Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-25
MAYOR BRANsFoRD

MAYOR BRANSFORD.
After short reply TO his introduce
ton Mayor Brapsford of SAT- Lake
said:
In coming before you on this cccn-
sion. L am deeply conscious OF my in
ability to properly place the subject
that has been assigned to ne. lct. as
the Municipal League OF Utah has been
organized for the specific purpose OF
discussing the various questions az
fecting city government and for tae
further purpose Of advocating that
which will be for the best interests Of
the people In respect to the conduct
OF municipal affairs, we, who have
been selected to hold Office should at
all times be ready and willing TO do
our share in the work,
After more than Il century of popular
government. we are today confronted
with the undenIable truth that our
progress in municipal government has
not been commensurate with other
forms of civic administration, and this
in spite of the fact that the people are
more directly affected by municipal
rule than by any other This cos;di-
ton is so generally recognized through
out the country that ii has tecome The
subject of serious and deliberate u.s.
-
tion regardless CT party affiliations.
The recent eXpcsUIos OF ccr0up ion
In many of our large: cities arc stu
fresh in the public mind. The rec5Snl-
tion OF the weakness OF the systsm ls
of course the first important step To-
wards Its solution. The next consecu-
tive step is of necessity the ascertain
ment of the causes that permit this
state of affairs. and in my Judgment
the answer to this proposition carries
with it the suggestion of those re-
formatory measures essential In
remedying the existent evils.
THE DEs MONIES PLAN.
Among the many proposed plans. and
the one 1 am to briefly discuss, Is
called the "Des Moines or Commission
plan of city government. This pro-
posed scheme consists OF commits
sion of three men elected by the people.
I'm whom shall be vested the abso.ute
power of administration of all the
city's affairs. They shall appoint all
officers OF the municipality the treas-
urer. recorder, auditor, attorney, super
intendent of waterworks, etc. down
to the humblest officer in the city's
employ. They shall have the power
to pass laws. grant franchises. issue
bonds. levy taxes, I'm short perform
all the functions OF every nature ut
the present time executed by the city
council and the mayor There are some
excellent arguments submitted in favor
of this change. For instance il IS
pointed out that sufficient salary
could be paid as an, inducement for
men of large business interests to be-
come the peoples servants, and thus
give to them the benefits Of their cN-
pericnce in private affairs. To this
argument / can see no possible oh1ee-
tion, for l am firmly of the opinion
that the men elected are not adequately
compensated for the devotion of their
whole time to the office to which they
are elected Conceding the truth of
this contention II could hardly be urged
as a substantial ground for change
in the form OF government so much as
a weakness in the existing form that
could be easily rectified. 1t is further
contended that these commissioners
being under heavy bonds for the proper
discharge of their duties, and being
directly accountable to the people for
the administration OF each department.,
there would no longer be any difficulty
In LAYING the responsibility for the
maladministration of any Office TO
the proper party. If the men who
were honored by being elected commis-
sloners were always absolutely honest.
this and kindred arguments In favor OF
have no moro assurance OF honesty in
them than in the average officer elected
under the present method. The fact
that they are under heavy Donds. ls
not in itself sufficient nor Is 1t enough
to know that they come from the nign-
er walks in life. Contracts Involving
enormous sums Of money would FREE
omont,y hinge ON the assent or dissent
of one member, and consider this one
~ the chief reasons for the failure or
the nlan. It Is much easier to roacn
ono individual by bribery, without any
Chance of proving his guilt, than whero
a body of mon are in control.
NOT ALWAYS MONEY.
In this connection we should not con-
fuse the idea OF bribery always mean
ing a money consideration Men are
swervcd from the strict path
OF duty by improper influences, in
which the idea of gain or financial re-
ward plays little OF no part: the temp
tation OF power position and political
are allurements equally
as potent in influencing men to sub
ordinate public welfare to selfish con-
siderations as the lust for wealth, and
while the public servant who permits
himself to be so swayed by such in
nuences is morally as guilty OF q
breach of public trust. yet he is not
liable for prosecution for his acts
There Is no check. no appeal, under
the proposed plan of municipal gov
ernment, and this brings us to rccognl-
tion OF the fundamental principles upon
which our government was founded
Our forefathers were beset with these
same arguments In opposition 10
government of the people. Hamilton
and his coadtutors OF that time de-
cried the theory of popular govern
ment. and predicted its ultimate fail