The Sidney herald., 1961-01-04
Governor Don
CONTINUED FROM ga

uniform maximum tax of 2.7% 9
now imposed on all covered pay :
rolls in this state cannot begin {
to cover the cost of what Is be-
ing paid out. f.,
There are other important and
needed amendments involving
claimant disqualification and
more technical provisions which
will be presented and will deserve
your close attention. The uniform
2.7% tax now paid by Montana
EMPLOYERS is an extremely serious
handicap to our efforts to attract
business into Montana and can
not continue if we r to pro-
vide more jobs for our growing
population. The present benefit
payment rate amounts to approx
mately 3.7% of taXaole payroLS
in this state, and unless amend
ment is enacted to reduce this ire
mendous cost further, tax increaS-
es will be necessary. The unem-
ployment compensation program
must return to it's original objec-
tive to pay benefits to those who
are unemployed through no fault
of their own - the breadWinnerS
who are obligated to work or
SINCERELY seek work the year
around.
In the area of Workmen's COM
~pensation l recommend a reason
able increase in weekly benefits.
In the past, unreasonable de-
mands of some labor lobbyists has
met with stiff resistance from in
dustry representatives with the
end result that nothing has been
done to improve the situation.
On your desk has been placed
a report "The Organization And
Administration of State Govern
ment' as prepared by the Legis-
Iative Council. At this time j wish
to commend each and every mem
Der of that council and their ex-
ecutive director for their accom-
plishmentS in this field. 1 urge
each of you to read this booklet
carefully from cover to cover. II
will give you a better understand
ing of the problems existing under
our present governmental struc-
ture and ideas on solutions tt
many of these problems.
You will note on pages Is, II
and II of the report that the coun-
Gil is critical of the set term ap-
pointmentS whereby the chief ex.
ecutive loses administrative con.
trol of the departments.
AS pointed out in the report ths
Governor is vested with the SUI
preme executive power of the stat'
and it is his duty to see to
that the laws are faithfully eXecut
ed. Yet, a number of department.
boards and commissions have lit
tie or no direct connection wit,
the governor, and in other in
stances, the lines of authority ar
not set UP clearly Montana
government is one of boards an
commissions. The members com
TO Helena and sit once each mont
for one, two, three or five day
and then return to the pursuit (
their chosen -avocations. The en-
result is that in too many inStar
ces department personnel run til
department with little or no eXeC
utive control. Such a situation
not desirable and particularly ]
fiscal matters it can and has ha
dire fiscal consequences. The leI
islature should by statute dete,
mine policy and activities of ever
board and commission. The COVE.
nor should then see that the d
rection of the legislature IS ca
ried out. But, without authOri
to control the operation of the
departments directly or throul
the boards or commissions, /
hands are tied. The greatest wea,
ness in fiscal responsibility Ii
in the lack of control over boarT
bureaus and commissions 10y t
governor. In many instances boa
and commission members ha
recognized incompetence with
their respective departments b
have failed to take corrective g
ton because their authority to
so has not been clearly defineS
Sound governmental operati
can only be achieved by placi
authority where responsibility Ii
1, therefore, request you TO
act legislation which will rep
all term appointments and prov.
that all persons on the state gC
eminent payroll. except those {
pointed by elective officers OF
than the governor, serve at
pleasure OF the governor, tenl
and longevity Notwithstanding.
is not my intention to elimin
tenure and longevity, but l
lieve it deSireaOle to provide
the removal of incompetent p
sonnet without a court action
determine if cause for the reno
exists.
The people of this state
demanding efficiency in COVE
ment - demanding that dep;
mental spending be controlled
demanding that people on
state payroll earn their salar
Only with the authority I hel
request can the Governor of M
tana implement their demand.
realize the tremendous respol
bility which accompanies
granting of this request an
fully appreciate the political r,
ificationS which necessarily
with this authority. That is a
should he The rel Sh(