The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-06-16
THE GALVESTON IDEA.
BY CHARLES CRANE,

domination of those who did not en-
dorse and t~lact into law the Calves
ton idea. supported by many of ouI
most distin AIIished others" many
of whom evidently had not the re-
hottest conception what that idea
was except that, the city coUncil would
consist of three citizens who. of course
would be "eXperts in the business" A
short time ago listened to public
exposition az the Galveston idea" by
one of the most ardent and Intelligent
supporters of that measure. and l ut
terly failed TO hear a single reason why
that idea" should have been supported
by any Intelligent citizen who has ever
given any study 20 municipal problems,
and l unhesitat1ngly say that the Cal
weston idea in its original or present
form viii never again be incorporated
into law III any future charter given
10 any city in the Unfted States.
That tho people of Salt Lake are
heartily tired of the present administra-
tion there can be no shadow of doubt.
Many believe they are absolutely in
competent. Others that some are graft
ers and under the control of contractors
who apparcT tly direct the expenditure
of the peoples money, but whether this
is or is not q fact, we do know that
the citizens Of Salt Lake have absolute
ly lost all confidence in the present ad-
ministration aud demand a change
But there are worse things even than
the present city council. and that would
be the enactment into law of the bill
50 urgently advocated last winter be-
fore the legislature. Because in that
intended measure the rights of taxpay-
ers were not safeguarded, no check was
placed on the power of this intended
commission: and the people would have
been as helpless in the face of graft
then as they are now. Without doubt
fifteen men are nearer to the people
than three, as tiLEee are further away
from the source of government wiz, the
people, than fifteen men.
Without at this time setting forth a
remedy for existing evils. for there is
n Falacea, and one which all good men
viii endorse. let us analyze this much
discussed Galveston idea.
In a very exhaustive and interesting
letter before me, from the present
mayor OF Galveston, Mr. H A. Landes
and from which I shall cOpiousiy quote
he SAYS: The old plan of our munich
pal government consisted of mayor and
twelve aldermen, each representing his
ward. In 1890 four other aldermen
elected at iarge) were addeG-each al
ministratiOn of cur city government
contained some of our best citizens, but
this class were always in the minority.
kept gradually going from bad TO
worse. caused 10y unbUsinesslike
methods, extravaganza and Sraft." Gs
not this the history of Salt Lake?)
our city's expenses exceeded the re-
Ccipts each year. and this deficiency
was met by the issue and sale of bonds
tSalt Lake again to the extent that
i'm 1897 bonds TO the amount of $3.50, 900
had been issued. This condition of af-
fairs continued until the unfortunate
calamity of 1900, after which the city
of Galveston found herself face to face
with financial bankruptcy (the condi- |
ton of Salt Lake at the present timc) !
If she could not reVolutionize and place |
herself upon a business basis. Tt was
then the intelligent people conceived the !
idea of government by commission. and
at once framed d new charter. based !
upon a commission plan as the leading !
feature"
Mr. LandeS then speaks Of the diff /
culties they encountered in securing /
this charter. it being opposed by the /
Old element of grafters. bOOdlCrs aud /
public franchise Crabbers. but the iesis- !
latUre. seeing their helpless condition. |
were with them, and in April. 1901. the /
bill giving them the new charter was I
granted.
The Original Galveston Charter.
The charter as granted placed ouri
city government in the hands of five |
commissioners. three of whom were to |
be appointed by the governor and two |
elected by the people This was the
great error of this charter and Justly |
should receive, as it did, the cOndem-
nation Of all citizens who believe IN
government of the people. for the DeO-
pie and by the people. The governor of
a state has no more right TO appoint
a commission to enact laws and trans
act the business Of a city organization
than he would have to appoint clerks in
a private store, or the cashier of i
of power by the executives
Of state and nation
THE object of this was to eliminate
politics with all its kindred evils from
our city government
Our charter called for one commits
sioner to be known as mayor president.
whose duty it was to overlook the city |
as a whole, and a commissioner of
finance and revenue, water works and II
sewerage, police and fire and streets,
public property and electric light. This II
commission appointed all the other city II
officers and in these appointments eff II
hciency and honesty were alone consid- II
cred. Political influence, ward heelers II
contractors and other evil influences. II
which heretofore mad the city in its II
grasp, were thereby entirely elimi-
mated. September IS, 1901, the new Of
hcers took charge and they found an
empty treasury. city without credit
and floating indebtedness running back
for several years. The commission in II
spired confidence, and the city was at Il
once put on a cash basis, so that il
could go into the open market, buy sup
plies on same terms as our best mer-
chants or wealthiest citizens, but there
quickly came q SnaG.
A drayman was fined so. He APP
Dealed the case to the criminal district
court upon the ground that our whole
,ity government was unconstitutional
hence the recorder had no authority
whatever TO impose a fine, and the
ground for such action was that a ma !
ority Of our commission being APP
Dointive, the citizen was deprived of
he right Of ballot guaranteed by the
constitution. This case was fought
through the courts and the supreme
,ivil court held the appointive feature II
vas constitutional in civil matters but
lad no police jurisdiction. The charter