The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-03-14
NO FORCED COMMISSION!

Again we wish to point out TO the
House of Representatives of the utah
Legislature the injustice of forcing upon
cities Of this State commission form
of government without regard to the
wishes of the inhabitants OF those
cities. We do not care at tins time 10
discuss tho merits of the commission
form of government, although we may
say in passing that we do not know
of any city anywhere that has such a
form of government as is proposed III
these bills. But the point that we wish
to make is, that the people have right
to be heard, and to determine for them
s, Ives whether they wish to accept this
form of government or not, The Iowa
law, known commonly as the Dcs
Moines plan, allows this liberty. No
Iowa city is required to accept the Des
Moincs form of government. Every
city in Iowa can accept it or reject 1T
as 1T sees fit. That is the proper thing
in local government. If we are to have
government by the people, surely the
people themselves should first be con"
suited as TO the form that they wish.
If they are not to have this primary
choice, it is idle to talk to them about
the advantages of the commission form
of government from the popular side
of it.
Very few of the members of the
legislature, comparatively, are to 1.-Two
in any of the cities on which il is pro-
posed TO force this form Of government.
We put it to them fairly and squarely
as man to man, and from the standpoint
of local popular government, whether
they consider it fair for men who. for
he most part, are not to live under
this form of government. TO force II
upon others whether those others con-
sent or not. The voters and taxpayers
within the cities to be affected by this
proposed commission form of govern
ment have the undoubtcd right 10 say
whether they desire TO have that form.
1t is altogether unjust to deprive them
of this liberty OF choice. The injustice
is increased when this forcing process
is put into effect by men who them
selves have no interest," - those cities,
who do not live in them, and who are,
bv passing this bill, putting upon others
form of government which it is very
doubtful if they would be willing to
have forced upon themselves.
We have a commission form of county
government, which certainly is not
above reproach. but it Will furnish a
pretty fair idea of what could be e&-
pected from commission form of city
government But, as we said before
we have no desire at this time to argue
the question OF the merits of the com
mission form Of government, we simply
ask the House to pause and reflect a
little and we put it squarely up 10
every member, whether he thinks he is
doing tine right thing as a person en-
| tirely outside of the operations of this
commission form OF government, when
he votes to impose ii upon others with
| out ra~ard to their will or preference
That is all. and we believe that when
members candidly reflect on the situa
ton. they will insist thai the optional
clause be nut in as it is in Iowa; ano
that no city need be compelled to ac
cent this commission form of govern
| ment, unless the qualified electors there
in so decide by their votes,