| Show THE ONE MAN POWER IT used to be the fashion among anti to make a great outcry against the one man power by which was meant the authority vested in the priesthood of the mormon church this was very much exaggerated and in some respects entirely misrepresented for the purpose of arousing bosti hostility lity against the mor imor 7 vaoa mon people and preventing their exorcise exercise of the rights of american citizens but waiving all argument in relation to that authority and leaving out any denial as to its existence in the form alleged let us look at the actual one man power now DOW in operation and its effects on our territorial affairs afra irs and if it does not appear that it is worse in practice and results than anything that occurred under so called church rule we have failed to see both aright in n utah alone of all the states and territories of the united states exists an autocracy that exceeds the imperial ism permitted to any king or queen or governor or president under a modern monarchial monarc bial form of govern ment the power of absolute veto is an outrage upon the people where it is permitted to be exercised it Js is contrary to every principle that gives life to a republic it is not only anomalous but utterly opposed to the institutions of our country of course the existence of this brand of bondage this sign of serfdom this standing mark of autocracy over citizens of a republic to is not the fault of the officer appointed by absolute authority to wield the imperial power it is a in the law and can be removed only by the legislative hand but with it there to Is a discretionary power by which it may be so used as not to gall its subjects like a chain wound too closely round around them or a yoke that bends beads their necks unbearably wisdom and independent judgment are essential to the proper use of this discretion and that authority unfortunately la in too many instances neither of these has been displayed in the relations between the executives and the people of utah there has been too much animus often in the holders of this imperial power and too little freedom from the influences of a faction inimical to the community during the present session of the legislature this autocracy hs been exhibited to some extent leaving out of consideration minor matters there are two measures of great importance port amoe that at the present writing seem doomed to failure because b ehause of I 1 its is exercise one la Is the metropolitan bill for the government or of cities of the first clan claga the other the worlds fair bill for the representing of utah at the great exposition exposi tiou and the appropriation and expenditure of funds for that purpose the first arst particularly affects only salt lake city at present directly the bill was prepared by a committee of the late city council and a commit tee of the chamber of commerce with an attorney of undisputed ability experience and knowledge of the wants of the city it was carefully oare tully compiled and adopted after close criticism both bouses houses of the legislature examined and approved it the fhe governor vetoed it but expressed his willingness willi to sign it if some designated changes should be made in it on investigation it appeared that these changes aou would id be incongruous Incon grous to the whole theory and purport of the measure breand and del defeat feat the great purpose it had bad in view the separation of certain departments of the city government and their measurable independence of each other the changes proposed would largely turn the plan bauk baek to present methods and could not be adopted consistently with the general purpose and tenor of the bill all that the legislature could do under the cir circumstances curn was to table it the one man power thus crushed the efforts of the representatives of this city of the combined commercial interests te and of the entire no redress is left the worlds fair bill appropriated to give utah proper representation at the great chicago exhibition it also provided for the proper expenditure of the money and named the per sons who were to be commissioners to manage the matter this expressed the views and desires territory or an overwhelming majority of its ita people the governor vetoed it why because it did not leave him free to choose and nominate these commissioners commissioner the legislature ta bled it one man power again and no DO remedy in ID this instance there is a conflict between the legislature and the ex on a legal point section seven of the organic act an old ground of dispute is in the occasion of it the governor claims the right to nominate these commissioners as officers of the territory it if these ladies and gentlemen designated by the legislature to spend this money are officers under the laws of the territory it is his right to nominate minate rin them theal if f they are not officers in the deanin meaning of the law lav he has not that right there ere is 40 no disposition on the part of the legislature to deny the governor authority or prevent its exercise legitimately but it is claimed and it senu with good reason that these persons are not called to act as officers of the territory as that term is in legally understood but why should there be soy any dispute over so BO small email a matter app apparently ari because there is great dissatisfaction with nominations already made by the governor in this connection and the wishes of the people have been more than ignored persons persona have bee i appointed as representing the republicans and democrats Demo crata who are recognized as neither but as rampant representatives of a faction obnoxious to both parties and to the great bulk of the population and the governors action to is regarded by many am aa an in suit to the community and an exercise of this one man power in its most moat arbitrary and unpleasant form this is in the truth in regard to present difficulties and it exemplifies the wrong that is being done to this territory by the continuance of the arbitrary bit autocratic shameful and un american Ame cican power of absolute veto exercised to defeat the will of the people and humiliate them for the gratification of one official and his friends who are a small minority of the citizens if there is one argument stronger than others why statehood or home rule should be given to utah it is t this his relic of barbarism that has been imposed upon her and irom from which may the good lord soonee soon deliver wl uel |
