The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-25
rHE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL.


Last evening the News devoted its
leading article to a discussion of the
appointive power, discussing it pri-
marily from the national point of view.
and then making local application of
the doctrine of the theory of the ap-
pointive power 1t says. in part:
Any attempt by the city council to
discredit or weaken the non-partisan
cause or sentiment in this city by re-
fusing for partisan or political reasons
TO confirm the nominations made by
the mayor, Will prove utterly abortive.
Such q course by the partisans either
in or outside of the city council will
create public sympathy for the nom
partisan mayor and the movement
which placed him in power. The
council has adopted q resolution re-
citing that the police department is in
a disorganized condition, and asking the
mayor to make haste in appointing its
officers and members. 1t is very de-
sirable TO secure harmony in that de-
partment and the selection of it's Off
GERS and members will no doubt be gov
erned by this purpose. When the head
of the department shall be determined
upon, but not till then. can his subor-
dinates be consistently chosen.
Then whose fault is it that the po-
lice department continues in the con-
ditiOn described in the resolution
adopted by the council? If the city
Is being given a political administra-
ton characterized by partisan rather
than business methods, as limited at in
the resolution, who is TO blame? Does
the council propose to exercise the ap-
pointing as well as the confirming pre-
rogative? It cannot rightfully do by
indirection that which If cannot law
fully do directly; and the nominations
made by the mayor ought to be con-
firmed, unless better reasons can be
given than have yet been advanced for
not doing so.
The council need take no steps to
discredit the non-partisan cause. for it
has already fallen into a greater dis
credit than anyone could have believed
1t could in so short time; it's friends
and promoters have done more to dis
credit it than its enemies possibly
could Many who supported it now
realize that it was piece of hollow
mockery, and they cite one nomination
that was made at the special request
of prominent member of the nom
partisan committee as an evidence of
the insincerity of the whole affair.
The News refers to the resolution in
reference to the police department.
passed by the council Wednesday night,
and asks whose fault it is that the po-
lice department continues in the con-
dition described in the resolution. 1t
is Mayor Clark's, and not the council. !
He made his nomination for head of
the police department and it was re-
ferred back to him, in the most re-
spectful terms, for reconsideration. He
it and sent the same name !
in again, and the council rejected it. /
Why doesn't Mayor Clark send in an
other name? That he alone, perhaps, ,
can answer: but it is the general i'm i
preston that he is waiting the issue |
Of Mr.. Pratt's suit brought for back /
pay and to determine the title to the |
office of chief Of police; and that if
Mr.. Pratt shall be successful he will /
not send in any ether nomination for
chief of police.
Mayor Clark was elected as a nom
partisan, yet this city never had as
its chief executive a man more vio-
ently partisan than he is proving him
self to be. He appears to be imbued
with the very essence of the nom
partisan spirit which was so manifest
Turing the municipal campaign, and
hat spirit was and is. Non artisans
are better than partisans' He was
elected by the votes of the people, just
he same IS the members of the city
council were; and he did not receive
/ majority of them. Those who sup
ported him, especially his immediate
encourage, speak of the mayor as
hough he had been made u sacred
person because he was elected as
he is no more sacred
han any other member of the city
government, and it isn't treason to the
state, or evidence of black hearted vii
Amy, to say that his honor is not the
'ole official elected by the people.
1t can be said, without fear of sue
,essful contradiction, that in the mat
er of nominations, the council has
oeen far more considerate of the
mayors wishes than the mayor has
# the councirs.