The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-03-10
GAIT LAKE BETRAYED.

salt Lakes EFFORT 10 secure better
municipal administration through the
adoption OF the Galveston plan of city
government has been defeated by
Speaker Harry S. Joseph and the fed
eral officeholders of this state. of whom
William Spry. United States marshal,
and Z. II. Callister, collector of inter-
nal revenue, are spokesman. No pub
lie reasons for defeating and defying
the wishes of Salt Lake were advanced,
no valid objection TO the plan was Of
fered. The dominant faction of the Re
publican party wished it beaten and on
order from the machine. through Spry
and Callister, the speaker and his loI-
lowers have prevented an attempt to
tafe the measures from the table for
nsideIation.
For at least two years more this city
will have to do business under the pres
ent cumbersome, expensive and unsat-
isfactory method; for at least two years
the people here will be burdened with
the same petty politics, the same job
berry, the incompetent pubic servants
that invariably get Office under The
present plan. The speaker Who was
elected to the legislature from this city,
who was honored by elevation to the
speakership. has betrayed his constitu-
ents, obstructed every effort to secure
municipal reform. proslitute6 his posi-
ton as speaker to accomplish this re-
StsI4 nd l.
to the yoke of the federal officeholdcrs'
syndicate on promise OF future political
reward. No more abjeet debasement
of high public official has ever been
seen in Utah; no more pitiable betrayal
of a constituency could be soer any
where.
1t should be borne in mind that the
demand from Salt Lake f1r this meas
ure of reform was the only vital lesis-
lation asked by the city. The demand
was almost universal, the opposition
limited to politicians who care moth
ing for Salt Lakes welfare or for the
future OF the city so long as they can
make money and promote their per-
sonal fortunes at the expense of the
city. The citizens who urged the pass
age of the Galveston bills comprised
Republicans, Democrats, Americans,
alike. The very purpose of the reform
was to eliminate as far as possible the
political jobbery which has been the
curse Of the city. There was no politics
in the movement for this change: on
the contrary, it was an effort of good
citizens TO give Salt Lake a business
administration of its business affairs.
The new plan contemplated the cleo
tion of three commissioners and an
auditor, who were to be given author
ity to transact the city's business. but
were to be paid good salary for de-
voting their whole time to the work.
and were to represent the whole city
in their: administration. 1t made no
difference to the men and women back
of this plan who might be elected so
Ions as they were good men. Election
from the city at large might mean the
success OF either party. it would GER
tainiy mean the election of better men
than are entrusted with the city's gov
ernmenteunder the present system of
divided responsibility and election bv
five municipal wards. The experiment
had been tried elsewhere anu found
successful; 1t appealed to the iudgfacnt
OF business men, and il had been ap-
proved by the Salt Lake delegation.
which was committed TO it until Mr..
Spry. who is not a citizen of Salt Lake
OR was not until reeently-aided by
Mr. cailister and Mr.. Joseph, defea5ed
it.
What the motive was behind this
conspiracy against Salt Lake can only
be guessed. but it could not have been
a good metive. What >the result viii
be can only be surmised. but it ought To
end in the political disgrace and retire-
ment of Joseph and the ultimate defeat
of the machine that NEEDLES and die
tates and stirs up strife. It ought to
be warrant for an appeal TO the presl-
dent against the retention of men like |
Spry and Callister IN federal Office. !
They are paid BY the government to |
perform the duties of their offices. they |
spend mcst of their time on other |
business. They are responsible for |
much of the turmoil that has handl- |
apped every attempt 20 get honest, ef-
seient administration in city. county !
and stases they are largely to blame