The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-28
IMPROVING CITY GOVERNMENT.

IMPROVING CITY GOVERNMENT.
Senator Benner " Smiths bill to
simplify and improve the municipal
government of Salt Lake follows the
trend of modern developments in city
government. particularly as illustrate
I'd in what is now known as the Gal
weston system. After the great flood
I'm that city. when everything was
wreckage and confusion, and the citi-
zens were confronted with the neces-
sity OF rebuilding their city. they hit
upon the idea OF a business manage
ment by competent men. paid good
salaries for devoting all their time 20
city affairs. The experiment has
worked so admirably. il has effected
such great improvements at such a
saving. that cities the world over have
been studying the system with a view
To adopting Il. or the best part of II.
Primarily. Galveston has done only
what any other business corporation
would do to get the best results. It has
given three men the authority to dc
business for the corporation, and holds
them responsible for the results. These
men are paid well enough to secure
for the city first-class talent and high
character i'm its executives. They do
business on business principles: they
are not hampered or embarrassed by no.
litics or politicians: they have the
power to employ men who are compe-
tent and to discharge them if they are
incompetent. They let their contracts
for public work without stopping to
consider the political views of the bid
ders or figure the size Of their cam
paign contributions. II anything goes
wrong in the city government the peo-
pie know at once who is to blame: if
the work in a department is well done
the right man gets the credit for It.
Ia "A word. the people Of Galveston
have for their city government just
such an organization as any big bust
ness ought TO have-and the results
speak for the wisdom of the plan.
Here in Salt Lake there is need Of a
change IN the same direction. The
responsibility for any action is so diff |
fused that no one knows exactly whom /
To blame FOR ineficiency or who de-
serves credit for effective work The
council. the board Of public works. he
city engineer, the mayor all have a
hand in any public Improvement n
question as to the terms Of "a contract
arises all of them have to be consulted. |
and often none OF them agree. The |
..F a.
be responsible 10 the people, have TO
subordinate discipline and business 10
the wishes OF the council or the spe-
cial committee OF the council having
supervision OF that department. Ap-
sentiments are made by favor FOR DO
litical service. and in many cases the
salaries would not tempt competent
men to assume the duties for the short
lime usually possible under political
administrations. The natural. newt
able result is a multiplication of sala-
lies. many OF them needless II the right
men could be had to superintend. Inl
campaign times political service is ex-
pected Of every appointee with a re-
sultant loss Of efficiency and heavy cost
10 the city. Such thing as prompt
action on any matter OF business is al |
most unknown because Of the number |
Of authorities TO be consulted before
action can be taken.
So wen known are these facts that
argument is almost unnecessary 10
convince business man that a change
should be made One objection may be
made 10 a simpler form Of government. |
ana that is the power II would give TO
few men; but cities all over the coun- |
try have proved repeatedly that it is
better 20 have few officers and hold
them responsible than to have authori- I
~ divided among various bodies and |
"A large number OF men, because under
such a system jobbery. incompetence
and costly government are a certainty |
The proposal Of Senator Smith to /
elect three men 10 govern the city and |
an auditor to pass upon expenses and
verify accounts. adapts the Galveston /
idea 10 Salt Lakes needs. It would /
enable the city to reduce expenses and /
at the same time increase the useful (
ness OF its government; it would par |
nit the people to know exactly what |
was being done and who was doing Il /
an the time. II might. and probably |
would. place the victorious party at an
elsction in complete control OF the city |