Milford chronicle., 1949-06-17
SimpIiEed Government

which our forefathers beoueathed
to their progeny. It's three branches
= legislative, administrative, and
iudicial-carried through all units
from the town. through the county
and state to the federal. It was a
government that answered all the
purposes Of their time, but suc-
ceeding generations have so added
to it that what was simple is now
q complex. scareely-understandable
governmental machine. in all Of
its various units.
Conditions change from genera
ton to generation, almost from
year to year. Government changes
in an effort to keep pace with
changing conditions: Government
adds to. but never subtracts. New
departments. new bureaus are
added, but when conditions no long
er require these additions they are
never dropped. In many cases, the
conditions of half a century ago,
more or less, which at the time
seemed to warrant a new depart
ment or new bureau for some unit
Of government city, township.
county. state or national--do not
now exist
The department or bureau that
was added goes on and on, though
the need for it has long since
passed, and other expense items,
added when it was established. con-
tinue.
It is easy to add to our govern
mental costs, but our political sys-
tenn makes it difficult to dispense
with those added costs when the
usefulness of the department or
bureau is over. if it ever existed.
Each job means political patron
age, and that is something few, if
any, political party leaders are
willing to reduce. That applies to
all units Of government, from that
of the town through to the national
government at Washington. s
Two years ago congress made
q gesture looking toward the
simpIificatiOn of the federal
government, and the reduction
Of the expense. The HOOver COM
mission has reported Its recOm-
mendatiOns. II is now up to con-.
gress to enact those recon- 7
mendatiOns into law, but to do s
so means reducing congress
siOnal patronage, and that com
gress win not do unless it is
forced by vigorous demand on
the part Of the voters.
The California state chamber oi
commerce now is promoting the
idea of a commission to do fol
California what the Hoover com,
mission, did for the federal gov,
. erment. 1t wants recommenda
] tions for the organization Of thu
{ states administrative branch; i
: wants to remove the needless de
o partments and bureaus, and tn
!. needless employees on the state
n payrolls. It wants, also, to so sim
e plify the state government; to re
|. move overlapping jurisdiction an
d authority, that it win be easier TO
t its citizens to do business with tn
e state government, and with eac
other.
It is a worthy idea, and one tha
well could be promoted in praC
tically every state, and in ever
g unit of government in all state:
!. There would be a minimum nun
n ber of branches in every state
!. county or city government. Their
h would be but few cases in whic
d means Of simplification could nc
q be found, or in which considerabl
d expense items could not be elm
S mated. They would not be tn
l. Hoover commission findings c
three billion dollars annually, br
= they could be proportionately large
l.. Just as the management Of 8
n business does not see savings
II and improvements because Of 3
tOO-close familiarity with pre-
sent processes, so the executive
branch Of 3 government will
not see the needed, or desirable,
changes In the executive branch
Of = government which they are
directing. AS In the case Of the
Hoover commission, il needs
well-qualified outsiders work.
ing with select group Of I'M
sideFs to see possible changes,
= and make the necessary recOm-
~ rnendatiOns.
The commission is the first ste
~ The recommendations, after car
- full study, is the second step. tt
:" third, and probably the hardes
:. step is the enactment into law
~ the recommendations. No mats
- whether the Legislative body |
state legislature, county boar
of supervisors, or city counc
re all will need a constant and pc
NJ sistent demand on the part Of Il
or voters, for the enactment into Ia
at. of these recommendations.
- Scarcely a day. never a wee
= passes. when congress is in Sc
iai sion. that some member OF Il
lot house or senate does not propo
lat something new for which to spel
nd the taxpayers money. If they We
Tor as interested in saving as in spen
an ing, the recommendations Of {
Hoover commission would have |
lat trscted their attention more quiC