The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-06
THE GRAND JURY.

The HERALD does not say that all these
stories about crime and vice in this city are
true. We hope they are not true. We do
not assert that all these allegations regard
ing violations of municipal ordinances are
correct or that they are even based on
facts. We wish we knew they were false
and were wicked fabrications. We do not
assert that whisky saloons are run on Sun
day as openly as on other days of the week.
IN tagrant disregard of law and in defiance
OF the decent public sentiment of the com
imunity. We do not charge that gambling
is carried on publicly although there is an
ordinance which makes it a punishable Of
tense to conduct games of chance
within the city limits. We hope there is
no gambling den in Salt Lake city, THE
HERALD does not assert that there are num-
erous houses of prostitution within the cor
poratlon bounds, and that vile women prac-
tice their awful traffic as publicly as thew
would do If there were no law against it
and their business were legitimate and res
pectable. We hope that this is not the case.
we do not allege that policemen are in the
habit OF drinking over the bar on SUNDAYS
as on week days, nor that they are familiar
with the interiors Of gaming rooms. Neither
do we assert that the officials charged with
the duty of enforcing the laws are negli-
gent, nor that they are afraid to command
obedience to the ordinances against certain
vices lest they offend their political parti
sans
But The HERALD does say that all these
things are matters of common talk on the
streets, the natural and necessary conse-
quence being that the city is getting de-
cldedly bad name at home and abroad and
certain executive officials are severely cen
sured. The scandals have grown to such
magnitude that we hold it to be the duty of
the grand jury to investigate them, and
ascertain just how much or how little truth
there is for them. If it shall prove true
that the municipal ordinances are fla
GRAVITY violated then the inauisitors shonld
co what is necessary to bring the violators
TO a reckoning. If it shall be established
that the city officials, or any Of them from
the mayor down to the policeman last sworn
IN, know that the laws are defied and do
nothing TO prevent or to punish the guilty.
then the negligent or corrupt official should
~ t-~oNApNNA anu DAOA5Ab W Iildl. IL IUSfe
are houses of prostitution in this city and
the fact of their existence can be come at
by the grand jury, the proprietors and in
mates should be indicted and the establish
ments closed as nuisances. If there are
gamblers here and gambling hells, and the
evidence of the facts can be gathered by
theinquisitors, then there should be more
indictments and more suppressions of nuts
ances.
In short, The HERALD is firmly of the
opinion that there is work Of an important
character demanding the attention of the
grand jury. 1t is q shame that this CITY
should be made to suffer in reputation as at
present. If the city is blame,ess let the
truth be established and the fact promul
gated, when the scandal may disappear. If
these ugly stories which are in everybodv,s
mouth are true, let the city's fair fame be
restored by the vigorous prosecution and
certain punishment of the guilty. And if
the stories are true and city officials are.
through willful negligence, incompetence
or political cowardice, responsible for the
failure of law and justice, it should be the
duty Of the inqulsitors to see to 1t that those
officials be made to step down and out, and
no longer remain between Salt Lake citv
and her good name