The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-12
SENATE PASSES
THE RIPPER BILL
Would Turn Over Police and
Fire Departments to
State Board.
LEGAL QUESTIONS RAISED
PROMINENT LAWYERS HOLD
MEASURE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

The bill providing for the creation of
a fire and police commission for the city
of Salt Lake was passed by the senate
yesterday. when it passed senate bill
No. 50. This proposed law is known as
the ripper bill, and has been SO known
for more than two years when it passed
the house and was killed iii the senate.
1t is designed to place the police ana
fire departments of Salt Lake City un-
der direct control of the federal bunch
In effect, the bill provides for the
tre nsfer of the municipal control of the
police and fire departments to state
board. This board is to be appointed
by the governor. and members are to be
appointed for term Of four years at a
salary of 81, 100 for the president and
$500 for the members. No member Of
the city council or other city official
shall be d member of the board 4 bond
of $4,000 is required,
There is a provision that the board
shall hold regular meetings. and that
two shall constitute quorum, and are
to have jurisdiction over any trials or
the consideration of any charges pre-
ferred against members or officers of
the FIRE or police departments.
Here Lies the Power.
This is the meat of the bill: All the
powers and duties heretofore conferred
upon the cities of the first class, either
by special enactment or general law.
relating to the fire and police depart-
ments, are hereby delegated to the
board of fire and police commissioners
hereby created.
The fire department is to consist of a
chief, assistant chiefs and such other
officers. men and employees as the board
shall direct"
The police department is to consist
OF a chief one OF more captains of no.
lice. and such other officers as the board
may direct. These chiefs of departments
are TO present the names of their sub
orulnateS Tor confirmation by the board.
POWER of fine and suspension is con-
iefred IN case Of conviction. and the
PEELED.
Is This Confiscation.
Some Of those who have studied this rim
per bill, aside from the constitutional Oh
JecuonS raised in the senate Yesterday
say that its enactment amounts to donfis-
cation. Here is section which has To do
with this point
Immediately upon the orraf,izatior, Of
sald boards. all patrol wagons. boxes. TEL
ephone service of fire or police DEPART
ments, ali fire boxes, fire and police sta
tons. engines. horses. hose carts. hook
ana ladder trucks and utensils. CITY tails
books, papers and other documents and
said cities coming under the provisions
OF this act and all other things Dertain-
ing 70 the fire and police service and Dris-
on departments shall he turned over to
and hereafter be under absolute control
and management of said fire and police
board
Where the Money Comes From.
All the board has to do is to say how
much II needs. and then il passes il up TO
the city council. or as it viii likely deve1oD
to the municipal board now that the Dos
MONIES plan has prevailed, and the com
mission has to furnish the money for the
expenses OF the forthcoming year This
is provided for in this section.
During the last quarter Of the calendar
wear the said lire and police board shall
present to the city council Of its respective
city a detailed statement of the money
necessary to defray expenses of the fire
police and prison departments Of the CITY
for the succeeding year. together with a
statement Of the probable expense to be
incurred by said board. and in the annual
appropriation ordinance of the next caIer-
dar year the city council shall provide for
the appropriation of sums of money sirf-
ficient TO defray the expense incident to
said departments and to be incurred BY
said board.
Provided. however. that the city coun-
Gil shall Immediately provide for the nee
essary expenses of said departments frdn
the time of the completion of the new
organization until otherwise provided for
in this act
All OF the money appropriated by the
council or commission shall ne under the
absolute control of the ripper board
To Purchase Supplies.
This board OF three shall also have tine
power to select. contract for and pur-
chase all necessary machinery horses
wagons. harness. equipments
and utensils of any kind pertaining to
the departments. They shall also make
selections Of locations for fire hvdrantS
alarm boxes and the like. The commits
siOners must. however. have the atsho~-
iZatiOn of the council of municipal cum
mission when it wants to buy sites for
police OF fire stations OF TO erect build
ings.
The terms Of office of an chiefs and Of
fiCeFs now employed in the departments
2zxz1a