The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-31

4 members OF this DOarQ are presumed
| to be non-partisan and fair, yet while
I the chiefs are given absolute authority
/ the integrity of the members OF the
board may be questioned.
SUTHERLAND SPEAKS BRIEFLY
Sutherland opposed the amendment
! The bill was perfect. The full board
! may remove a man without any cause,
need make no statement whatever; but
when a cause is given three members
must concur and the findings are made
public. There is no appeal to the
courts; none whatever, the provisions
of the bill being such as to make the
action OF the board final
JONES TALKS.
Senator Jones. in replying. said
every senator realizes that unani-
nous vote was required to remove a
/ chief. This was in the apparent in
! terest Of favored class. The provi-
sions of this bill abolish the rule which
! provides majorities shall rule. Why
even the constitution of Utah provides
/ for verdict at the hands Of two-thirds
of jury, while in this case the adVo-
Gates Of the measure are afraid to
trust to a majority vote Of the non
partisan four created. A chief Of a
department who is afraid of vote of
be a very competent man. The only
result which can obtain in this mat
ter is that some pet may be perpetu-
ated in office. The poor devil of a
common policeman, who has as many
rights as the chief can be removed at
the supreme will of the chief who has
the power of the czar. If the bill
passes the life of the member will in
deed be an unhappy one.
N-aT- a.,ic
GET NO SALARY.
Allison moved to strike out the sec
ton providing for the payment of an
annual salary of 5000 to members and
$3.50 TO the chairman. which was agreed
to.
Jones moved an amendment to see
ton l, making it read that within so
days after the passage and approval
Of the act the mayor and city
council shall appoint new board and
striking out the clause providing that
no member of the present board shall
be affected
Sutherland objected to the amend
ment. 1t was made in order to give
the mayor chance to appoint a new
board
Glen Miller opposed the amendment
because of its reference to men and
not principles.
Jones said he offered the amendment
because one member of the fire and
police board has been so assiduous in
his efforts to persuade members of
both houses 10 vote for the bill 1t is
manifest from appearances that
the members Of the present board are
in favor of this law. This may ac-
count for the daily presence of the
chief Of police Of this city: the daily
presence of the chief of the fire de-
partment and the frequent appearance
of the two chiefs from Ogden. The OBJ
Ject of the measure seems to be to
perpetuate these men in Office. The
heads of the departments have been in
power for several years. If they are
competent and have performed their
duty they need not fear the action
of a non-partisan board"
SUTHERLAND HITS HOME.
Sutherland. replying, said he had
been accused Of being prompted by
Interior motives in his position in ad-
vocating the bill. He had been &C
cused Of being Chief Praut's attorney,
when such is not the case. He had no
purpose in view save the ACCOMPLISH
ing of good TO the city of Ogden and
the city of Salt Lake. AS far as the
presence Of the chiefs was concerned,
he noted also the mayor and city at
tOrney were on hand. Replying to a
question by Warner. the speaker ad-
mltted his firm was attorney for Pratt
in the Parsons case. Continuing, Suth-
erland said he had been approached by
parties who wanted the bill killed and
had been informed his political death
warrant was signed when he voted
for the bill
80 you are going to sit by a po-
litical grave with Mr.. Roberts?" said
Allison.
Il cannot tell whether / am or not,
but 1 am willing TO sit with Mr. Rob
erts anywhere. as he is an honorable
gentleman"
COMMISSIONER JENNINGS COM
PLIMENTED.
The speaker defended Commissioner
Jennings, who, he said. was IN
doUbtedly the commissioner alluded to
by the previous speaker. Jennings has
the same right to advocate the meas
ure as any other man. He read an
excellent report from a speech by Com
missioner Roosevelt in support of this
position This bill was a measure
which ought to be passed. It covered
all the ground and was a complete
bill. 1t had been tried with good effect
in the city Of Milwaukee, where it has
been in force for years and no COM
plants have been made.
Warner declared that the friends Of
the bill had began work early. They
had left nothing undone which could
be done. Men who We're vitality inter
ested had approached members and
labored with them at all times day
and night. Not only they, but their
friends had been working for the pas
sage of the act. The bill savors of
perpetuating certain officers in office
1t is carefully drawn with that end
in view. Why should Senator Suther-
land fight SO hard for his friends, in
this measure? Why should not his
friends take the same chances other
mems friends did? The offering of
the amendment had exposed the hand
Of those who were trying to force the
bill through. Why all this pulp"
Why all the importuning of members
if there was not hidden reason for
the measure?
BOOTH FOR THE BILL.
Senator Booth declared in favor Of
the principle of the bill. It was either
right or wrong. The balance was de-
voted to felicitating himself upon the
presence of so many distinguished gem
tlemen to hear the discussion When
he had finished Allison said he thought
the debate was takin too wide a range.
There were certain amendments under
discussion and senators ought to con-
fine themselves to the subject.
Jones secured the floor once more
and read a portion of the mayors
to the council It has been
stated, said Jones. as an argument in