The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-03-02
HOUSE PASSES
RIPPER MEASURE
Fire and Police Commission
Bill Goes Through With
Amendment.
SALT LAKE is NOT ALONE
SMALLER CITIES AS WELL ARE
AFFECTED.

If the fire and police commission bill
has half as smooth sailing when it en-
tiers the senate as it had in the house
yesterday. it will speedily be in the hands
of the governor for his executive appro-
val The ripper measure went through
the lower branch on rolIcaIl with only
eight votes recorded against it, although
at one time there threatened to muster an
opposition far more formidable. The vote
was 30 ayes TO S noes. as follows:
Ayes-Barnett. Benson, Bower, Downs,
Clegg, Critchlow, Croft, Davis. Dyreng
Eidredger Fuller Hansen. Hendricks.
Hone, Jackson, Nephius Jensen. Larson
Mcmillan. McRae. Marks. Vaughan
Meeks, Mills, Parry, Petersen, Richards,
ToltOn, Weston. Westphal. Mr.. Speaker
Noes-Cottam, Dean. Henrie. Holt,
huchier, Long, Miller Randall-S
Where the State Steps In.
The fire and police commission bill vir-
tually places the direction of the fire and
police departments of cities affected by
its provisions in the hands of the gov
ernor of the state, OF, to be more exact.
in the hands of a commission of three
appointed by him. The mayor and city
council or other governing body of the
cities affected are bereft of all power to
organize their fire or police departments.
as well as diSpOSSeSsed of all authority
members of the service. The cities. how
ever. continue to pay the cost of main
tanning the departments. Each year the
municipal government is notified of the
amount that will be needed for salaries,
maintenance and other expenses and it is
expected TO have that sum ready TO hand
over to the governors board.
The salaries attached to the commits
siOnerships are $1,000 for the president
and $3.50 for the other members of the
board in cities of the first class. and $500
for the president and $500 for the other
members in cities. having a population
of the board shall be of political faith
differing from that held by the COVER
nor who names him. When the bill be-
comes effective. which Will be lmmedi-
ately upon its approval by the executive,
the existing fire and police organizations
shall go out of existence and all property,
and apparatus usually a part of such de-
partments must be turned over to the
new board.
Salt Lake Not Alone.
When Mr. Critchlow introduced the bill.
which bears the number l2b, il was de-
signed particularly for the alleged needs
of Salt Lake City. but when IL came
before the house it was so amended that
Ogden may take advantage OF its prONl-
siOns, if it SO desire. or any other city
having a population of 10000 or more.
When the vote was taken, however, three
of Weber county's delegation voted IN
opposl.IOn and one in the affirmative
one of those casting his vote III oppose
ton Mr. Kuchler first suggested the
amendment that the bill be extended 10
cover smaller cities and also suggested
the amount of the compensation the
board members shall receive MI kuch-
Ter voted no because, he said. he believed
the salaries fixed for first class cities are
too high The chief ground for antagon-
ism on the part of the others VINO voted
in the negative was their belief that cit
les should be permitted to run their own
affairs without interference by the state.
Amendments Thick and Fast.
When the third reading of the bill had
been completed, Speaker Joseph called
Mr. Tolton to the chair and took place
on the floor. Throughout the discussion
he was most ardent and decidedly Wig
orous supnOrter OF the measure AGOp-
zion havinq been moved amendments be-
gan TO pour in like hailstones falling
from a Kansas sky. There were amend
ments and amendments to the amend
ments and substitute amendments, and
then vet more amendments There was
a time when the tangle was as pretty
one as one wished to see
Il move you. Mr.: Speaker cried one
nmnnSments be- rejected and that we
start over again" but his appeal was lost
in the confusion
Simmered down, the amendments of
consequence were those offered by Mr..
MIR. Kuchler. that cities of population
OF % .OO0 or more be included. and that
the salaries be fixed as stated Both or
these, in the end. were adopted and are
an essential part of the act
Mr.. Henrie of Garfield moved to amend
so that the bill include cities Of the third
7 do not believe that cities of the
third class want this Dill. SAID MT
Critchlow ut is intended merely to
cover a situation that confronts the peo-
pie of Salt Lake"
well I live in a third class city" re-
marked Mr. Henrie drily. land some day
we NAV want the governor to help US
out of political - But the SPEAK
er's gavel cut him short
The HenFie amendment was lost, only
a few members voting aye.
An amendment was adopted making the
act effective upon the approval by the
governor.
Police Department Rotten.
Then came another tug of war. Mr..
Henrie moved to strike out the words