REORGANIZATION OF THE BUREAU. After most careful consideration of the minimum needs of this Bureau-if it is to carry out existing laws the execution of which is committed to its care-I would most earnestly recommend for consideration the following proposed plan of reorganization: For salary Deputy Commissioner, $2,500 per year; for salary one male Factory Inspector and Reporter of Statistics, $1,500 per year; one woman Factory Inspector and Statistics Reporter, $1,200 per year; one Chief Clerk and Statistician, $1,200 per year; one Stenographer and Librarian at $840 per year. TOTAL FOR SALARIES, two years. . $14,480 For printing, postage, traveling expenses, telephones, express, stationery, cuts, office supplies and contingent expenses, two years Total Present appropriation for salaries... PROPOSED INCREASE 5,520 Strong arguments in favor of such a reorganization of the Bureau, and an adequate appropriation for its support, will be found in the well established policy of surrounding states. In every Northern state the Labor Bureau alone receives a more substantial appropriation than is outlined above for what is, to all intents and purposes, two bureaus, pursuing two different lines of work under one directing head. This assertion will be found readily susceptible of proof. In amount of money appropriated heretofore, this Bureau was not, I believe, treated as liberally as its importance warrants. The sum of $3,600 was allowed for the biennial period ending April 1, 1909, for all expenses aside from salaries. Of this sum over $300 was spent in fitting up the present temporary quarters, when the Bureau was moved into two of the legislative committee rooms on the third floor. This amount would have paid for 5,000 copies of a bulletin of about fifty pages, postage included. And the material for such a bulletin. "live information," was easily available at any time. It should be borne in mind that postage is a very heavy item of our expense, if we are to give wide and general circulation to our publications. Some of them cost eight (8) cents or more for mailing each copy. If there is a demand for 50,000 copies of any pamphlet, as there was for Bulletin No. 12, that demand should be met promptly. As it was, the Bureau could not possibly supply the demand for Bulletin No. 12 in Nebraska alone; and could only send one copy where many were asked for. The Deputy Commissioner under Governor Sheldon found stored in the Capitol basement several thousand copies of Bulletins No. 4 and No. 8, containing descriptions of the land in the various sections of the state, by counties and by townships. Through the newspapers and by advertising on our other Bulletins a considerable demand was created for these useful books. To comply with this demand involved more expense for postage; but we believe this was warranted by the end in view, viz: Making Nebraska and her unused opportunities more widely known to possible settlers and investors. Quite a few books were sent out, too, at the cost of the persons asking for them, in this and other states, by shipping by express at their cost. This cannot be regaded as in any sense a satisfactory proceeding however. While Great Britain and her colonies exact a subscription price for their regular publications of a statistical and industrial character, we know of no American state that does, especially in the West. Expense for postage is a heavy item, where good work is done in an advertising way. Still it is universally agreed that it is not only a necessary, but a wise, expense. This Bureau should have an appropriation of $20,000 for two years. It covers the ground and does the work handled by twę separate bureaus in Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and most other states, east and west, viz: Bureau of Labor and Factory Inspection; Bureau of Agricultural and Farm Statistics. After considerable study of the subject, the Deputy Commissioner respectfully submits that the Bureau of Labor and Industrial Statistics cf Nebraska can best be equipped for quick, constant and valuable public service by an organization on the plan outlined at the beginning of this report, viz: One Deputy Commissioner, to have general charge and direction of the work, subject to the immediate control of the Governor. One male Factory Inspector, who will also give attention to enforcing the fire escape law; have supervision over the boiler rooms and heating plants of all state instituions; and aid in gathering factory and manufacturing statistics, accident statistics, etc. One female Factory Inspector, who will devote her attention to enforcing the state laws governing the employment of women and children in factories, laundries, shops, stores, hotels, restaurants, canning factories, and other places where numbers of women and children are employed; report on sanitation, and aid in gathering industrial statistics. One Chief Clerk, or Statistician, to collate and tabulate all sta |