Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-09-15
MUNICIPAL LEAGUE SPEAKS.


a meeting of the board of trustees
of the Municipal League was held last
night at the office of DR.. Silver. The
following report was read and adopt
ed
Your committee on elections begs
leave to report:
First-That the Municipal League as
an organization should not enter the
arena of politics nor make nominations
for any municipal Office, except In the
event that after all party and nom
partisan nominations shall have been
made. II shall appear that no suitable
candidate has been named for any par
tiCular office; then IL would be the
duty of the league to present i'm some
suitable manner candidate for that
office for the suffrages of the people.
Second-As a league we desire TO
impress upon the voters of this city
the important fact that the best in
terests of the municipality demand
the separation of National politics
from municipal affairs. But 50 long
as the citizens OF Salt Lake are di-
vided upon party lines We urge upon
everyone the Importance of attending
the primary of his individual choice
and to urge all friends Of good city
government. especially the newly-en-
tend and by their united efforts en-
deaVor to select such delegates to the
city and ward conventions as Will
guarantee the nomination of good clean
capable and honest persons for the va
rious offices: but that each person of
the league so attending the various
primaries shall reserve the right to
refuse TO support the nominees of such
conventions In case unfit nominations
are made. We would further urge
upon our fellow citizens that a failure
upon theft part to pursue the course
herein suggested may. and is likely to.
entail a continuation of eNtravagant
and corrupt municipal government.
Third-The league believes 1t is of
the greatest Importance to the resi-
dents OF this city that its public utll-
tiles such as waterworks. natural and
artificial gas, electric light and power.
street railways, etc, should at the
earliest practicable moment be owned
and operated by the city instead Of
by private corporations and monopo-
lies.
To Illustrate: We believe that II
would be far better for the city to
own and operate its gas and electric
light plants than to have those fran
chises under the absolute control of n
consolidated trust or monopoly such
as Is now being perfected by which all
competition will be excluded, and the
v.
contract. as well as private customers
left absolutely ut the mercy of the for
eiRn syndicate which Will control this
great monopoly. We believe 1t would
he far better in the future TO see that
persons are elected to the city council
who will not grant, as has been done
in the past, without adequate compen-
sation to the municipality, the Yalu-
able franchises that ought to be un-
| der the control of the people. We be-
lleve further that no important fran
chise should be granted or bonds
| issued except by direct vote of the
people. or all the numerous fran
! chises heretofore granted for railroad
| telephone, street railway, gas. cleo
trio light and other enterprises, the
city has never received any substan-
tinl computation.
Fourth-We observe that the prln-
| ciples first advocated by this league
have already made such progress that
| a distinct movement has been inRug-
urated to secure the nomination and
| election of municipal officers along the
| lines first suggested by the league
but It seems passing strange that
this new movement not only Ignored
| the league as u body, but that TIL,
members of the league were not invit-
! ed to assist in the organization of ths
| so-called non-partisan movement, anC
| from present indications the genera
! public are likewise 10 De ignored II
| the selection of candidates and II
shaping the policy to be pursued.
| Fifth-Finally. let it be distinctly
understood that the Municipal Lcagu,
was not organized for the purpose OF
| influencing one election only or con.
| trolling the spoils of office or the dis
| tribution of patronage, but 1t was or.
ganlzed and will be continued for tn,
purpose, among others, Of arouslng tn,
| neonle 10 the Importance of the re.
| forms herein suggested, as well a.
| others: to use its influence to secur,
the nomination and election of the
| best persons for the various municipal
| offices, without regard to Natlona
marty politics, and who can be depend
| ed upon to carry out needed reform.
and thereby relieve the people from
| the burdens OF unnecessary taxation
caused by the surrender of the natnr
al rights of the people to trusts anC
monopolies; to secure and publish re-