Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-02-14
FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSION.

slon Of the Legislative House was spent
In the consideration Of Pjwors's bill TO
place the fire and police departments
Of cities Of tho first and second class
on a non-partlsan bssis. The present
Ia substitute for the measure which
tho NEWS criticised on the 9th inst,
because It gave the Governor power 10
appoint half tho board which was 10
choose the hromon and policemen Of
cur citlet. This objection 10 the orig
inal bill has been met by providing
that two member, Of the bJarl, OF du-
iotent politics, shall BIO chosen by the
mayor, while tho other two, also OF dr.
fefenl politics, shall be chosen by the city
councll. Thus not more than two
members Of the board can 10 Of tho
same political faith, ami three, or even
four political parties, should there be 80
many in the city, may possibly DO
represented II. ALERT the appointment
and qualification Of this board, ono
person shall be- appointed to any posi-.
ton either on the police force, or a
member OF tho FIRE department, except
with the approval Of said board" Sec
ton provldeG
Tho chief Of police, and tho chief On.
ginoor, Of tho police aud Tire departments
/ sha DO appointed by tho board " com.
misaoners hereby created and roiain
/ their positiont during good behavior
/ No olhccr or mombor OF said depart
monis shall DO removed except for oAuso
aud after public hoarlng before said
board upon charges made IA writing.
II thus appears that this board, as
soon as tits created, may Immediately 70.
move the present ineumbenls OF tho
positions named, and M them with new
men; or the present ineumbenis may
be chosen by the board, should this latter
Geo III 10 continue them In office. Fec.
ton s roadG
The board hoteby oroai cd shall super
visa and control said nto aud police do
parimnnt-. IT, officers, mumbefa and
employees, utioct to tho laws OF this Ter
ritory. and shall 800 that tho ofli'ors.
| mouibors and employees thereof faithfully
I
orders and regulations relating thereto
arc carried into operation and effect.
Section is provides tina, from the
time when the "fulei and regulations
contemplated"in the bill go int3 effect,
all subordinate members OF the forces
Of the fire and police departments shall
hold their positions LlTing the Pleasure
Of the board. This contomplates u
gradual replacement OF persons on
either force, regarded by the board as
unsuitable, by otheB chosen In puT.
suauce with tic civil service rules
prescribed and authorized by tho
BILL Within thirty days riler
being appointed, the board il
required 10 establish code OF
rules providing for competitive examl.
nations, to which all applicant, for
positions In either the fire or police DO.
partment must subject themselves.
These examinations relate to the edu.
oatiOnal, physical and moral qualinel.
lions OF the applicant.
As further safeguard against partl.
sanlsm In or among the members Of
the force Of other department, section
~ provides:
No mombor Of said board or Of either
department shall, during his torn OF
Office, be a member OF any party cunyon-
ton, tho purpose u whion u 30 nomi-
nlto candidates for political Office, nor
abulI tho ffIInNra Ft4UthNFa ar ufTtF.Inss.s..
OF said firo department or police depart
mont take any parl whatever in any
partisan convention held for tho purpose
OF political parry, nor shall any mem-
Dor OF tho said board, directly or indl-
fUeily, attempt % control 1r influence
the action u any member Of said police
lr hru departments or Of any omployC
ilfrelf m any primary, caucus Or gem
. Nfal election No member OF tho police
~ fire. department shall lovy, collect or
pay any amount Of money rs an assess
meni 0r contribution for political pur-
p1als Or Tor tao purpose Of making any
present 10 any 0ulcor OF said departments.
Amy violations " the provisions OF this
section shall be sufficient cause Tor sus.
pension or dismissal
The bill embraces many minor pro-
visions relating TO the duties OF the
board, and the officers and members OF
the Gre and police departments, and
evidently aims to DO a complete code
covering the subject In reading the
successive sections, one derives the
impression that they have not been
drawn with that care, method aud
verbal accuracy which are desirable,
but serious objection to their provisions
does not appear from oursofy exam.
nation Of them.
AS tho NEWS stated before In refer.
enee to this subject It 10 most
desirable that tho fire and police
departments Of our cities should
DO placed upon non.parlisan basis,
and takon entirely out Of politics, and
laasmuoh rs tho bill provides for tho
appointment OF tho board that Is 10
have complete control Of both depart.
monts, by authorities that are chosen
by the people Of the municipality, the
principal II not the only serious objsc.
ton to It 10 removed.
1t is objected that deaJlooks might