The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-29
GALVESTON IDEA
BEFORE SENATE
Senator Benner X. Smith intro
duCeS Bills to Change Salt
Lakes Government.
TRUSTEES TO DRAW $4,000
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY AND
MUNICIPAL COMMITTEES.

The much agitated question Of com plete-
r. changing the government Of Salt Lake
and vcsting In a board OF three trustees
su the powers now possessed by the may
o- and city council in line with the ia
nous Galveston idea is now sQuarely
before the senate. Thirteen bills. ali Of
which 10 Will be necessary TO pass in order
10 effect the change. were introduced in
the upper house yesterday afternoon. as
nrsdicted in Sundays Herald. by Senator
Benner y. Smith OF Salt Lake.
The measures introduced amend the
present laws relating to municipal admin
istratiOn I'm cities Of the first class and
provide for making the new system ef-
iactive. The three trustees are to be elect
Cd AZ large and are TO receive a salary Of
$500 year. The only other elective Of
ficer provided for is an auditor who will
From present indications Il would seem
that the measures VIII have a fair chance
Of passing the senate. The principal fight
tbere will be made on the number of
trustees provided for and the manner Of
their election. The opposition will con-
tend that there should be five trustees,
one from each municipal ward and not
three chosen from the city as a whole.
Senator Smith contends that this amend
nent would be unwise. as it would result
fin dissensi0n on the board. which might
in this event be composed OF members OF
different political faiths. The object Of
the measure, he contends is to centralize
the government and place the onus OF
good government as nearly as possible
upon a single party, the people TO be the
Judges at election time OF whether the
representatives Of the prevailing party
have performed their duties in satisfac-
tory manner.
on motion OF Senator Smith the bills
were referred 10 the joint committees or
HHH H#.Hn Haaaaa al
Smith is the chairman OF the municipal
affairs committee and Senator Lawrence
Of the judiciary committee.
The following statement. issued by SEN
ator smith. explains the bill in detail:
Senator Smith Explains.
These bills relate to the municipal gov
eminent in cities OF the first class only
and should they become laws the effect
will be 10 abolish the offices Of mayor and
city councilmen and transfer all the pow
ers. duties and privileges now vested
jointly and severally in the mayor anc
city council Of cities OF the first class II
"a board Of three trustees 10 be elected al
large at the municipal election in Novem
Der. 1850. TO take office on the first Mon
day IN January. 1905; one trustee to b'
elected for the term Of four years, tive
trustees to be elected for the term OF tw,
years. and biennially thereafter two truS
tees to be elected. one for the term of TIVE
years and one for the term OF four years
In this way there will always be a hold
over membe Of the board or trustees. a
Is now provided by law for the boards o
county commissioners. There shall als'
be elected a city auditor for term OF TIVE
years.
THE trustees will receive a salary O
s. 600 each per annum. the auditor sal
airy of $500 per annum. The trustees vii
qualify BY taking an oath and giving q
bond I'm the amount OF $4,000 each; the
auditors bond 20 be $4,000
Board to Appoint.
The board of trustees will be author
lied to appoint city recorder. city treas
urer and city attorney. and 10 create and
other officers as are necessary for TIT
good government Of the city. This power
IS now one OF the powers of, the mayor
and city council. Appointive officers may
he removed by the board OF trustees.
The bills will also abolish the board o.
public works. and will terminate the Office
~ such cOuncilmen I'm cities OF the frs
class as would hold over beyond January
1905 D."
The thirteen bills are numbered from
senate bill No. "a TO senate bill No. 46. In.
elusive. The principal measure is senate
bill No. "A. which abolishes the office OF
mayor and city cOuncilmen in cities OF tbs
first class. The text Of the bill is as fol-
lows:
The Principal Bill.
Section THAT section 1S2 OF the revised
statutes OF Utah. 1898. be and the same is
hereby amended 10 read as follows
Sec 1S2-The municipal government OF
am cities Of the first class is hereby vest.
nicipal government OF all cities of the sec
ond and third classes is hereby vested in
a mayor and city council In cities of thu
second class the city council shall bs
each ward. and in cities Of the third elias.
OF five councilmen. chosen at large by
the qualified voters Of the city. TIL,
board Of trustees OF cities OF the frs
class shall have all the duties. power
and privileges as are now provided b.
law and vested jointly and severally il
the mayor and city council OF cities OF TIT
first and second classes. and shall hav,
all the duties, powers and privileges a,
may hereafter be provided by law 70
boards OF trustees OF cities of the frs
class: the boards Of trustees OF cities o
the first class shall be the Successors II
~ said cities Of the first class. and tn
offices of mayor and city councilmen II
cities Of the first class are hereby abol
ished. TO take effect on the first Monda,
in January. 1908. at u O'Clock meridian.
Senate bin No. 80 provides that trustee;
aud auditors OF cities OF the first class
shall be chosen by the qualified voters
and bill No. 80 makes Is necessary tina
Salary to Be $4,000.
No. q makes the compensation Of trus
tees 5000 q year and that OF the audito
roo No IS specifically abOlishes TIT
offices OF mayor. city recorder, city treas
trer. city attorney and city councilmen il
cities Of the first class and provides tina
Inc terms OF alls these officers shall ceasi
the first Monday IA January. 1908. No. )
provides for the election Of the trustees
and auditor. two trustees being elected
.a.A