Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-11-14
DEs MONIES PLAN
UNDER DISCUSSION.
Civic Improvement League Hears
Government Scheme.
Considered.
JUDGE WI. KING THE SPEAKER
Results and Aims of New Municipal
system Theme OF Talk
Last Night

III an effort tn take the city gov
ernmcnt out of the hands OF politicians
abolish the machinery by which po-
litical bosses fix their power on the
municipality. and createsa new system
under which moro direct Responsibilities
IL the people is secured, and simpler
business government, brought into cx-
istencc the Civic Improvement league
last night me, 10 discuss the pes
y Moincs plan.
Is way Of getting at these problems
was outlined, and another meeting was
announced for next Friday to go further
into the details of preparing definite
bill for the. consideration OF tho mex,
Legislature.
The speakers before the leagues
board &c governors were all in favor
Of an immediate and aggressive cam
Raien through the next lesislature in
favor q the Dcs Mones plan Those
who took this view were Judge w. H.
Ming Rev. Il. l. Goshen, w. Mont
Ferry, Henry, w Lawrence. o. Fl
Hewlett and Oscar T., Cox
Judge William H. king IN celebrating
9 the Des MoInes plan, and the 1nanneI
III which 1t has proved effective said IN
part. =
The Dcs Moines plan is such that 1t
cornnends Itself to all lovers of rnu-
niclpal. reform. The committee of the
civic Improvement league In its ses-
SION this afternoon, decided unanimous.
+ ~ mat Inc Des Moines plan. Of commas
sion government wasathe best adapted
LOT salt Lake. and they further felt AZ
we all DO that Salt Lake Is sorely IN
nneu 81 change In city government
when VIII give freedom from politics.
1t Is well known fact that the adj
niinistration of the city's business here
* IN past years has permitted too much
or politics and too little of business
People are beginning to realize more
ana more that the government of 4, city |
~ scientific proposition and not !. !
4 political proposition or an .officehoiders'
proposition. People are beginning Ia |
realize that airy plan which shall re-
. move the government of3tfe city from |
+ me color Of politics VIII be for the vel
fare of ALL
PAsTHADMINISTRA
There Is no doubt that all past adj.
ministrations OF Salt Lake have been
.i i,,iy poiltlcal ana II is time for the
3clllzens to rise up and select a business
men $ administration. The cities of Eng
iand and Scotland are governed by emf
iiselll fnen--men of fame in science and
etters.-and they arc well governed.
IN England and Scotland the noted
j Il
uistlnction TO round out their useful
lives by helping to govern the cities. Is |
that SO In America? You will find her.
that men of ability have not the time
TO run for the city offices, and men Of
! Tine ~ have not the ability to run those
offices.
FIXES RESPONSIBILITY.
Every deep thinking citizen will adj
ny ~ In tnat ~ = better to put the power
OF government In the hands Of a few
men and then the responsibility for ali
their acts can be placed, There is no
question that commission government
VIII De a vast Improvement over our
present plan, for American cities are
n.otoriouslT nismanaged. The commits
the reins are held BY the people, and
the people can call a special election
at any time and unseat any one Of the
commission II he is guilty OF wrongdo-
ing or Acknowledgement
we have decided that It would be
pest 70 elect the three men at large
than by the vote of any ward We DO
= not want anyoneEin that commission to
ne ne, cnained to any particular locality !
me Les Moines plan also provides Lnr
y civil service commission, and all mi
nor city offices, the police and fire do
partments would be filled through civil
service examinations, and the most
competent would do the city's business |
and they would not he turned OUT al
lney are now when one party gains
control in power over another
DlSCoURAGEs POLITICS.
The whole plan Will encourage in
dependence and discourage politicil
Grip. The Des Mnlnes plan marks he {
1oom OF the political boss. The city
government would be business-llke be. |
"a use the civil service feature In filling
positions would make it impossible te
repay political debts by handing out
Ivy NY JOBS Political pull would not pre- j
nominate but competency would.
Our city council have felt In the
past that they owned the earth, and
-hey nave tumbled over themselves IN
nhises to railroads and other corpora
Ions. Under the Des Moines plan no '
could be granted unless by
vote OF the majority of the people. and
therefore, that prolific source of cor !
upton would be eradicated."
r TFHITTA .