The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-12-16
CITY COMMISSIONERS
PUZZLE OVER PLANS
Crowding Of Nearly Score of
Departments Into Five
Presents Problem.
TO DIVIDE TIE WORK
Question of Appointive Of
fees Also Proves Difficult
of Settlement.
TO DIVIDE TIE WORK

In spite Of the fact that chapter l25.
Session Laws OF 1a11 under which Is
created the commission form OF govern
ment provides that the new city Off
csls shall take their offices 'on the
first Monday in January. 1912, at L.
o clock meridisn.' there is every rea-
son 10 believe that the maTor-elect and
commissioners and auditor elect
will do nothing OF the sort. This belief
is based on the very good and sufficient
reason that the first Monday in Jan
uarN. 1872" will. III the forthcoming
yasr also he New Years day, and con-
seauenuy a legal holiday. There is a
provision III the state siatutes-indesd
theM arc several--which says that when
ever any act OF secular nature other
than q work OF necessity or mercy is
appointed by law or contract 10 be pei
formed upon a particular day, which
day falls upon a holiday. such act may
be performed upon the next business
day With the same effect as il had been
performed upon the day appointed.
Therefore. unless it be deemed an act
OF mercy 10 induct the officers-elect into
office on New Years day, II Is likely
that Salt Lake will struggle along as
best IL may for one more day under the
old order Of things.
Then. too the extra day OF grace VIII
doubtless be welcome to the now Off
| GERS, for the reason that II Will give
them additional twenty-four hours
within which 10 solve the knotty prob
| lens that confront them IN connection
with the sppointiYc offices.
Just now the mayor-eleCt and his as
socIates arc III the thTocs of arranging
the five departments into which the nc "
| law divides the city government. Under
the system a, present in force there arc
some thing like sixteen or eighteen de-
partments These will have 10 he con-
| denscd into five. after the fashion Of
| condeDSuE eggs for use in the klondike.
Vexing Problem Presented.
The commissioners arc willing 10 con-
Tess that the arrangement OF the city
departments for the purposes of admin
| istration In concentrated torlus presents
a vexing problem. Due regard must be
| signed to each department and its re-
lation TO other departments. The aim
is 10 place all OF the various branches
whose work Is more or less interviewer
or In any wise allied in ono Of The five
| new departments, The law gives tho
commissioners the authority to change
the first designation whenever IL ap-
benefited thereby So that even If the
first alignment does not work out well
after a trial. the commission may
switch the arrangement,
The law provides that there shall be
a department OF public affairs and
! finance; department or water supply
and waterworks. department. Of public
| safety; Il department OF streets and pub
lie improvements. department of parks
and public property,
OC these. the greater interest on the
part of the public ceniers In The de-
partment of public safety. The comms-
sioucrs will say. II they be asked now,
that they do not know which one nt
their number will have supervision OF
this depsrtment--cr of any other de-
partmcnt for the matter oi that There
is a persistent rumor, however. that
Mayor elect Park viii be the supcrlu-
tendent of the department Of public
safety Under this head viii come the
offices of chief of police, chief OF the
fire department. health commissioner
and heaIih board, food inspector. hu-
msne officer. crcmstory and In short
everything that pertains 10 the preser
walton of peace the protection cf life
and property and the promotion OF pub
lie health.
Morris Is Scheduled.
The department Of water supply and
yateruorks VIII have 10 do with an all
Important division OF the administration.
II is the general impression that Com
missioner r. IA Morris WI, heao nssad sls de on
the fact that 1t WAS during Mr. Morris $
administration as mayor that the FIRST
and effective steps were taken for the
ing syetem the city now boasts. MI
Morris became thoroughly familiar with
the water question during ms term %
mayor, when the water problem was most
acute. IL is therefore reasonable 10 as
sums that he Will head the department
which he Is so peculiarly yell qualified
10 direct
Under the department OF water supply
and waterworlSs Will fall the supcrintcnd
ent Of waterworks, the land and water
commissioner and all of the subdiYsions
Of those branches.
II is said that the department OF public
affairs and finance Will fall TO Commits
sioner II. ", Lawrence. Mr.. Lawrence
has made Az exhaustive study OF the
subjects that Will he embraced III this
designation, and hc is rega rded as some
what OF an expert In all that relates tc
finances. This department VIII include
the office OF city treasurer. license collec-
tons office OF city recorder, probably
city attorney and several other branches.