Truth. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1901-1908, 1905-03-18
THE LATE LEGISLATURE

Sanlzation of the legislature. AS its
business commenced the radical ele.
ment, whose object it was believed
was to overturn everything and make
the state administration ant-Wells,
and strictly partisan as they under
stood partisanship, was in high featn.
err, went sailing armed from the gov
ernor's office to the senate and house.
giving orders, stating what legislation
should be enacted, and regulating
things generally.
When once decided the decision ar
rived at was usually conveyed to the
governor and members of the house
in sympathy with them.
No attempt at first was made to do
much with the senate, the atmosphere
surrounding that body not being colt
genial.
1t is not intended by the above to
slur the governor. He was never in
formed and never knew of these Sc
cret conferences, and after they were
held and it was necessary to have him
endorse what had been agreed upon
the coterie as whole or in part
would call upon him and present the
matter from their point of view and
advise, that such action be had as a
good party measure. 1t was in this
way that that part of the governors
message relating to state boards, etc,
was given birth.
The coterie having decided that all
state boards and appointees must be
removed and the boards made strictly
partisan prepared beforehand the nee.
hi1lc nd hN hnx
introduced. 1t was announced by them
that these bills would be speedily
adopted, and so and so would have to
go and so and so would be appointed,
etc.
About one week after the session
commenced it came to be spread
around that the coterie was likely to
strike a frost in the senate, and sew.
eral senators were quoted as saying
that they did not propose to be side
partners with self appointed kitchen
cabinet in a wholesale raid upon state
board of appointees, in extending city
offices, and upon well settled and well
considered laws. The new plan of
civil service reform did not meet with
their favor.
AS the session advanced, 1t devel-
oped that the senate was composed of
men of individual character and ca
pacity and of strict political integrity
who could not be led around by the
political ring. The same cannot be said
of the house. 1t is true the house had
several members who were of the
same calibre as the senate, men who
believed as did the senate in politics
being free from ring rule and dishon-
est and unfair schemes, but the large
majority were otherwise, were men
who did as they were ordered, whose
highest ambition was to learn the
wishes of their political masters and
hasten to carry them out.
With two or three exceptions the
Salt Lake delegation were under the
absolute control of the kitchen cab
met. There were some men of whom
better things were expected, men
whose ability led the people to think
they would not permit themselves to
be handled like so many cattle, but
they were. Now that the session Is
over the house of two years ago rises
by comparison head and shoulders
above this last one. 1t is to be hoped
that never again will Utah elect
house like the last one.
In my next letter / will talk OF the
bills aimed to destroy the efficiency
and usefulness of the State Boards,