The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-03-03
OPEN LET TER
TO THE LAW
MAKERS
PROTEST OF CHAMBER OF COM
MERGE is MADE EMPHATIC.
Legislators Are Called Upon to Vote
AsaInst the Water Commission
Bill Now Before Them.

The following communication in the
form Of a protest against tho propos-
ed enactment OF the water commits
sion bill, No. l66, now pending before
the legislature, has been mailed by
the chamber OF commerce to each OF
the senators and members of tho
house Of representatives from Weber
county
Ogden, Utah, March 2 1909.
Sir; The Chamber of Commerce OF
Ogden City has given much time Of
late in discussing two bills that arc
now before the Utah Legislature and
upon which you will soon have an Cd.
portunity to cast vote. The bills are
the Des Moines plan Of CITY govern.
ment and the Waterworks Commits
sion bill Tho Chamber has unhesI.
tatingly gone on record as In favor of
the former and positively opposed to
the latter. as witnessed by the follow
Ing resolution passed at a special
meeting Of the members of that body
on last Friday evening.
Resolution.
Ogden City Chamber OF Commerce
Gentlemen: Your special committee.
to which was referred house bill No
16G. relating to the creating of a water
commission for Ogden City. report as
follows:
Whereas. This body approves the
passage of the bill now pending he.
fore the legislature, providing for the
Des Moines plan of city government.
II entended TO include cities Of the sec
ond class with such amendments as
may be necessary to the welfare of
Ogden City; and urges the amend
ment of the bill to include cities of the
second class; and believing that under
the form of city government provided
by said bill the water system Of Og-
den can be as effectually and salts
factorily managed as by a separate
board OF water commissioners.
Resolved. That we do not, at the
present time favor the passage Of
house bill No 156. providing for q
board of water commissioners.
Respectfully submitted,
HYRUM BELNAP, Chairman.
In bringing this matter to your at
tention. We desire to say that we are
acting In the capacity Of a special
committee, appointed by said Chamber
for this purpose.
We have had the Des Moines plan
Of city government under discussion
for about eight weeks and, at former
meeting. endorsed 1t by an almost
unanimous vote. Our reasons for sup
porting said bill are:
First-Because under that plan the
commissioners are nominated and
elected In a manner that is as nearly
non-partlean as we can get.
Second-They are to be paid a sal
ary sufficient to secure all their time.
and much better government can be
secured In that way.
Third-Because with each commits
sioner assigned TO a special depart
ment, he will take pride In handling
that department to the best Of his
ability.
Fourth-Because we believe In the
end 1t would be cheaper, as 1t would
retire 10 councilmen and number Of
present heads Of departments.
F1fth-Because the plan contains
the recall, whereby commissioner
may be retired before the expiration
of his term Of office IL 1t should be-
come necessary.
Sixth-Because the plan contains
the initiative. that the people may In
referendum that the people may hold
veto power In their own hands.
We have had the water commission
bill under discussion since it's intro
duction In the house,
First. before special directors
meeting.
Second, at the. regular monthly
meeting of the directors.
Third, by special committee OF six,
consisting of Messrs Belnap, Bostaph,
Critchlow. Smith, Pratt and Brum-
mitt. said committee having reported
the above resolution, and
Fourth, by the members of tho
Chamber with good representation, on
last Friday evening, which adopted
the above resolution. after discussion
of two hours. participated In by tho
members and city attorney. The reso-
ution passed with but one negative
vote.
Our rSHSOuS lol oDPoSih6 VIC "oeSA
commission bill are:
First-We are opposed to an ap.
pointiye commission because 1t places
them too far from the people, 80 that
a man appointed for six years could
not be reached by the people for that
length of time. and then only indi-
rectly.
Second-Because, having endorsed
the Des Moines plan, this commission
would be superfluous, and not at all
contemplated under that system. and
we are satisfied that should we fall
to get the plan at this session OF the
legislature, we will by next.
Third-We are opposed to a COM
mission that is expected to work for
nothing. Small service can be expect
ed from any commission that Is com
PEELED to work under $4,000 bond
and work for nothing.
Fourth-Under that system the only
persons that could afford to accept an
appointment would be the retired cap
italist. whose interest 1t would be To
keen the water rates high. that the
taxes on property would be lower.
F1fth-Instead Of the commission
being a "non-partisan" commission, We
fear 1t would develop into a strictly
part.san affair, and would become the
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