Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-02-05
THE FIRE AND POLICE BILL

The bill introduced In the Lggisla-
tive House last Saturday afternoon,
dosigned to place tho FIRE and police |
departments Of cities Of tho nmt and
second class on strictly non'pafli'an
ba,ls, 10 a long document, anu covers
the subject. In detail. The city couu'
oil appoints two members Of commia-
sion, who must belong 70 different
political parties, aud tho Governor APP
points two other memhefs, who must
also differ In politics. These tour To-.
Rethor with the principal officers OF
the nre department, comprise the
board Of nTs commissioners; and the
came four In conjunction with the
principal officers OF tho police depart.
menL make up the board Of police
commissioners. Their compensation
Is 10 bs fixed by the city council.
Thesetwo boards, or this board, which
ever they or It may be called, con.
troll the FIRE aud police departments,
and all appointments therein. They arc
required 10 formulate rules for the
government OF both, and Tor compoil.
tive examinations OF applicants for
positions and promotion. Attaches Of
both departments arc prohibited f;om
taking active part In political conyun.
lions, but are not debarrei from voting.
and numerous provisions appear
throughout the bill the design Of
which Ia TO secure nou-partisan man.
agemenl and conduct on tho part OF
all persons connected with either dc.
pRrlment. Firomen anu policemen
hold their positions during g0oi be.
havlor, and are removable by the board
only after public hearing on charges
preferred In writing. The city council
Is authorized to pension retired or dis.
Rblei nremen aud policemen, In GER
tain cases.
No argument is required to support
the proposition that tho frs and
police departments Of city
ought TO rest on lsirlc,ly non.pardsan
basis. Neither should ever bs por.
mi.ted TO become part OF any political
machine. No truth In American
political economy will receive more
general acceptance than this. Com.
petitlyo examinations, and reasonably
secure tOnuros Of position, are also uu.
tirablo features. As to the matter OF
pensions, there Is difference OF
opinion. In rogpsct 10 the details Of
control OF ths two departments, the
bill has q number OF commendabls
featured.
But It hRs one provision which alone
10 sulllclent TO justify It's rejection by
the Assembly, unless the same can uo
ellmina.oi, The feature here referred
T. 10 the appoiutiye power whloh u
coni1gs upon tho Governor Under
this provision only one man would
stand between tha President Of the
United States aud tho sciuc.
ton Of tho hremen and police.
men Of tho principal cities OF this
Territory. This will strike some poo.
PIE ne Capitalization run mai, yet SIN.
gularly enough, tho acknowledged
Democratic leader OF the House ia the
author OF tho BIN. Tho present occu.
pant Of the guOurustorInl choiriu Utah
isG very uybaue gentleman, who sl1.
oeroly strives to promote harmony aud
good feeling among all glasses Of c0ti.
zsna, and tho general welfare OF ulG
but territories have often had COVER,
uon Of u very different stamp, and
until this commonwealth shall DO fully
vested with the powers and privilege
Of statehood, such legislation rs tbs;