The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-09
THE NEW MAYORS HARD TASK,

THE NEW MAYORS HARD TASK.
An executive committee of Amer
leans" has named w. ]. Halloran to
succeed Ezra Thompson as mayor of
Salt Lake, and handed the nomination
h to the majority Of the party in the
council with an urgent recommended
don that he be elected by that body.
Of the nomination itself nothing but
good can be said. Mr.. HaIIoran is
clean, philosophical and capable. He
probably would rather escape the Of
flee than accept it. and it is an evidence
OF his devotion to the city that he is
willing to make the sacrifice acceptance
involves. Although The Herald be-
lieves his party is an unnecessary and
Injurious political factor, a fiat failure
in public office. it regards the selection
as fortunate for the city so long as
some American" is certain to be
chosen.
Atlthis writing it is by no means GER
tain that the council leaders, of whom
Black and Crabtree are the most con-
spicuOus, viii accept the recommended
ton of the executive committee. Black
himself has had an unaccountable no.
ton that he was entitled to the place;
and Black Crabtree, Davis and Mar
tin have had a little syndicate of their
own that would be handicapped in its
operations by the election of an honest.
independent and discriminating mayor.
If the pressure brought upon them is
strong enough to whip them into line
for Halloran it will be a distinct gain
for decent, honest city government, and
marked contrast to the kind of 'ad-
ministration the city has ben getting.
Even if they are compelled unwill-
ingly to elect Mr.. HalIoran. the Black
syndicate with the allies they can COM
mand in the council, may be depended
upon to embarrass the new mayor at
every turn of the road if he interferes
with their game.
His first business will be the re-or-
ganization of the police department.
Sheets is gone, Raleigh has retired, but
Mulvey still remains in the council as
evidence that the malodorOus memory
of the old police regime has not been
disinfected entirely. The acting chief.
John Burbidge, is a good man and Off
Ger, but he has not been in favor with
the Americans" and it is unlikely he
will be either promoted or left in ac-
tive charge of the department.
Under the circumstances, the police |
force cannot be efficient or well or
ganized until some one is chosen to sue
coed Sheets who will reorganize the
whole department. The selection of |
this man viii be the first real test of |
the new mayors political acumen as |
well as of the support he may expect |
from the councilmen who have hereto
fore controlled the city administration, |
and would like to continue in control
a knowledge OF the conditions that /
have prevailed promises trouble for the /
new mayor at the outset; and on his /
solution of the difficulty will depend |
much of the success or failure of the /
new mayors administration for the /
few months that remain to this term.
While this police matter is the chief
political problem. the city's finances
present a more serious and important |
question. Mr.. Halloran will be con-
fronted. in case of his election, with the
certainty of a deficit at the close of the
year unless he has courage enough and |
strength enough to compel a drastic,
immediate reform in the management
of the city's finances.
He is too conservative a business
man to permit the city to continue its
present extravagant and wastefuI ex-
penditures If he recognizes the real
condition of the treasury. Political
exigency may impel him to let the
council go ahead spending money with
out regard 10 the city's income and re
sources, but if ne has the regard of the
city's credit which he may be supposed
to have. he viii cut off the unnecessary
salaries, veto every proposal to waste
money on needless extravaganees and
bring the business affairs of the city
down to bed rock.
The best citizen Of Salt Lake would
find it difficult to handle such prob
lens as the new mayor inherits, even
if he had competent, honest support in
the council; with a majority dominated
by Black and Mulvey and Crabtree and
Martin, any mayors task is going to
be doubly difficult if not Impossible Of