The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1939-03-30
Legislature To Seek Saw
ing In Reorganization
Governor and Leaders of Two
Houses Map Out Program
Which They Believe Will I'M
prove State Administration

While the legislative investigation
committee continued it's inquiry in
to the management Of state de-
partments during the last two
years, members of the Minnesota
legislature turned their attention
this week to proposals for reorgani-
zation Of the state government,
with new safeguards which they
believe will prevent many of the
abuses disclosed by the investiga-
ton and improve administration.
A sweeping reorganization pro-
gram, worked out in many weeks of
conference by Governor Harold E..
Stassen and leaders of the senate
and house, now is before the leg
islature and scheduled apparently
for quick action. The bill already
has been recommended for passage
by the house civil administration
committee.
Members of the legislature were
interested particularly this week as
they began study of the bill in
provisions set up to place state
purchasing on a basis of open, pub
lie bidding. Witnesses appearing
before the legislative investigation
committee reported that much of
the purchasing made during the
last two years was done without
competitive bidding, with huge
losses to the state as consequence.
The bill provides that the state
must advertise for bids on all pur-
chases and contracts over $500 and
that bids must be obtained even
ON purchases down to 5000. Authors
of the bill believe that the improv-
ed purchasing methods authorized
will save easily 100000 year.
The plan followed in the reor-
ganization proposed is to abolish
administrative boards wherever
possible and replace them with in
dividual officials, so that respon-
sibility can be centered. A depart
ment of administration, headed by
a single commissioner, would have
charge of all state purchases and
contracts, make the budget and
have power to cut allowances to
departments quarterly. The pub
lie examiners office would be re-
stored as an Independent official.
The present "big three" would be
abolished.
The present tax commission of
three would be replaced by a single
commissioner as an administrator
and a board of tax appeals, serv-
ing part time, to hear appeals.
The present board of control
would be replaced by a department
of social security, with three div
isions, each headed by a director.
One division would handle public
institutions. Another would have
charge of old age assistance, relief
and aid to the dependent. A third
division would take over unemploy-
ment compensation and employ
ment service.
The legislative investigating COM
mittee gathered new evidence this
week of wasteful state purchasing
methods. Witnesses appearing be-
fore the committee reported that
the highway department let $685.
1913 in so-called emergency con-
tracts" in 1886 and 1887 without ad-
vertising for bids when no emerg-
ency existed. It was estimated the
work could have been done for
$619,50 under regular contracts.
One improvement near Mile Laos
lake, done by force account" cost
$182, 230, the committee was told,
when the work could have been
done by contract for $60,065.
The house passed bill during
the week continuing the four-cent
gasoline tax another two years. The
senate has not acted on the bill
yet. Few other important meas
ures were passed, though commit
tees made progress. Committees in
the house recommended out the
much debated Vance-Myre labor
relations bill, and the senate COM
mittee on civil administration was
completing work on the civil SER
vice bill for state employees.