Evening star., 1948-01-21
Tuck Urges Merger
|0f u State Offices
Into II Departments
BY Alex R. Preston
Ga. S.ssS r.,,>.n~nd.n%

RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 21.-Con-
.Solidation of 72 divisions of the
executive branch of the State gov
ernment into II principal depart
ments and six staff agencies was
proposed today by Gov. Tuck In a
message delivered personally to the
General Assembly.
The Governor placed the prospec-
tive economies, estimated at about
$1,5O0,000 q year, secondary to the
efficiency of administration which
he said would result from the plan.
"The need for Improvements is
urgent" the Governor said. "The
plan, therefore, is limited to changes
which can be effected by executive
order or by legislative enactment.
No change is contemplated which
would require constitutional amend
ment."
The program, prepared by a 40
man commission headed by former
Democratic Representative Burch,
represents the first overall reorgan-
ization effort since the Byrd reor-
ganization Of 1929 which set up
IL major departments in the execu-
tive branch-since grown to IS plus
II examining boards.
win Absorb Adraip lstrative Duties.
The ii new super departments y
which deal directly with the public
will absorb the administrative and
policy duties Of tAe manifold agen-
cies now, In q number of instances.
rendering duplicate services. They
will be headed by directors appoint
ed by the Governor who will be
drawn wherever possible, Gov. Tuck
indicated ct . preYiew conference,
from present State officials.
Consultations as envisioned are
to be widespread; purchases will be
centralized to effect cost economies
and the garages now operated by
the ABC Board, the budget division
and the State police will be put
under the department Of highways.
Gov. Tuck included In the reor-
ganization message a retteration of
his opposition to sales tax.
Urges Economy to Avoid Levy.
1--WE must take advantage of every
opportunity to save and to econo-
mize through modernization OF the
government, as well as through all
other means, If we are to avoid the
inequities resulting from the impo-
sition of a sales tax" he said.
Although the reorganization plan
was contained In report Of q spe-
cial legislative commission, the
study was conducted by Griffenha-
gen & Associates Of Chicago, scon-
sultants in public administration
and finance.
Perhaps the most notable and far
reaching changes proposed were for
the new Departments Of Conserva-
ton and Development, Education
and Labor.
In urging the legislators to dc
away with myriad Of quasi-legis-
lative and judicial agencies, Gov
Tuck asserted:
Boards, commissions or Other
plural bodies should not be giver
administrative powers"
Notable exception to this Is the
State Highway Department, which
would remain practically unchanged
In a preview OF his message to re.
porters earlier, Gov. Tuck said:
1--WE feel that the highway de.
partment is doing such an excellent
job now that we should not attempt
to tamper with 1t at this time"
Hints Of Personnel Reductions.
limiting broadly at reductions II
the States 25,511 full and part time
employees, Gov. Tuck declared:
"a large proportion of the tax
payers dollar is spent for personnel
We have too many employees. Thil
is not a criticism Of our State EN-.