OCR Text |
Show BOARD THAT ORIGINATES AND DIRECTS V - - -w if V;- 'Hfc- 1 fj - . In Wisconsin history is being made in respect to state government. With a board headed by Governor McGov. ern and including strong members of the senate and house of representatives representa-tives of the general assembly also the secretary of state the finances of the commonwealth are kept under, close surveillance and, as an all-important departure, progressive economic eco-nomic and social reforms are investigated investi-gated and here and there put into practice. The state board of public affairs, is the name given to this body of such sweeping and variegated power. It has seven members. The board is a combination of the legislative and executive. Legislatively Legislative-ly it investigates the financial needs of the state departments before the s legislature Itself convenes; the board I makes up a budget of departmental 1 expenses and submits this to the gen- eral assembly. This budget .is based on actual needs. Economy is the slogan in "compiling It. The board supplants half a dozen committees of the assembly, not only in regard to finances, but In the field of new legislation, reforms and progressive laws that mean something to the people all the people of the great badger state. This unique governmental force was created by the legislature of 1911. Instead of providing for several separate committees to investigate and report re-port on a variety of highly Interesting matters, the legislature enumerated pending problems In one bill and appointed one committee to consider all. The seven able men who do this work serve without extra pay and are assigned by a staff of economists, educators, accountants and students. Summarized, the board's chief duties are: 1. It is a governor's council with the governor as chairman. It advises him on state affairs and discusses with him all changes In state administrative administra-tive matters. 2. It Is a hold-over legislative committee that studies all the great problems affecting the people's welfare, social and economic, and reports something concrete on them to the legislature. 3. It is a bureau of economy and efficiency in state administration, making mak-ing up the budget and cutting down expenses wherever possible. |