The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1941-01-09
Asks For
Changes In
Government
Governor Ford Recommends
: improvements in State
Administration.
LIQUOR MONOPOLY, GAME
LAWS UNDER SCRUTINY
- E1warA ]. Heilsnan

io0y0 0oent 10 make sweeping
rn1lQoe ii the state government,
p1eicella1iy in the state LIQUOR
mdhoPoly, the Greater University,
md the fish and game department.
Experience during the last four
year, the governor said, has DEM
many weaknesses In our
liQe,or control laws the liquor
business has no place in politics
and the administration of our
liquor laws must be divorced from
politics and political corruption
sincerely hope that our
liquor laws may receive your earn
EFT and careful consideration so
tint present defects and abuses may
BE- cured
The administration of the fish
and game department, Ford said,
has fallen into disrepute and the
public interests have suffered" be-
cause present state laws make of
the fish and game commission IAN
autocracy with power to legislate
and override the laws Of the state
. =" He recommended that the
Legislature revamp the setup COM
De1tar Adnainist1atiea 1t Univexsity
Conserving the Greater univer-
xityr~ Gov. Ford recommended .
thorough Investigation and ZEN
ac1znent Of laws hat will afford I
1otter and more comprehensive
method OF administration, and ut the
same time prevent the Greater Uni
verify frsGn becoming involved IN
ny political aetivtty.o He added
- uuu.4alas4t Az . r. ~zx o1
tl111 Cunts Of the university pro-
vUkes widespread dissept sherc Il
danger to al Of them; hey must
be free Of all forms Of political
The governor suggested that the
re-frame the law con-
corning appointment of members OF
the state board OF education, COM
menting that experience has dem
the utter failure of this
method in practice and has result
ed in a one-man board" He added
that state officials who are ex-of-
ficio momhers of the board are too
busy with their own offices to de-
vote proper time to the university
and, that appointed members have
little opportunity TO fortify their
actions with adequate information.
The new governor also asked i'm
mediate repeal OF the state Hit
Ter act,' which permits the COVER
nor to hire or discharge all state
employees except elective officers
I'm my opinion" he said, This Law
is dangerous in that it places toe
much power in the hands of one
man"
Advocates Strict Economy
He urged sstrictest economy anc
told the legislators they must reduce
by nearly $500, 900 budget request.
approved by the state budget com
mittee for the 1941-43 biennium. 9
am convinced" he said that II oul
income is frugally used and careful
ly administered, our revenues will
adequately provide for the prope
funclioning OF state affairs, withou
additional or new taxes"
The governor also:
/. Asked the legislature to au
thorize him to Investigate the stat
governmental Setup with view t
recommending reorganization an,
consolidation OF boards and offices
2. Recommended establishment o
a state personnel administrator
based on the merit system to elimi
nate the tspoils system" and to pro
vide q better class of state employee.
3. Urged tax relief to farmers an
small business men through reen
actment of a law permitting re
demption of tax delinquent prop
erty within two years without per
atty or interest. He also recon
mended extension OF the state NOR
gage moratorium law to March
1913.
| 4. Recommended increased stat
aid to dependent children, widow
the aged blind.
| 5. Urged careful study of tt
state highway construction SyStel
in order to plan a long-term prt
gram of maintenance and buildin
/ 6. Suggested a thorough" il
vestigation OF the state water col
servation board in order to dete
mine future policies of the boar
Gov. Ford commented that "utili
OF some projects is questionable
and that some completed projec
will require additional money b
fore they can become efficient.
Wants Uniform Drivers Licen
Law
Z. Recommended enactment al
strict enforcement Of unifor
drivers license law in an attempt
reduce the states traffic death tc
8. Urged continued state cooper
Cont inued on Page Az