The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-28
THE DIES MONIES PLAN AS DEFINED in IOWAS Law

The committee sent to investigate the
practical workings of the Des Moines
pian of city government is now compiling
It's report on the Investigations made by
f.. and Il is probable that the report viii
ne made public today. The plan has at
tracted worldwide attention, and it is
possible that there viii be a decided
movement in Salt Lake to establish it
here. The success or failure of the
proposition, so far as Salt Lake is con-
cerned. rests mainly upon :he report of
the committee sent to Des Moines.
The Des Moines plan is a slight de-
parture from the plan Of government es-
tablished in Galveston when that city
was rebuilt after the terrible flood OF
1900. II has been recognized by political
economists that Galveston is one of the
best governed cities of the world. and il
is claimed that the Des Moines plan has
been equally successful.
IN Iowa an act of the state legislature
is necessary in order to make the Des
MOines plan possible for any city having
a population OF 5000 or over. After the
Law is passed il will allow the holding
Of a special election in each city upon
petition OF . per cent of the voters eXer-
cising their suffrage in the last mayor
atty election 10 determine whether the
city shall adopt the plan or not
The Des MOincs plan has aroused 50
much discussion in Salt Lake that The
Herald herewith prints the act which is a
law in Iowa;
What the Plan Is.
Tie text of the bill providing for the
Dies MOines" plan follows;
Section ]. That any city OF the first
class, or with special charter now or here
after having population of 5000 or ov er.
as shown BY the last preceding state celI-
der The provisions OF this act by proceed
ing as hereinafter provided.
Sec z. Upon petition of electors equal
in number to . percentum OF the votes
cast for all candidates for mayor at the
last preceding city election of any such
city. the mayor shall by proclamation sub
init the question OF organizing as a city
under this act at special election to be
held a a time specified therein and with
in two months after said petition is filed.
If said plan Is not adopted at the special
election called, the question OF adopting
said plan shall not be re<ubmitted to the
voters of said city for adoption within
two years thereafter. and then the QueS-
ton 10 adopt shall be resubmitted upon
the representation of petition signed by
electors equal in number TO . percentuIt
OF the votes cast for all candidates for
mayor at the last preceding general city
election.
At such election the proposition to be
submitted shall be Shall the proposition
10 organize the city or name of a city,,
under chapter q aiming the chapter con-
tanning this acu or the acts OF the Thirty
second general assembly be adopted and
the election thereupon shall be conduct
ed. the vote canVassed and the result
declared in the same manner as provided
by law i'll respect to other city elections.
II the majority of the votes cast shall
be in favor thereof the city shaall there
upon proceed TO the election Of mayor
and four 90 councimen. as hereinafter
provided. Immediately after such PROPOSE
ton is adopted, the mayor shall transmit
10 the governor, to the secretary of state
and 10 the county auditor each a certifi-
cate stating that such proposition was
adopted.
At the regular -ity election after the
adoption of such proposition there shall
be elected a mayor and four - council
next regular city election does not occur
within one yea after such special cleo
ton, the mayor shall. within ten days
after such special Fl e,tion, By prociaHsi--
ton, cali "a special election fOr the cleo
ton of a mayor and four councilmen, six
" days notice thereof being given in such
call: such election in either. case to be
conducted as hereinafter provided
Mayor and Four counoiImen.
Scc 4. In every such city there shall
be elected at the regular biennial munic-
ipal election a mayor and four council
men.
If any vacancy occurs in any such Of
flee the remaining members of said coun-
ell shall appoint person To fill such va
cancy during the balance of the uneX-
pired term.
Said Officers shall be nominated and
elected at large. Said officers shall quail
ify and their terms Of office shall begin
on the first Mon lay after their election
The terms Of office of the mayor and
Councilmen or aldermen in such city in