The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-07

The Municipal League got out its re-
form axe last night and whetted t&at
rusty implement for dire use in the
coming spring election. Henceforth
theory will be cast to the winds and the
sleuthing committees of the federation
will be sent into the field to dig W
the records of those office holders who
have not attained the high plane of
duty demanded by the tenets of the
league.
This sudden arousing was brought
about at last nights meeting by a COM
blnation of forces for which Miss
Farnsworth and President Cald-
well were mainly responsible. Every
thing was kept dark until after Mayor
Glendinning and Alderman Mulvey had
closed the eye of suspicion and retired
frcm the spectators gallery. Miss
tarnsworth, earlier in the session,
stimulated the league by an essay on
Parkhurst Reform in New York City,
1t contained many salient hits and
thoroughly imbued the meeting with
the spirit of Tammany's great foe. 1t
also prepared the way for the practical
advice given later by Vice President
Caldwell, who succeeded in getting his
sentiments on an aggressive policy en-
dorSed by the league DIR. Lockwood
shook the committee on morals from
It's lethargy and gave notice that the
next meeting of the fire and police
board would be overshadowed by the
presence of high morals. DR.. Lock
wood also got President Lawrence to
consent to expose the political ma
chlne and its methods" at the next
meeting.
ON FRANCHISES
Principal among the several papers
read was one emanating from Presi-
cent Lawrence, framed as a protest of
the Municipal League against the fur
! ther granting of franchises without the
consent of the people, and increased
taxation. 1t is a terse and vigorous
document and went on to say that:
The Municipal League of Salt Lake
City having organized for the purpose of
! securing to the citizens an honest pure
ana economical government by the active
cooperation of its members. regardless
alike of parties. classes or POLITICAL
limitations and aiming to effect these
endS by all honorable means. the associa-
! ton does respectfully submit to the citi-
Zens ana tax payers the following facts
LOT their earnest consideration, to he
! end that the city, county and other Of
! f1c1als may take such action in the
premises as may be conducive to the best
interest: OF all concerned; it being the
| unouestioned right and duty of every
citizen to use his influence for the attain
ment of good government in these import
| ant subjects.
/ Gre of the most urgent matters de-
handing consideration is IN relation to
valuable franchises of vested rights to
private corporations instead of retain
! ing them for the use and benefit IF the
community at large.
When a large number of leading Ameri-
can and European cities are not riecely
through municipal ownership and con-
troll their own waterworks, gas and
electric lighting and street railways to-
gether with such other public iunc lions
as We're formerly operated exclusively 10y
means of municipal concessions, should
we not cease to cling TO methods that
have been tried and found wanting, and
conform to the more modem ana pro-
most conservative communities have been
demonstrated a practical success: When
new improvements and inventions are
rapidly increasing the production of all
public necessities-thereby materially
lessening their cost, we respectfully sub
nit whether our public officials who are
elected for the short term of two years.
should be allowed to make contracts and
grant franchises OF vested rights. be-
longing to the people-without their con-
sent--for much longer period. and on
terms too, binding them TO increased
taxation. which if retained for the bene-
fit of the people would Tighten the
burdens that now press so heavily upon
them.
For a number of years with every new
administration of political parties has
come increased taxation regardless OF
the conditions OF the people or their
financial ability to meet it: The increase
of taxes discourages Investments in real
property and improvements, that would
otherwise be made and imposes great
hardships upon the industrial classes.
They might meet the eXactions in good
tines when active men of affairs are
reaping the reasonable fruits of their
Toll and enterprise, but in these times of
hon
Watchword in every household, when
many are in sore distress to secure
revenue for food, clothes and shelter.
when labor is without employment and
the little property the people have left
(in many cases heavily mortgaged) with
values steadily decreasing, they should
not be required to submit to increased
taxation such now contemplated. We
feel assured therefore that we but voice
the sentiment of a majority of the tax
payers in demanding the enforcement of
a rigid economy in every department
state county, municipal and educational
That all expenditures Furthermore be
restricted to the lowest possible point
and the people secure immunity from in
creased taxation, until such times as
ale labor shall be employed and values
at least partially restored. and for the
accomplishment of which we earnestly
invoke the aid and support of all good
citizens.
President Lawrence supplemented the
members to carefully study the matters
treated in the protest, all of which was
heartily Endorsed. 1t was at this point
Vice-President Caldwell made a strong
plea for practice as against theory. He
was in perfect accord with the educa-
tional idea of the league and in favor of
continuing the discussion of ways and
means to improve municipal govern
ment by reforms in its several
branches, but he knew that the most
Immediate ends could only be gained
by striking at the politics which made
the corruption possible. Following up
this linesof thought came the sugges-
ton that brought Mr.. Caldwell so
prominently into the fray.
CALDWELL'S PLANS.
He proposed that the league divide its
programme into two sections, one of
theoretical subjects and the other of
the records of officials then in power,
with the view of commencing those en-
titled to further suffrage and the con-
domination of the unworthy. To put it
laconicly, Mr. Caldwell told the league
in a few pointed words that it would
never accomplish any practical re-
forms unless it took the rod and smote
the unrighteous. His idea was Endorsed
and a bureau of clippers will forth
with begin to assiduously clip every
thing published in the dailies concern
ing fire and police board doings, the
meetings of the city council and indi
vidual acts of public officials.
COMMITTEE ON MORALS.
DR.. Lockwood was prompted by Mr.
Caldwelrs success to serve notice that
the committee on morals was due to at