The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-29


report Of the board of health have my
approval. The burial of night soil in the
ground west of the Jordan river is neither
desirable or necessary; such refuse may
be treated at the crematory and that is
the proper method for it's disposal.
Reference on my part TO the city Jail
is almost superf1uous. l trust that your
honorable body will manifest an inter
est in providing new accommodations
for the city's prisoners.
LAW DEPARTMENT
The city attorneys annual report
shows seventy-eight cases pending
against the city for claims, amounting
to S425.51 inclusive of the case of Joseph
II. Smith. ct al. VS.. the city, in which
$97 600 are claimed for extra work, etc,
on the Parley'S canyon conduit. OF these
Seventy-eight cases, twenty are equity
causes, some involving title to land,
where no damages are claimed. In ad-
dition to the above. there are at least
twenty criminal cases, wherein the de-
PENDANTS have appealed from sentenced
imposed by the police court. These cases
will probably be disposed of by the 1st
of April
Thirty-eight cases of the seventy-eight
calendar, six of which, involving the
sum Of $751; 2S have been set for trial
during the month of February, 1896. One
equity case also has been set for trial,
and several cases are pending on the
law and motion calendar.
The most important litigation has
grown out of the construction Of pub
\ lie works during the past six years.
| There appears to be d steady increase
in the number of personal injury cases
| brought by reason of defective streets
| and sidewalks; some of these cases are
[ probably mere speculations but the law
department will labor under the difficulty
/ that many suits of this character were
[ not commenced until after the lapse OF
years from the time OF the alleged in
| jury. so that it is now difficult to estab-
! Iish the condition of the street or side
1 walk at the time when the injury is
| claimed to have happened.
] In view of this abuse, / suggest the
| preparation of a bill to be submitted to
/ the Legislature requiring prompt notice
/ and affidavit of facts to be communi-
/ Gated to the council within fifteen days
| after the injury takes place and de-
priving any one of the right of action for
| damages in Such cases unless notice and
/ affidavit be filed within the time lin
| tied.
[ recommend that the office of clerk
! of the police court be abolished, and that
/ a second assistant attorney be provided
/ for to be appointed by the mayor OF city
attorney, with the approval of the
/ council. Such officer should be a mem
| Der of the bar and should be assigned
| to duty at the police court, under the
direction of the city attorney. He ought
| to be responsible to the city for all fines
[ and forfeitures paid into that court and
! give bonds for the faithful discharge OF
/ his duties.
In conclusion, I have not entered upon
mayor alone constitutes the city govern
ment.
l fully appreciate the duties and re-
/ sponslbll1t1es resting upon the council
and other departments of the public
| service, and recognize the fact that the
/ cooperation of all the departments with
! each other it necessary to accomplish
| the best service. and. therefore the
greatest good to tn einhabitants of this
| city.
cannot too strongly emphasize the
fact to this council that vast retrench-
ment in the operating expenses of the
/ city government must be made. You will
no doubt regard is an astounding
/ statement, when L say that from inves-
LEGATION already made, the fixed salaries
of the officials and employees in all de-
| partments of the government from mayor
down to the official grave digger, amount
to the stupendous sum of $50, $3.50 per
wear.
Administrative experience in municipal
affairs throughout the country, has de-
monsbrated the necessity of reposing in
the executive whatever power is neceS-
sary to carry into effect such reforms
and execute such laws as becomes his
duty.
In this city, while the mayor is charged
I with the execution of the laws, his
4 power in that respect is merely nominal
and the result tot this inability is 10
bring the Office into contempt whereas
he ought to be clothed with the authority
duired of subOrdinates, and to this end,
he ought to be given the power to ap-
point all heads of departments and SUI
bordinate officers subject to confirma-
ton by the council. with power to sus-
pend or remove them for cause.
The citizens might then justly demand
of him full responsibility for the proper
conduct of all executive concerns, and
\ if grievances exist, they would know to
whom to apply for the remedy, or upon
whom to fix the blame.
/ am, most respectfully,
JAMES GLENDINNING,
Mayor.