Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-01-29
uSwIsE LEGISLATION.


1t Is evident that the steady-minded
aud prudent members OF the Leglsla-
ture win have to exercise that caution
and frmuess expected OF them, IN pre-
venting rash legislation, devised for
private ends and introduced by re-
quest" or aiming at objects OF popu-
lar dlstrust occasioned by misunder-
standing and prejudice,
The railroad bill appears to be un-
likely OF passage. and that IS an indica-
ton OF good sense on the part Of many
members, and the sudden end Of some
other obstructive measures are signs Of
the same character
The proposition to put the whole pow
er Of food inspection for the entire
state IN the hands OF one appointed
commissioner, who Is TO perform lmpos-
sble duties. is another Of those crude
measures that are startling In their
pretensions. il needs the most careful
consideration, and should not be hur-
ried through In committee or In open
session.
The most audacious and ill.adylsed
bill introduced as yet, Is that designed
to establish one-man power IN this
city aud Ogden Experience has Prov
en-, beyond question, the evil Of giving
too much arbitrary authority to SIN
gle municipal officer The principle
which regulates the appointing and re-
moving power of executives by means
OF legislative body, prevails through
out this republic and 1t Is equally bene-
fetal In cities and states as IN the Ma
ton. To strike out the clauses In the
law that require executive appoint
ments and removals to be made "by
and with the consent of the city coun-
cll' and leave them to the sole disore-
ton, or whim, or fayorItlsm, or ven-
geance of one individual, would be to
clothe him with too great authority.
and establish an autooracy that, In the
hands Of an unwise or schemlng or re.
yenegeful person. would be disastrous
TO the general welfare.
The excuse offered that certain or
dmances in this city are not enforced,
because unlimited power to appoint and
remove policemen is not exercised by
the Mayor, Is one Of the illmsiest and
most transparent that could be manu-
featured II Is really as laughable as il
Is untrue. Everybody who knows any
thing of existing conditions here. knows
that the disposition to suppress the
forms Of lawnessness chiefly COM
planned against. only needs TO be firm
ly manifest IN the executive depart
ment 10 effect all the reforms that rea-
son can require.
Suppose the bill should become q law;
that mayor should be elected who,
while openly promising before election
that the ordinances against gambling,
Sunday liquor-selllng, prostitution and
other vices shall be vigorously enforced,
on the side allows the promoters OF
those vices TO understand that they Will
be quietly tolerated, after a squirt or
two to satisfy the puritans; that his
election is made sure by n combination
of the sporting and saloon elements
OF all political parties; that he is thus
under obligation 10 wink at their de-
iinquencies and therefore chooses
such subordinate officers as will fan In
with his purposes; that he can remove
an officer too Jealous TO suit his
schemes; that nothing stands in the
way Of his antocrauo rule and the city
Is thus at his feet Is that beyond
possibility Is IL not within the lines
Of probability? Has not Salt Lake good
reason TO regard It's likelihood with
vehement disfayoyg
Who knows how an unrestricted off,
eial VIII act until he Is triedg Why
vest autocratic power in one lndiyidu-
all Is 1t not safer and more republican
to put a check on existing authority
Who proposes to take that prudent
check away2 Does not the proposition
come from interested sources?
We warn the careful members Of the
Legislature against this undisgulsed
attempt to deprive city councils OF pow
ers that experience has shown 70 be
Wise and necessary. and place them in
arbitrary individual control, which
might be used well by good and pru-
dent man, but could be exercised by
a different person vastly to the public
detrment The bill is bad, vicious and
unnecessary, and ought to be strangled
at the birth.