The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-12-01
Park rAvoBs RECALL,


Mayorslcc samuel &. PARK. quoted
10 Telegram 20 Tho Tribune from Los
Angeles. discusse. the local situation
here in conservative way. aud Incl.
I dcnfally saws that he is IN favor of
the recall. and horcs 20 sec IL put into
I effect in this city. The recall, how.
/ ever. is matter who'll, under the def
nitioo and provision OF tho law, and Il
IS Impossible 10 have recall, save only
I where tho Ian establishes a. and desig.
nate, the means. manucr. aud prorcss
through which the recall shall be put
into effect
Thi. interview of Mr. Park :. bow
ever. brings forward vcry distinctly
the fact that there are defects in our
commission form Of government. even
though 1t should bc pronounced consti.
;utionaI hy the courts Among other
things that are defective. that have
been pointed ont by The Tribune. and
especially detailed Ly Councilman Me.
Kinney. Is tho absence of any tenure Of
office, cr Of any civil service exam
inatiOn Ia determine tho fiiues. Of an
plicarts for appointment by tho commits
sioncrs. The absence Of provisions Of
this kind leave The way open for the
building up OF political machines OF
the most iroucjad and offensive char
acter. The party in power would be
fully able, under the law as il stands
now. 20 pre-cmpt all the city positions,
and 20 require all employees Of the city
20 aeccp, the dominance OF the ring and
support the political bosses IN charge
Of tho party iu power But, fortunate
ly. the commits ssioncr. arc al liberty 10
provide for themselves rules Of civil
service. aud for the security in office
Of the officials 10 their positions az
long as they are honest. dilicent, and
competent. IL is entirely within the
power OF tho commissioners 90 set up
civil service rules and require exam
nations as 20 would.be appoiutccs
competence 20 fil tho positions for
which ,acy apply.
The commissioners who have gone 10
Dcs Moiues, Iowa, will fluid this civil
service examination in practice there
duly set forth IN the law. il is not
let forth In our law here. but. slUcc
there Is no provision against it. and
sincc tho commissioners may legally aud
hold that their only way 10
ascertain the fitness Of applicants for
Is 10 subject them 60 civil
service examinations. such examinations
can clearly bc established bv them And
rules of appointment, promotion. fiXity
10 office. and all Of these reforms so
much dwclt upon By those who favor
tho commission form Of government.
can unqucstionablv bc put into effect
induction into office II the commits
sioucrs who arc in Dos Moiucs making
OF ,bc manner of conduct
ing real commission government,
choose To make special inquiry into
this phase OF such government. they
can get all the information they want
very easily, aud all tho forms. pro.
scsses. and methods OF Judging of an
applicant 5 competence as they are set
forth and enforced IN Des Moiues. II
is certainly 10 be hoped that they may
see their way TO put such a reform
into effect in this city. and. if they
do. 1t will reconcile a great many pco-
pie 10 the commission form of govern.
mont vino have been opposed to It hith-
crto, or AZ least 10 the arbitrary
means whereby it was imposed upou
iIts CITY