The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-27
GALVESTON IDEA
FOR SALT LAKE
Bill to Be introduced in Upper
House by Senator Ben
ner X. Smith.
3 TRUSTEES TO RUN CITY
ENTIRELY PROBABLE MEASURE
WILL PASS SENATE.

VIII the Galveston Idea be applied to
a Greater Salt Lake?
The question will be put up TO the leg
islature in q bill to be introduced prob
ably tomorrow by Senator Benner Y
Smith
The proposed measure has the active
support of the Civic Improvement
League. which. following the suggestion
IN The Herald. took up a study OF the
question Of municipal government in Salt
Lake and gave endorsement TO what is
known as the Galveston Idea"
Senator Smith has the bill I'm prepara-
ton and hopes TO be able TO introduce it
in the senate on Monday. SO that the
members may have ample opportunity to
study the matter and act inteligently
upon it before the close of the present
session.
Briefly. the bill to be offered by SEN
ator Smith provides for all legislative
and executive powers OF the city govern
ment to be vested in a board of three
trustees or commissioners, constituted on
the lines of the present board of commits
sioners. but with somewhat enlarged
powers. These trustees are TO be elected
all the powers now vested i'm the mayor
and city council. with the additional
power to appoint all officers Of the city
except an auditor, the only other cleo
tive officer provided for
Some of Their Powers.
The trustees would have the power to
pass all ordinances within the restric
tons of the city cnarter. see TO there en-
fOrcement. appoint all officers of the city
except the auditor. and otherwise eXer-
else the functions Of government now ex-
ercised by the mayor and city council.
The 2uditOr being an elective and in
dependent officer. would stand as a check
between the trustees and the city treas
ury to prevent any frauds that might
arise i'm the administration of city af-
! fairs.
: The difference between the trustees of
the city and the board of county COM
missioners il will be observed Is only in
I the matter of appointments to office. the
county officials for the most part being
7 elective and subject TO the commissioners
F.! only in a certain degree.
The city trustees would have the APP
pointment. not only of the administrative
! officials. but the members of the police
| and fire departments as well. and these
I departments would be subject alone 10
! the trustees.
To Touch Salt Lake Alone.
The bill to be presented by Senator
Smith will alone affect cities Of the first
alone. The details of the bill he has not
entirely worked out. as it will involve
-fchangeS IN a number Of the statutes
governing cities OF first class to comply
with the essential idea. These change:
are largely clerical but he hopes to have
the completed draft in time for submits
sion at the regular call on Monday. The
bill viii be introduced alone in the senate
and the question fought out there in de
tail before il is passed TO the house.
In discussing the proposed measure yes
terday Senator Smith said:
Il have been devOting much time anC
study to this bill. i'm connection with m.
law partner. Mr. Frank b. Stephens anC
other attorneys. and the more / go int
it the more strongly am | impressed Will
its merit
''The main ideas of the measure ar,
taken from the present charter OF tn
city OF Galveston. Texas. This plan wa!
the OutgrOwth of the disastrous flood an'
tidal wave Of the disastrous flood anS
Galveston was Observation-Disclosures wiped
from the happy that disaster. 1t wa
necessary 10 adopt measures which woult
result in its rehabilitation with as LITTLE
delay as possible. Out of that disaste
grew the idea of placing the government
Of the city in the hands of a compac
body of officials. responsible to tn
people. but as far removed as possible
from politice.
The idea of a board of trustees to TAX
the place of a mayor and city council
was evolved and a measure was passes
through the Texas legislature covering
the essential features of the plan. tn
J results during the past six years hav
been such as to excite the wonder AM
+. ! admiration of the world. where the fact
|, have become known A sea wall has bee
constructed. completely protecting Gal
weston from the ravages of storms tina
| coast Of Texas the municipal govern
ment has been reformed: economy ha
been -practiced not inconsistent with pro
gress and. all i'm all. Galveston stand
out as the best governed city in tn
country. The Galveston idea is CROWN
and its application IN Salt Lake i'm IL
present condition and its prospects q
future greatness. appears TO De the bes
solution of the problem OF city govern
, ment
Finds Idea Approved.
. Il have canvassed the matter TO som
; extent with the members of the senat
and quite extensively with citizens G
) Salt Lake. and with few exceptions hav
) found the idea heartily approved. Som
. have advanced the suggestion that
. would be better to have five trustees.
. be elected from the municipal division
! ty wards as they now exist. but | am Z
the opinion that the better plan is ~ hay
them elected from The city at large. 5
. that the majority. whatever il NAV be
. American. Democratic or Republican,
will have the responsibility of govern
meOf and there will be no divisions