The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-01-06

adoption of the plan, and especially such
Citizens as, through thorough investiga-
tions might be able to express convictions
advantages or disadvantages of the new
system.
Opinions of All Glasses.
We had letters OF introduction to lead
ing business men, but we did not con-
Iine our interviews to that class: we
asked the opinion of every man we met.
ana IN the course of our stay we OBJ
tanned opinions from lawyers, laborers,
ministers, street car conductors, state.
county and city officials, and business
men generally, including the proprietors
OF what were said to be the worst and
the best saloons in the city. We found
only Two persons who expressed them
selves as opposed TO the new system. One
was q prominent business man who~felt
tnat II was getting the government too
close TO the people; that the people gen.
erally were not fitted to select their ex-
scutlve officers and preferred to retain
the old system rather than adopt the
new The other was business man who
mad formerly been member of the board
or public works and who had very strong
ideas upon the question of civil service |
and thought that a form of government
should be devised in which the executive
officers would not be beholden to citi-
zens generally for their appointment, and
thought all employees of the city, with |
the exception Of private secretaries, should !
be under civil service rules. Both gen |
uemen conceded the inefficiency of the |
former system and the success of the
present plan so far.
We found a few who were Indifferent |
some expressed theoretical objections. but |
the vast majority were heartily glad of |
the change
Your committee made very full notes |
of interviews with The various citizens. I
which are at the disposal of your board /
If desired.
Visit to Lincoln, Neb.
We were advised that Lincoln. Neb., |
mad recently sent committee to Des /
Moines and that there had also been pre- /
pared new charter for the city of Lin /
coin, 10 be introduced when the legisla- /
tuTe cOnVenes
We thought it advisable to go to Lin
coin and obtain a copy OF the charter
ed A vote recently taken in that city
showed a majority of four to one in ia
vor of the commissioner plan.
Adoption by Other Cities.
We found that many delegations had
yestigating the commission system; that
1t has been established in Cedar Rapids /
Ida; FL Paso. San Antonio. Fort Worth.
Dallas and Houston Tex: that Nashville /.
ana Memphis, Tenn. had voted in favor
of the adoption of the new plan. Among
the visiting delegations was a committee
headed by President Eliot of Harvard
and Ex-Governor John ID, Long |
a copy of the printed report |
of this committee, the general recommen
dations of which were along the line of
the Des Moines plan; one member, how
ever. making a minority report in which
he favored a supervising committee, elect
ed one from each of a number of small
districts in the city.
Present Conditions.
The commissioners entered upon their
1uties on April g. 1908, and we feel that
We are conservative in the statement that
almost the universal verdict of the Citi- !
zens IS that they have far exceeded ex-
oectations. The city is more efficiently |
governed: complaints receive prompt at |
ention; the streets are fairly clean; there
has been so far no noticeable reduction |
n expense but i very noticeable change I
lor the better in service.
The alert citizen can inteiligent1y watch :
he city's affairs if he cares to do So
I he local political rings are broken up; | !
'killfui men are selected by the civil !
service commission and receive perma-
tent employment. Campaign contTibu-
ions from city employees are prohibited. ,
he citizens generally show great inter |
st In the city affairs. The Des Moines
Ian is a well thought out system and
lnder il good results are easily obtained. ,
The monthly financial statement pub
ished by the city treasurer advises the
ttizens fully as to financial affairs.
Confidence in Government.
We found that the citizens generally
f all classes have a feeling of conf
ence in the government as now con-
ucted. They say that the commission
rs are working hard to make good; that
hey are particularly pleased with the
act that when they have business in any
articular department, or a complaint to
make which would come within any par
ocular department. that they know to
whom to go and that they get quick &C q
ion. "
All proceedings of the board of commits n
toner's are published every two weeks I
nd printed copies may be obtained by D
ny citizen We were furnished, and have il
eliVered to your secretary. a complete | a
opy of the minutes of the proceedings of | Y
he commission from the time of its or a
anization. 2
The members of the civil service com O
lission serve without salary, not as a v
latter of economy but to make the a
gliding of that office without financial II
lducement and thus greatly reduce the /,
disability OF partially and unfairness. q
We have before referred to the fact Is
nat there was some disappointment in ii
ne personnel of the commission. The citi- n
ems ticket of leading business men was l.
OF elected We were very much i'm o
ressed with the fact that notwithstand- II
IL the disappointment of the business l.
lens committee in the result of the cleo n
on, every member of the committee "a
HON we interviewed expressed conf a
ence in the government as at present :,
lnducted. y
It should be mentioned that the commits "
oners were handicapped by reason of =