Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-11-28
THE RIGHT OF RECALL.

system provides for the right of recall
of any elected city officer by the people,
and your committee recommends its
adoption. If Is per cent of the legal
voters at the preceding city election
shall petition that an election be held
to determine whether or not an Of
fcer or officers shall be recalled and re-
quired to resign their Offices then an
election shall he held to determine
whether or not such officer or officers
shall be recalled, and If the majority
vote in favor of 50 doing. the effect
would be to remove such officer or OF
ficers from office,
publicity of Proceedngs-The Des
Moines system requires that every or
dinance or resolution apprpriating
money or ordering any street improve
ment or sewers, or making or authorla-
ing the making of any contract,
granting any franchise or right ~ oc@
cupy or use the streets, highways.
bridges or public places in the city,
shall be complete in the form in which
it is finally pre- ed for public inspec-
ton for at least one week before the
final passage or adoption thereof. II
also provides for complete publicity or
city affairs. requiring monthly state
ments of all receipts and expenditures
and that the same be given to the
newspapers. 1t further provides for
the annual examination of the books
of the city. Your committee recon-
mends that these provisions be adopt
ed.
PROTEST AND REFERENDUM
Protest and Referendum-The Des
Moines plan provides that no ordinance
passed by the council except when 9TH
4erwise required by the general laws OF
the state or by the provisions of an act.
except an ordinance for immediate pre-
servation of public peace, health or
safety, which contains a statement of
its urgency and is passed by two
thirds vote of the council, shall go into
effect before 10 days from the-time of
it's final passage, and, If during said 10
days, a petition signed by the electors
Of the city, equal in number to % per-
cent OF the entire vote cast at the last
preceding general municipal election.
protesting against the passage OF such
ordinance, be presented to the council,
the same shall be suspended from going
into operation. and it shall be the duty
of the council to reconsider said or
tinance: ii the same is not entirely re-
pealed, the council shall submit the or
ciinanca to a vote of the electors of
The city either at the general election
if lit occurs within 80 days, or at a
special municipal election to be called
for that purpose: and such ordinance
shall not go into effect or become OPP
erative unless a majority OF the quail
fed electors voting on the same shall
vote in favor thereof. The act pro-
Nides for the right of initiative so that
if the council refuses to pass needed
ordinances, the people can compel the
passage thereof in similar manner.
1T is not at all probable that such
provisions would ever be exercised, but
YOUR committee is Of the opinion that
they would have a salutary effect and
would afford a remedy in case condi-
lions arose for calling for such and
recommends that such provisions be
adopted.
There are doubtless many other pros
visions which should be Incorporated
aud which would occur to 81 COMMITTEES
giving very careful and thorough con-
sideration to the preparation of n bill
finally 10 be introduced, but your com
mittec recommends that a commission
system be adopted with general fen-
lures as herein outlined, Respectfully
ubmitted,
II. L. STEPHENS,
Joseph j. CORUM,