The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-15
WEN OF ALL PARTIES UNITE
IN BRANDING RIPPER BILL AS
UNJUST, DANGEROUS, ILLEGAL

Some Of the prominent members of
the Republican party who were asked
for an opinion on the bill excused
themselves on the ground that they had
already come into conflict with the
views Of Governor SpTy on prohibition,
and did not wish any further clash with
the administration at this time.
Judge Powers Opinion.
Said Judge o. w. Powers last night:
Il have not the slightest hesitation in
saying that such a bill as is proposed
is absolutely unconstitutional. It can
not hold water for a. moment. Further,
there is no occasion for such an in
fringement of the rights of the people
who pay the taxes. The people in the
cities cannot legally have such an in
reference with their rights They are
competent to govern themselves with
out the interference of the state in
what concerns only themselves. 1t is
an interference with home rule, is ille-
gal and is unjust"
Judge H. p. Henderson held much the
same view. He said: while have not
examined the constitution with refer
ence to this particular measure, 1 have
had occasion to look up some questions
of that kind. and I do not believe that
such a measure as is proposed Is con-
stitutional. I cannot see how any citi-
zen can do otherwise than oppose a
bill that attempts to take away from
the city what absolutely belongs to It.
1t is contrary to every principle of our
Democratic and Republican forms of
government, and is wrong and unjust
It seems to have been advanced with
but one single purpose-to prevent the
people from saying who shall govern
them"
''I have not looked into it from a le-
gal standpoint" said r. b. CritchlOw,
"but consider the bill of doubtful con-
stitutionality. 1t is contrary to the
spirit of the constitution and only put
forward from Interior motives. 1t is
purely political in its nature and is un-
worthy of consideration from any
standpoint. There can be nothing
gained In efficiency by it. and if the
principle prevails there will be just as
much warrant for interference in
other matters Of self government as in
this branch or branches of the city ad-
ministration."
Mccormick Opposes 1t.
'T have not examined the bill" said
W. S. Mccormick. but l fail to see
what right the state has to interfere In
the city affairs in any such manner as
is provided in this measure. 1t does
not seem to me possible that such a
step Is seriously Contemplated"
''The bill is not only Unconstitution-
al" declared Judge W. II. King, but
is directly opposed to the basic prin-
ciples of local self-government-
J. 7. Hammond Against 1t.
"As I understand the bill and its pro-
visions. without having gone over It
carefully, I would say that l would Sc
riously question the constitutionallty of
the measure" said ]. T. Hammond last
evening. Il have not made a study Of
the bill and would not wish to so on
record as saying that 1t is unconsutu-
tional. but 1 do not mind being quoted
as being opposed to II on general lines.
would not favor any measure that
meant state interference with munich
pal government. 1 am of the belief
that Salt Lake City and other cities
that might be affected by the enforce
ment of such a law as is proposed are
perfectly capable of handling their own
affairs. 1 am opposed to the bill on
the face of it because 1 believe such