Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-29
business men Of this city desire that It
be done.
PRESENT MUNICIPAL FAILuRE.

PRESENT MUNICIPAL FAILURE.
We are all familiar with the inefii-
cheney OF the present municipal system.
We usually blame the party In power;
but 1t is not the fault of any party,
nor Of any particular set of oillce-hold-
ersi the fault lies In the system The
responsibility of our city lies with the
mayor fifteen councilmen. five members
OF a board Of public works, and the oth-
Ell elective officers. The council meets
twice each week-once I'm regular ses-
sion for legislative and other business,
and once subdiyided into committees.
In regular session often nearly one
half of the r1ihe allotted 10 the consid-
Grafton Of the business Is taken up IN
the reading OF petitions and commune
cations, Matters presented 10 the coun-
ell are referred 10 a committees this
committee meets when 1t can get its
members together. The members Of tho
city council are business men, who
have their own affairs 10 attend to, and
who are not paid to give all of their
time to the business OF the city. When
the committee finally reports It goes TO
the council. II may then be laid over,
and II finally acted upon goes to the
mayor for approval II II Is q matter
involving public works II then goes to
the board Of public works. Nowhere
does the subject matter feel the touch
of one responsible for the outcome.
Not only this, but the common expert
ence Is that a member OF body OF 10
will allow matters to go through which
would never receive his vote could the
responsibility be brought right home
TO him.
This movement for change In tho
"a
ltical In its nature; nor Is Il an attack
or a reflection upon any city officials.
past or present. Our municipal affairs
have been administered as well as the
aVerage-far better than many. The
evils to be cured are not the fault OF
any one man or any set OF men, In
deed, so far as my inquiry has gone,
the most loyal supporters OF a change
which viii put the conduct OF our mu-
niclpal business upon business basis
will be those who are serving or have
served as municipal ofti 1ers, for the
very good reason that they understand
best Of all the utter lmpossiblllty OF an
efficient and economical administration
under the present system.
The aggregate salaries OF our mayor
and IL cOuncllmen would pay three
commissioners $4,000 a year each. They
should be In session at least five after
moons and two evenings In each week.
Being themselves personally responsible
for the well being of the city, they will
have pride In making good record.
hey should, OF course. be elected at
large, each one representing the entire
city.
NOT ENTIRELY.
| do not claim that such a system
will take the government entirely out
of politics. At first the machinery OF
the two leading parties will likely be
used for the election of the commission;
but gradually, here, as In Galveston,
the issues Will be narrowed down be-
tween the most moral. intelligent and
progressive citizenship upon one side,
and those who fatten upon the infirlni-
ties OF mankind upon the other, and
when that line is drawn, the right al
ways prevails.
IN national affairs We can stand con-
siderable extravaganza and waste--it
does not get right home to US; but
in our own city the question of right
administration Of municipal affairs be-
comes question OF prosperity, health,
comfort and even OF life and death.
Salt Lake City has been largely In
the pubic eye, we nave not ueStfFtu
all OF the unfayorable notices we have
received but however that may be. we
have had more than our share of trial.
tribuaton and humiliation. IL Is with
In our power to build up here city
government which shall be an example
10 the rest OF the United States We
can have present and viii give this
matter the thought and consideration
which so important a subject deserves.
In conclusion | wish 10 say that there
seems 10 be some apprehension In the
community In regard 20 how the COM
missloners are to be selected should
the Galveston system, or something like
| II, be adopted. Some have been labor
| ing under the impression that II was
| intended TO have commission ap-
| pointed by the governor. To this sug-
| gestion we say, emphatically no. Any
| change IN our municipal government
must get the government nearer 10
I those most interested. not further away,
and our proposal Is 10 have the commits
/ sioners elected at large, so that every
/ voter viii have an opportunity 10 vote
| for each and every one OF them.
| thank you, gentlemen, FOR your kindly
| consideration.