The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-27
MAYOR OPPOSES
COMMISSION PLAN
Wants No More Fire and Police
Boards.
CHIEF DEVINE'S BILL
GIVES CHIEF ABUNDANCE oE
POLITICAL ROPE.

Indfca tons are that the fire and po-
lice commission bills viii be put to
sleep by the legislature with scant
ceremony as the measures seem to have
few friends, within or without the leg
islative halls.
Mayor Thompson has very positive
opinions on the bills and is not afraid
to express them in open meeting.
Il am opposed to the commissions, -
he said yesterday. In the first place
the demand does not originate in the
right place. [ have not heard any great
cIamor among the people for such a
commission, and they are the ones, 1t
seems to. me, who should take the first
step in a matter of this kind. We had
a commission of this kind once before
here in Salt Lake, under the Glen
Dining administration, and there was
turmoil from start to finish, until 1t
was wiped out of existence l am IN
favor of leaving the control of the
fire and police departments of this city
right where they are now, with the
mayor and the city council. Such
things, in my judgment, should always
be within reach of the people"
Chief Devine's Bill.
At the request of Fire Chief Devine,
Senator Whitney, as a matter of cOur-
tesy to Senator Lawrence, who is in
Cedar City, yesterday introduced a
measure providing for the establish
ment of fire commission in cities hav-
ing more than 1900 population. The
proposed act gives the chief the wild
est possible latitude in political mat
ters. It enables him to go out on
speech making tours during campaigns
and to mingle in politics as freely as
even he could desire.
The specific provision under which
Chief Devine will be allowed to hustle
for the Republican side is as follows:
THE right Of every person in the fire
department to entertain political or
partisan opinions and to express. same.
freely, when such expression shall not
conflict with the immediate discharge
of his duties as q member of said de-
partment and the right of elective fran
chiSe, shall be inviOlable And a mans
political convictions shall neither be
questioned nor considered in determin-
ing his appointment or promotion to
any position in the said department"
Other provisions are designed to give
Chief DeVtne a life tenure of Office so
long as he behaves himself well. He is
also given the power to run the depart
ment practically to suit himself. He
may make all appointments, promo
tons, Sus pensions or removals, subject
to the confirmation of the board and
thus is placed in his hands a tremen-
dous political lever.
1t is provided that physical and men
tai qualifications, habits and reputa-
ton, standing and experience shall
alone control appointments. If deemed
desirable, competitive examination
may be ordered. All members of the
department shall continue in office IN
less removed for good and sufficient
cause by a majority of the board. pro-
vided, that the chief may not be re-
moved except by a unanimous vote of
that body.
As already stated by The Herald, the
board is to consist of three members,
two of whom are appointed by the gov
ernOr Of opposite political parties, The
mayor is to be the third member, but
he is not eligible TO the chairmanship
The secretary Of the fire department
IS to be secretary of the board ex-
officiO. The members of the board will
not receive any compensation.