The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-08-09
DIES MONIES PLAN
IS MER|TOR|OUS
Latest System of Municipal
Government Has Proved
Successful.
POINTS WORTH MENTIONING
DIFFERS SOMEWHAT FROM THE
GALVESTON IDEA.

Since the cataclysm which swept
or that great city under n system of
municipal government not Heretofore
tried. there has been continual, indeed.
continuous, agitation in various cities
for better method of administering
the affairs of the municipality than
those which were I'm force at the time.
The ain; ever was TO eliminate graft.
10 simplify methods and to concentrate
The power and authority usually vest
ed in half a hundred men I'm a commits
sion or board of five citizens of the
highesctype.
This. would have been accomplished
in Salt Lake had not Harry Joseph.
during the last legislature used-or
best to say, misused-his privileges as
speaker of the house to kill the bill
providing for the Galveston plan.
Outline of the Des Moines Plan.
The mayor of Des Moines. A. ].
Mathis. explains briefly and concisely
what the Des Moines plan is and how
Wen II has operated in Des Moines
since its introduction in April Mayor
Mathis has this to say:
How System Works.
The law provides for a primary to
be held ten days before the election
Any voter may have his name placed
upon the primary ballot by filing with
- the clerk petition bearing the names
of twenty-five voters. Ward lines are
disregarded; no heed is paid TO parti-
san politics. The names go down in
alphabetical order. Candidates for
mayor go in one list: candidates for
councilmen go in another.
In the election, ten days later, those
two men receiving the highest number
or votes for mayor are given a place
on the ballot. Those eight men re-
ceiving the highest number of votes
for councilmen are also placed upon
the ballot, under the head For Coun-
cilmen.' The voters. consequently, in
the election, are allowed to choose one
of two men for mayor and four of
eight for councilmen.
Here are some of the rules with
penalties) provided for the primaries.
these provisions being with the aim of
causing all candidates TO Campaign
upon their merits alone:
Money or promise of political or
other reward must not be given in re-
turn for a vote or influence.
Persons guilty of such conduct in
behalf on any candidate subject to fine
and imprisonment.
Candidates must tell who furnished
their campaign money.
Political combinations of candidates
prior to election or primary punish
able.
Here is the division of affairs:
Il. Department of public affairs (the'
80. Department of accounts and
finances.
% Department of public safety.
"A. Department of streets and public
improvements.
rs. Department of parks and public
property.
Law of Franchises.
These are some of the other general
provisions: All ordinances and fran
chises disposing of valuable rights
must be placed upon file ten days. and
If a petition of protest, signed by %
per cent of the voters. is filed, the
question must be submitted to a vote
of the people. This is the famed initi-
alive and referendum clause, which the
people may also use in securing the
passage of any ordinance or franchise
which does not originate in the coun-
Gil.
ANY councilman or the mayor may
be recalled for misconduct in office
the same 25 per cent petition and spe-
cial election plan being used.
by these provisions the government
Is kept close TO the people. Contrib
uting in this direction are these addi-
tional rules, selected as examples:
"Au employees hired for the time dur
fng which their service is satisfactory,
and not by month or term.
Monthly statement of all expendi-
lures by public officials.
Annual examination of all city
books
Mayor given vote. but not a veto.
Useless Offices may be discontinued.
Secret council sessions not permit
ted.
'All money appropriations on public
file one week.
mo official permitted to be interest
ed in any city contract.
mo official permitted 10. be interest
ed III any public service corporation.
mo city employee shall accept SER
vice from any public service corpora
ton ut terms more favorable than
those extended the general public.
mo ward lines observed.
Partisan politics eliminated.
'Civil service in some branches"
''Thc Des Moines plan. in my opinion.
embodies more excellent points than