will.
therefore, watch expenditures closely
and see that honest effort and intell1-
gent application is given by every
department to it's particular business.
When this is done and understood.
the taxpayer will not resent the pay
ment of his taxes but will pay cheer
fully to carry on the business OF gov
eminent. After all, we know and the
taxpayer knows that we represent
and are carrying on the business OF
two and one-half million people.
Good administration depends upon
efficient personnel. The best means
by which we can secure efficient per-
sonnet in government is to introduce
the merit system in the state. The
liberals sponsored bill in the last
session of the Legislature which pro-
vided that the vast majority OF state
employees should be placed under civil
service; that appointments to posi-
tions in the classified service of the
state should be made only after the
applicants had passed test proving
their competency; that all promotions
in the classified service be made for
merit and merit alone; that inef-
ficiency or gross misconduct be the
only basis for discharge. This is the
way to build career service. We have
been lacking in this country in the
building of public career service, and
few will dispute the desirability of
it. Such merit service will not only
render employment secure to the hon
est and efficient public servant, but
it will materially reduce the cost of
administration.
At present the Commission Of Ad-
ministration & Finance is preparing
some very definite recommendations
looking to the introduction of more
business efficiency in state govern
ment These recommendations cover
certain practices which will require
statutory enactment to correct, and
they will be presented to the public
and to the Legislature with the bud
get next January. They will call for
such improvements as the combina-
ton of certain administrative units,
system, and a definite program of
planning for the state government.
These recommendations, if adopted,
will save the state we'll over a mil
lion dollars year.
The present state administration is
in favor of any economy which does
not overlook or slight the human
aspect. 1t believes that while gov
eminent does not owe anyone a liv-
ing. it does owe the opportunity of
making a living.
Through the merit system it will
be possible to introduce certain econ
omies, which together with other
measures, to be later suggested,
should reduce the tax burden mater
tally. Those familiar with my rec
ord will recall that sponsored the
law for net income taxes on indi-
viduals and corporations, allocating
the funds to public schools for uni
versal education. This has proven a
useful law. The Homestead Prefer
entail Act, lowering assessments for
real estate taxation purposes, on all
homes in the state, was also spon-
SOTcU ny my COIuulItec LII Lie HOUSE,
and have always held to the belief
that anything which can be done to
encourage and promote home owner
ship is useful asset to the state and
nation.
We recognize that in the treatment
of perplexing problems under the
emergency which exists, the state
must of necessity cooperate with the
federal government in obtaining the
maximum service to our people. 1t
is important that socially minded and
enlightened liberal leaders continue
in control of the National government.
The soundness of this position is indi-
Gated by the profound advice given
us by our late beloved leader, when he
cautioned against dividing the liberal
forces and pointed out that the sue
cess of the liberal movement at this
time demanded the reelection of
Roosevelt, although recognizing the
soundnesS of some of the principles
of other groups.
1 believe that the work of the ma
tiOnal administration, with it's WPA