The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-11
PROPOSED LAW
FOR GOVERNING
SALT LAKE CITY
Bill introduced in Both Houses
of Legislature Provides for
DeS MoineS Plan.
COMMISSION OF FIVE
TO HAVE FULL CONTROL
GENERALIZATION OF POWER
ELIMINATES OPPORTUNITY
FOR GRAFT.

In both houses of the legislature yes
terday were introduced bills providing
a commission form Of government in
Utah for cities Of the first class. The
bills introduced in each house are ideH-
teal, and are modelled after bills passed
by the Iowa legislature. under which
the Des Afoines city government is now
operating. For this reason the system
is known as the Des MOines plan
The proposed law as embodied in the
bills introduced yesterday is a radical
departure from the form of municipal
government now followed in cities Of
the state. The proposed law applies to
only cities Of the first class and, there
fore, salt Lake City would be the only
one affected by its enactment.
In many respects the bill is similar
to the so-called Galveston measure in
tT0duced at the 1907 session Of the leg
islature. At that time a great deal OF
interest was aroused in the commission
form of government, and the sentiment
appeared to be strongly in favor OF
these bills. The Galveston bills passed
the senate, but were killed in the house
toward the close Of the session,
Result Of Two Years Study.
Since that time, uuder the direction
of the Civic Improvement League OF
Salt Lake. a large number Of citizens
have made a thorough study of the
commission form Of municipal govern
ment to ascertain whether or not Il
would be wise to adopt such a form of
government in Salt Lake City.
The Galveston plan Of government
had, in the meantime. been smplifed
and improved by what is now known as
the Des Moines plan. This plan was
adopted in Dies MOines and other Iowa
cities and proved to be a much more
/ economical and direct form Of govern
ment that the system heretofore used
| Those studying the commission plan
turned their attention from Galveston
to Des Moines. and for the last year
/ have been observing closely the prac-
I teal advantages resulting from the
adoption Of this method. Not long ago
a committee Of Salt Lake men, who
/ had interested themselves in the man
/ agement, went to Des Moines and stud
/ led in detail the different branches of
! the government Of that city. On their
return they urged strongly the ad0p-
/ ton of the Des Moines plan by Salt
Lake. This committee assisted in pre-
/ pairing the bill which was introduced
yesterday.
To Choose Five Commissioners.
Under the provision of the bill, the
! offices Of mayor and councilmen Of
/ cities OF the first class are abolished at
noon on the first Monday in January,
/ 1910. Their successors are to be a
I board of five commissioners, consisting
/ Of a mayor and four commissioners to
be elected at large. The only other city
/ officer to be elected is the city auditor.
/ No changes are made in the govern
ment Of cities Of less than the first
| class, though the provisions Of the stat
utes relating to their government are
re-enseteG IN the bill.
In cities Of the first class the mayor
/ is to he The chairman Of the board Of
commissioners. The mayor presides at
/ all meetings of the board, and has the
right to vote on ali questions coming
| before il. The bill gives the board the
power to subpoena witnesses. to ad-
minister oaths and 10 examine into
| matters under the same conditions as
judges of the district court. The may
OF is given no veto power.
Monthly Statement TO Be Made.
The commissioners are required to
/ print each month in pamphlet form an
itemized statement Of ali receipts and
disbursements Of the city and sum-
mary Of their proceedings during the
! month. At the end Of each year
all books and accounts Of the city are
to be audited by expert accountants
and a complete report IS TO be made for
the year
If any vacancy occur ia the Office OF
mayor, commissioner or auditor. the
vacancy IL to be filled by appointment
| by the board Of commissioners. If the
/ commissioners fail to ill a vacancy on
the board within thirty days. the au-
ditor shall sit as q member Of the board
for the purpose of filling the vacancy
only.
The board Of commissioners is given
the power to exercise all executive, ad-
ministrative and legislative powers now
posse ssed by the mayor. city council
board Of public works. park commits