Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-12-09
TO SEPARATE
CITY AND COUNTY
Judge King Lays His Scheme Be-
fore the Commercial Club.
CONDITIONS MOTHER CITIES
Project n Carried Out Would Mean
Economy In All Department.
or CITY Government

There was n good attendance last
night at the Commercial club where
the feature Of the meeting was the 'ia-
dress by Judge King on the project to
separate Salt Lake city and salt Lake
county. The judge prefaced his re"
marks with the statement that the city
is suffering from a too heavy dose OF
politics and political spells rather lhan
good government the prime object OF
consideration. In fact 1t Is an unfof-
tunate condition prevalent In American
cities generally that municipal anaIrs
are the prey OF politicians, and that
; business methods DO not prevail COM
dtions in New York and other cities
were cited to show the bad enect OK
politics. Then the speaker stated that
from 20 10 IS per cent OF the property
! Of Salt Lake county Is In Salt Lake
3 City; two sets of officers are supported,
when one set could do all the work, and
I do II better. Washington, ID, O., was
cited. where all thel legislative and ex-
ecutiye functions are combined In three
commissioners. They are non-partlsan,
are appointed on merit and are given
full power.
Denver and San Francisco have re-
Gently carved out separate counties for
q the cities and the general tendency Is
for all big cities 10 do likewise. com.
binIng the governments OF city and
county. The speaker recommended
having five councilmen, instead OF 10.
He believed this Capitalization OF re-
sponsibillty would have beneficial ef-
feet.
The county's interest In the joint
building could be purchased. the present
charter repealed by act OF the legisla-
ture; and the people OF the county
would be glad TO vote for the separa-
ton, as II would give them county
seat much nearer home.
SALT LAKES TAXES.
The speaker called attention 70 the
fact that Salt Lakes taxes are 30 per
cent higher than In other cities, and a
separation Of city and county would
materially reduce these taxes. He held
II wise 10 pay each OF the MEM
bers Of the new city board suggested
5000 to 5000 year, 80 they could
give their entire time to the city,
and each should be given general
charge of some department of the city
business AS for Instance. one member
should have especial supervision over \
the Are department. another over the
police, another over the waterworks
and no on. According to this plan the
board would create the ordinances. and
mould also have charge Of their en-
forceinent and the administration of
the Offices,
BY this plan, Judge King said, taxes
would be reduced, a saving OF revenue
sufficient TO provide for an adequate
water supply would be effected, and
the city would be put in better shape
generally. Street improvements and
other municipal betterments are need
90. WIN THESE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS lp,u, ana wan
high standard, with the natural adj
vantage OF climate and location. the
city should leap ahead, said the speak
er, until 1t was the greatest between
Chicago and the Pacific coast. not
even excepting Denver
orurp vrrve
" Jews
4 Several members OF the club thought
that under the constitution the con-
sent OF all Of Salt Lake county would
have to be gained In order to make the
change. The only provision OF the con-
sttution applying to this case was cit
ed as follows
mo territory shall be stricken from
any county unless majority Of the
voters living In such territory, as well
as OF the county TO which 1t is to be
annexed shall vote therefor, and then
only under such provisions as may be
prescribed by general law"
Attorneys present declared that II
the voters Of Salt Lake City consented
TO the change, and the Legislature
passed the necessary law, the consent
OF the rest OF the present county was
not required.
co,Nrv rpr GRIMM, nr
i'n-ASoi'ri' DALE
II was decided 10 appoint q committee
OF five TO consider the suggestions of
Judge King. and President Nelden said
he would appoint the same today on
Invitation County Treaenrar naia