Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-01-06
CONCLUSIONS AND REcOMMEN-
DArIONS.

DATIONS.
Your committee has reached the
unanimous conclusion that the COM
missioner system of municipal govern
ment, substantially along the lines IN
operation IA Des Moines, viii be rapid
81 adopted By municipalities IN the
United States and should be institut-
ed IN Salt Lake City, We, however,
have some suggestions 20 make In
reference TO minor changes 10 suit
conditions here.
The Des Moines plan seems 10 be
the most democratic firm of munich
pal government yet devised. The
Initiative, referendum and recall pro-
visions enable the citizens al any time
20 grasp in their own hands the reins
of government. By the initiative, the
citizens can enact needed legislation;
BIZ the referendum, can prevent the
going into effect of bad laws. by the
recall, unworthy public servants can
be dcposed at any time. The precau-
lions surrounding the exercise OF these
features Of the new system are such
that Il Is not likely they Will be fire.
queutly invoked, Their existence and
the possibility OF their use. however,
will go far toward rendering n un-
necessary that they be placed In opera
ton
No franchise or other valuable pub
lio right can be given away by the
city council The granting, renewal
and extension on an franchises must
be approved by the people.
The commissioners are elected at
large and not from precincts. Each
citizen votes for the fun number Of
comm isa toner's, and not for three, as
under our present system In Salt Lake.
The commissioners have 70 depend
upon votes from all parts II the city
ana viii consider the needs Of the
whole city rather than the needs OF
the particular precinct from which
they come and IN which they desire
10 benefit for the purpose OF return
10 office.
FIXES RESPONSIBILITY.
Tho new plan fixes responsibility
hy dividing the work OF the city into
hNo departments and placing ono
commissioner over each department.
one man is ultimately responsible for
the doing on failure 10 do each item
of work or the city. and that man Is
known 40 every citizen.
Tho commissioners are paid for and
devote their whole time tO the city
work. instead of the time they can
spare from private interests as under
tho present system
ANNh nIINNNNN anu hlNNNNNFH NNN HNh
hibiied from receiving any special
| faYor pass or reduced price from any
public service corporation, thus rec
moving "a fruitful source Of suspicion,
complaint ana, too often, undue in-
| fuencc
All candidates Tor office are select
ed at "a non-partisan primary.
A severe punishment d prescribed
FOR city officials. officers or employees
/ attempting 10 form political comhina-
/ lions or FOR using directly or Indirect
/ B. political influence in fhe Interest
/ or any person or measure This makes
machine politics impossible
STATEMENT on HXPENsEs.
/ An officials must. after election pub
lish "a sworn lteinizod statement of their
campaign expenses. AN persons are
prohibited from accepting money on
other compensation fOr services ron-
dercd any candidate.
M Dee Monies AN other city ofnoarI
are appointed by tho commissioners. in.
cludinE the ASSESSOR. police ludgc and
auditor We would r0commpnd iul
change in our present sYHtem M haF-
| ing our county assessor assess cts
| property. ana we believe thaf the cts
judges should ronaiu elective. a. al