The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-25

The motion to defer action was de-
feated and .he bill read a second time.
The principal amendments suggested
! by the committee to the fire and police
! bill are as follows:
Add the following: 1.-THE board shall
! hold regular sessions at least once each
month. to be fixed by rule of the board,
and each member of the board shall be
! presumed to have notice of such regu-
lar meetings, and at all such regular
! meetings three members of said board
shall constitute quorum and be au-
! thorized to transact any business
which may come before the board.
ANY member Of the said board may
! be removed by the mayor, two-thirds
| Of all the members elected to the city
council agreeing thereto"
Instead of leaving the salary to be
fixed by the city council, the commit
tee would provide for IAN annual sal
airy of 5000 each, to be paid quarterly
by the respective cities; provided that
the chairman of said board shall re-
ceive an additional sum Of $50 per an
mum, payable quarterly"
In line 43, page 4, strike out but
the expenses of either department shall
! not exceed the amount appropriated
! unless by special provision Of the city
council" and insert in lieu thereof,
provided, that the said orders for said
expense shall not take precedence over
any appropriation by said city council
for the payment of interest upon the
! bonded Indebtedness of said city, and
provided further, that the said city
shall not be called upon to pay, and
the said board shall not draw upon
said account for a sum exceeding more
than one-siXth of said total annual al
fowance during any one calendar
month. Said board is hereby express
ly prohibited from mourning any debt,
obligation or liability in excess of the
sum of said total annual appropria-
ton without having first obtained the
consent and authorization of the said
city council"
Senator Allison opposed the fixing of
a salary by the legislature. He inclin-
ed to the belief that as these boards
were presumed to be composed of men
of standing, the compensation of 5000
per year was as nothing. The legis-
lature might as well leave it unfxed
| and then if the city councils wanted
anything paid, they have the right to
make an appropriation. Personally,
Allison thought the position of com
missioner should be honorary.
Sutherland believed the legislature
should fix the amount. Permitting the
city council to have charge of the mat
ter was to place the board under its
influence, and this condition was to be
deplored. The board ought to be free
from any influence of this kind
Senator Jones opposed the amend
ment; in fact, he was opposed to the
bill in its entirety, which he character
lied as a scheme to keep the present
heads of departments in Office.
Allison returned to the charge, when
Jones had finished, and made another
speech against the amendment. Men
like Frank P. Stephens did not need
the 5000. and he thought their services
would be given gratis as quickly as if
they were paid the same. Besides the
expense was an unnecessary one.
Sutherland, replying, said he presum-
ed Ogden, being a small village, could
not afford the expense. He recently
had the pleasure of going to Ogden and
found it a primitive place. Applying at
the hotel Office for an outside room. he
was informed by the clerk he could
have amy room in the place, all being
empty.
will the senator permit a question? ?"
said Allison.
Certainly
1.-THE senator declares he had great
pleasure in visiting Ogden. Finding
such condition as he pictures. does
not the senator characterize that a
pleasure?"
L remarked that [ had great pleas
ure in going there" said Sutherland.
81 confess l had more coming back"
daughter
Senator Warner offered an amend
ment to section Il, which read "all
vacancies, in either department shall
be filed and all new appointments
shall be made by the respective chiefs,
with the approval of the board" by
striking out the words respective
chiefs with the APPROVAL of making
either department shall be made by
the board"
This was signal for opposition by
Sutherland who said the chiefs should
have the power of selection inasmuch
as they were the responsible heads of
the departments.
Booth spoke against the amendment.
He was not certain as to whether he
would vote for the bill or not, but
believed the chiefs should have power
to make selections of employees. Other
wise he would have no rights which
the board would be bound to respect.
The board could give him what men it
choose to and he would have nothing
to say in relation to the matter
In advocacy of this amendment
Warner declared the board was sup
posed to be non-partisan. But here it
is proposed to create plutocratic
power and place it in the hands of one
man. The board has nothing to say
regarding the selection of men save that
of voting on names submitted by the
chiefs. If the members do not con-
firm one man he sends in another The
board, the controlling power, is limited
in it's functions, and one man given all
&1.1 111f 1F hn
with decided political opinions; what
man is not? He has a power under the
provisions of this bill to discharge a
man for no reason at all. He can con-
ceive a dislike to a member of his de-
partment and dismiss him, providing
as an excuse the person dismissed was
not a thorough member of the depart
ment: not suited for the place. He can
employ, or recommend for employment
political friends and the board can do
nothing except reject them. The
spirit of the bill is lost without the
passage of this amendment.
Jones favored the passage of the
amendment, if the bill is to pass, which
he hoped it would not, because under
the provisions without amendment, the
chief of police and chief of the fire
department could fill the places with
their relatives and friends. The board
is powerless to remove the chief, save
by a unanimous vote. The chief is ap-
pointed for life. He would be poor
man who could not secure the al
legiance of one member of the board,
and have his assistance always. The
chief is granted a power despotic in
principle and acton. Although an ex-
animation is provided for, the final de-
cision is left in the hands of the chief
The board is nothing We might as
well pass an act creating the position
and appoint these chiefs for life. Jones