The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-01-26
TIE MUNICIPAL BILL.

HE MUNICIPAL BILL.
1t Is well known that for some time past
Joint committee of five members from
each che city council and chamber of com-
merce, the mayor and city attorney being
associated, has been engage upon the prep
aration of a bill for a new municipal
charter. Hon. F. :. RICHARDS, ex-city at
torney, was EN- eIoyed to draft the measure
and look after the legal features of the
several provisions. The document has been
completed and yesterday was presented in
the legislature, which body will undoubt-
ealy pass it promptly, 1t is mastery bill.
covering the ground thoroughly with the
view to the better defining of the powers
ana duties of the municipal authorities, the
better protection of the citizens in their
personal and property rights, and the fix
ing Oh responsibilities where they belong.
Inc experience of the past generation has
taught wherein the present charter is weak
or lacking, and features OF Denver and
other western city charters which COM
mend themselves to this place have been
incorporated. The fact that the bill re.
celves unanimous endorsement of the large
committee is guarantee that the work has
been well done. A statement of some
OF its chief provisions will give the readers
a fair insight to it and suggest something
OF the great Improvement proposed ovef
uhe present charter, which was good
enough IN its time, but is not adapted to a
city of the size of Salt Lake in this age.
The bill applies 10 all cities with a popu-
iahon OF 10000 or more, which are declared
metropolitan. The city legislature is com
posed of two houses, the house of delegates
twelve in number, chosen one each from a,
Tany wards, and board of aldermen, six
IN number, ore elected from each two
municipal wards The members OF
the respective houses are to be
elected in November of alternate years. SC
that no election can result in the complete
change Of the municipal government. Each
house chooses its president, and the two
hodses cannot sit in regular session during
che same week, nor in special session with
in Two days of each other. The object Of
this is 10 prevent hasty and inconsideratt
legislation. All the powers enjoyed by the
present council are continued, and some ad
diuonal ones are conferred, as the powers
to refuse or revoke licenses. The execu.
tive power of the city is invested in ;
mayor, with limited veto power: treas
urer, clerk, board Of public works, three
in number and all the members of which
OF which shall not belong to the same polit
ical party: fire and police board, to con
sst of three members, minority politica
party being represented therein: an audi
tor, attorney, engineer, street commits.
sioner and commissioner of water works
The mayor, treasurer and clerk shall bt
elected by popular vote, but ell other of
hcials are TO be nominated by the mayor
and confirmed by the aldermen, TIL,
treasurer must select depository il
which to keep the city funds, auC
the depository must give bono
n at least 5000, 900, and pay interest on III,
city cash. There is to be one city justic,
or police magistrate. The first election il
20 take Place in November of this year
{ when all officials will be chosen, the alder
men for two years and the others for on
year, and will qualify and enter upon thei
duties on January /, 1898 10 November
1893, the mayor and all officials except tn
aldermen are to be elected for two years.
The financial powers of the government
are limited ana clearly defined. A tax no
J exceeding mills may be levied for con
tingeut expenses, the same as at present
> mills for a water supply, as agains
, 10 mills in the existing charter
: mills for opening and i'm
J proving streets, reduction of mills
and 3 mills for repairing sewers, ais
reduction of mills, limiting the total ia
which may be levied to l6 mills instead @
% mills, as at present. Our morning con
temporary which went off in q tantrum @
this matter will Of course take notice of thi
i, guarding of the peoples property. LOCI
improvements, as paving, sewer exten
sions, ETC., are to he paid for by local taxa
ton. and cannot be ordered by the counc
except by the consent of the land owner
voting by the foot frontage abuttin
on the street to be improved, instea
ii according to assessed value OF property
The office of city assessor and collector
abolished, the work 10 be performed by th
county assessor and collector, who will re
port to the council and pay the money int
the city treasury. Thus, all taxes-terri
torial, county. municipal and local-will b
payable at one place. No bonds can b
issued except by consent of majority
the electors CT the city
All money for public improvements mu!
, beexpended under the direction of the boar
of public works, which board has control
the wsterworks department, must appoir
: officials, fix salaries, prescribe regulation
r and so on. In the same manner the polis
and fire departments are to be under II
police and Ere board. There is also to be
health department, with power to pre-