The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-09-05
CITY GOVERNM ENTS.

Once more the commission system of city gov.
eminent is brought to the attention of the people
of Salt Lake by the activity of the Civic Improve
ment league Whatever nay be the ultimate out
come of this activity,it indicates growing inter
est in municipal affairs and desire to investigate
these new forms of government and learn about
them If the result of the investigation convinces
the majority of the people that the commission sys-
TEN, as in use in Galveston Houston, the system
as improved in Des Moines offers a more econom-
zeal method of administering the affairs of Salt
Lake, they no doubt will approach the next legis-
lature with confidence and secure new charter for
the city.
As far as charters and paper laws go, the sys-
TEN in use at Des Moines seems to be the most adj
vanced. How it operates and what results in eco
nomical administration are effected will have to
be told at some future time, for the Des Moines
plan has been in use only short time It was, how
ever based on the Galveston idea and as it repre-
sents Improvement that idea, the results
should be more encouraging than those secured in
the Texas city. And the results accomplished in
Galveston. if measured in dollars and cents, seem
to warrant the belief that economical government
is one of the accomplishments. The Galveston
News of March Z 1907, estimated the saving for the
six years of commission control as compared with
the six years Immediately preceding, at $1,20o,000.
1t is also asserted that the tax levy and the assess
ment valuations are lower than they were before
the storm and the change in the form of govern
ment. And the feature that most striking is the
statement that more work has been. done on the
lowered income and expenditures than ever before.
The results are accounted for on the theory that
business methods efficiency and honesty-have
superseded politics and nefficiency in the munich
pal service.
The Des Moines plan is considered the best and
most efficient plan of city government yet devised
1t represents "a government of, by and for the
people" to its fullest extent and that is what the
American people want. The Legislature of Iowa
passed the bill giving all cities of the first class and
all cities with special charters with population of
$4,000 more, the privilege of organizing under
its provisions upon presentation of a petition
signed with a number equal to 25 per cent of the
votes cast at the last preceding election. Four
councilmen and a mayor are elected at large for
term of two years under the Iowa law. In case of
vacancy it is filed by appointment by the remain
ing members of the board. The council and mayor
are given control ovtr the affairs of the city. and
council are distinctly set out and distributed among
FIVE departments, and each councilman is the head /
Of one department These departments are: Pub
lie affairs, accounts and finances, public safety,
streets and public improvements, and parks and
public property. 1t may readily be seen that if
something is done or something is not done under
This arrangement the responsibility the censure as
well the praise, is easily bestowed upon the right
person. There is no escaping it.
The council elects city clerk, solicitor an
assessor, treasurer auditor, a civil engineer.
a city physician, marshal chief of fire depart
nent market master, street commissioner,
three library trustees "and such other officers and
assistants shall be provided for by ordinance and
necessary to the proper and efficient conduct of
The affairs of the city" And all these officials hold
heir jobs long they attend to their business
properly
The salaries fixed by the law in cities Of
more than 10000 inhabitants, the mayor gets SO 500