The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-01-26
Eighteen Departments
With Stats
In Consolidation Plan
Economy, Efficiency Under Compact, Servceable Set
Up Prescribed in Report to GOvernOr-PrOtectiOn
Against Abuse of Governmental Power Assured

, maximum responsibility and au-
thority for the administration Of the
executive department commensurate
with the protection of the constt-
tutional liberties Of the citizens.
ut Is designed to establish clear
and definite lines Of authority run
ming from the governor to the
subordinate employees Of the pro-
posed departments and to define
definitely the Jurisdiction Of all exc
cutive agencies.
1T provides for the logical group
ing Of all Of the activities now pro-
vided by 112 officers, departments
institutions boards commissions,
and other agencies into 10 groups o
activities closely related In policy
and organization.
FINALLY, IL establishes orderly
procedures to be supervised by the
governor for preparing and carrying
out the financing Of the state, fCl
recruiting and managing state cir
ployes, and for purchasing and y.
ing equipment, materials and 81,
plies.
Efficiency
"These detectives must be react
If the administration OF the g.
government Is to be simplified q
made manageable, II the means
to be provided for conducting ST.
affairs efficiently and economicsl
and II duplication and over lapp;n.
Of authority, responsibility, servicc
and effort are to be eliminated"
In reaching its decisions, the
commission states that 1t has APP
piled generally certain specific prin-
ciples of policies. 1t has analysed
the relationships Of existing actiyi-
ties for the purpose of grouping
them into groups and SubgroupS OF
services definitely related In policy
or administration.
1t has provided or the perform
ance of administrative duties of each
department by sinle responsible
officer and has given discretion to
organize the work and personnel for
which he is responsible In the man
ner which he deems most economi-
cal and efficient.
1t advocates continuation or es-
adjustment of boards and commits
sions and independent divisions Of
the several departments for the dis
charge of those duties Of the de-
partment which are of a legislative,
judicial, or policy determining char
acter.
Appointments
The program provides or the ap-
pointment of all responsible Off
GERS of the executive department
uniformly by the governor with the
consent of the senate.
The commissions plan contem-
plates that the governor be made
definitely responsible for those func-
tions considered inseparably in
volved in the management or over
head administration Of the execu-
tive department.
1.-THE statutes" according to the
commissions statement, provide
for at least 157 separate and indie
pendent agencies in the three major
Experiments of the state govern
ment. Ten Of these agencies are IN
the legislative department, IS In
the judicial department, and 129
in the executive department. OF the
129 exc cutive agencies, II are eStab-
lished for limited periods OF time
for the purpose Of making particu-
lar Investigations Of accomplish
ing particular tasks. Eliminating
these temporary agencies, there are
in the executive department no less
than 112 separate and independent
administrative agencies.
Administrations
These agencies are administered
by heads of various types. Seventy
five agencies are administered by
boards or commissions alone; "a
by single administrators; and three
by boards of commissions and a
single administrator acting jointly.
Two agencies are advisory boards
and eight represent groups OF in
dependent officers such as harbor-
masters, ferry commissioners, etc.
The commission points out that
the methods of selecting the admin
istrators of six of these agencies
are diverse. The administrators OF
six agencies are elected constitu-
tional officers. At least majority
of the administrators of each Of
the So agencies are appointed by
the governor; of 10 agencies by the
governor with the advice and con-
sent Of the senate; Of four agencies
by the governor with the advice and
the consent of the general assembly;
of tire agencies by the general as
sembly alone, and Of one agency
by the senate alone. More than a
majority of the administrators of
each ofthe IS aencies are ex-oficio,
and the administrators Of seven
agencies are selected in various
ways differing from those enumer-
ated.
American Methods
1.-THE principles of administrative
decentralization have obviously been
carried to an extreme in this organ
ization," the commission states.
These methods are characteristic
cally American and have long been
applied to protect citizens against
abuse of governmental power. The
commission Is conscious of the pur-
poses Of these principles and recog-
nizes their validity and necessity.
Carried to the extreme that they
have been in the uresent organiza-
ton, however, they can only result
in unwarranted inefflciency and ex-
travagance."
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