The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-05-03
SECRECY IN PUBLIC OFFICE.

SECRECY IN PUBLIC OFFICE.
1t is an axiom in government that
publicity is the chief safeguard against
vrong-doing by public servants. From
congress down, public servants assume
no right to do anything pertaining to
public business in secret. The sole pos
sfble exceptions are the executive ses-
sions Of the United States senate
which are in no wise Secret so far
as the press is concerned-and sessions
Of the courts in cases where the mat
ter in hearing is unfit for publication.
Public policy in this country has al
ways demanded open discussion and a
full explanation of reasons for acts af-
fecting the public welfare. Any citizen.
reporter or not, has a right to attend
any meeting Of public officials.
The board Of education Of Salt Lake.
by its majority, has established a Gus
tom Of doing practically all of it's i'm
portant business in secret, though the
board prefers to call its private meet
ings by the less offensive name Of Eek
ecutive" sessions It is no exaggera-
ton to say that the really vital trans
az luis VI Tic DOuLO are Oil determined
in secret concIave, though occasionally
he business is completed in open meet
ing after the course of action has been
arranged in private.
This star chamber business has con-
tinued until the board seems to have
conceived the notion that it is right
and proper. The committee meetings
OF the committee on teachers and school
work. the most important committee
of the board. are almost invariably held
in the private Office Of one of the mem
bers and the reporters Of the Salt Lake
newspapers are excluded. Possibly
there may be cases affecting charges
against individuals where the commit
tee could claim exemption from public
fly until the cases were decided: but in
a very large part of the work, the pub
lie has a direct interest, an unques-
toned right to know. through the. press.
what is being done and why it is done.
To call attention to the boards DO
sftion and TO emphasize the public's
right to reports of its proceedings, one
of The Herald staff protested against
leaving the regular session of the board
at It's meeting Tuesday night when an
executive" session was declared The
board declared it's intention Of calling
policeman to remove the reporter and
he left Waving the question as to
any poIiceman's right TO carry out
such an order, the board showed its
policy; it gave notice that it intended
TO transact public business behind
closed doors, and to prevent the people
who pay for the schools from knowing
what is going on.
Mathonihah Thomas, one Of the mem
bers of the board, was particularly OBJ
noxious in his determination to prevent
the proceedings from being held In the
open, apparently assuming that he has
some sort of exemption from the rules
Of usage which govern other public SER
wants in their official acts. Mr.. Thomas
ought to know that no honest, faithful
public servant has any objection TO let
ting the people know exactly what he
is doing and why; he ought to know
that the people whom ne serves are en-
titled to reports of every act Of the
board, and the reasons leading to it.
He ought to know. and is in a fair way
70 learn. that no dark lantern pro
cedure ever succeeded long in public
office
The board of education is on the
same basis exactly as the city council,
and the county commissioners. Imag-
inc the public indignation if the city
council attempted to transact it's i'm
portant business behind closed doors
and pledge it's members to secrecy
Imagine the fate of the city's affairs if
the restraint of publicity were removed
No good reason has been advanced
vhv the board of education should be
an exception to the invariable rule gov
erning such bodies and none can be.
If it's business is being done honestly
and efficiently, the members should be
glad to have il known. If its affairs
will not stand publicity. the board
ought to get out. There is no other
alternative Possibly this board is of
the sort to be trusted in the dark, but
that does not excuse its position nor
does it insure the perpetuation of hon