The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-15
CITY GOVERNMENT PLANS.

Upon the generally accepted proposl-
tion that municipal government in this
country under the old systems is TO Il
large extent uneconomic, wastefu!
not conducive to the public intcres $,
the American people have set about
to find some measures of remedy. The
remedies so far proposed arc divided
into two general classes: one IN favor
OF more perfect separation of the ex.
ecutive and legislative departments of
the city government, and the other of
a consolidation OF those two depart.
ments The trouble with the present
system is that neither the legislative
nor the executive function is allowed
its due expression and force, according
to the generally accepted theory in our
Republic of the absolute separation Of
the three departments Of Government
into executive, legislative, and judicial,
this separation being on natural lines,
and, theoretically at least, available in
minor subdivisions as we'll as in the
States and the Nation.
The first class Of thinkers who desire
reform and moro perfect and com.
plete separation Of the executive and
legislative departments of the city gov
ernment. conforming TO the general
idea of our administrative checks and
balances, wish to see the mayor have
the untrammeled appointing power of
such officials as are TO be appointed,
and, in general, their idea is to make
a good many Of these officials appoint
i've. This idea confines the action of
the Council to the legislative function
of enacting ordinances. making the tax
levies, and the appropriations of money
under contract and otherwise. The
Mayor as chief executive, would be
the power TO which the people would
look for the effective administration of
the city's affairs, under the law and
the ordinances. He would be given
full power in the executive department
aud would be held responsible for the
execution of the power conferred. In
accord with this idea, the more ad
vanced cities of the country, as New
York, Chicago, and other large cities,
vest the executive power exclusively
in the Mayor, enlarging his powers
materially and allowing no interfer
ence with them on the part Of the
Council, or Of any other power.
Another class of thinkers believe In
the union Of the executive and legisla-
tive departments Of the city in some
sort Of commission. This idea in its
I1{a
force in Galveston, Texas. where, upon
the destruction of that city by the i'm
mense tidal wave, the old government
broke down and it seemed necessary
to have absolute power conferred upon
some authority. Three commissioners
were thereupon inducted into Office who
were given sort of joint dictatorship
of the city, with pcremptory powers
to do whatever was necessary in com,
pelling every one to do what was
thought best TO rescue the city from
the chaos into which it had fallen.
The successful result of entrusting this
power TO three good men captivated the
fancy Of many people, and the idea
spread very extensively that the com.
mission form Of city government was
ideal. Des Moines, Iowa, has a modi-
fed form of the commission system
Houston, Texas, is governed also by
a commission. The reputed success of
the commission form where it has been
tried has given much vogue to the
propaganda for the government Of cities
by a commission.
In Salt Lake City the Civic League
has taken up the commission form for
improved government and appears TO
be thoroughly committed TO it. The
form first mentioned does not appear
to be considered at all. The fact seems
to be lost sight of that the commission
form originated in the absolute paralysis
a great crisis. The fact that a COM
mission form of government in Gal
weston under the calamity stress proved
its benefits, is no more to be urged
in it's favor in general than the fact !
that arbitrary military rule in San
Francisco effected right results when !
that city was prostrated by the earth.
quake and fire and lay HOPELESS at the |
mercy Of the disorderlY element which |
run riot until the military intervened |
and restored order, is TO be urged in
favor OF military government We do ,
not consider that emergency PROPOSE /
tions OF this kind are necessarily the
best that a city can adopt for It's
permanent government. There appears !
to be here, however, mixed up with !
the proposition for a commission form !
of government. certain distrust of !
the people which crops out occasionally !
when the Civic League discusses the
This was given voice TO
at recent meeting by one Of the /
speakers who did not wish the voters
of this city to be allowed TO say |