The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-06-28
DARK LANTERN CLUB
The Council Holds Sessions Be-
hind Closed Doors.
A PRETTY STATE OF THINGS
What was the Work That Would Not
Bear the Light of Day.
Echo Answers.

No wonder there is corruption in the
police department, when the city council
finds 1t necessary to hold special sessions
behind closed doors
No wonder that the people of this city
are becoming disguised at the present ad-
ministration.
The city councillors were placed there to
represent the people, and the people have a
right to know what is being done and who
does it.
If there is anything in the transactions
OF the city council that will not bear the
light OF day, then every mothers son Of
them should resign and let other men take
their places-men who are not afraid to
work openly and above board men who are
willing TO be held accountable for their
acts
The meeting called for yesterday after
noon was not publicly announced, but
Chairman Loofbourow had caused to be
sent 70 each member private information
that meeting would be hsd at 3 O'Clock on
Monday.
When that hour arrived, the chairman
had failed to put in en- appearance, and
after a wait Of thirty minutes, Karrick
called the meeting to order, and nominated
Beardsley for chairman.
AS Beardsley took the stand Heiss, in a
sort OF ehamefaced way, walked up to the
chairman and held q whispered CONVERSE
ton. Beardsley appeared to be some
what confused, and when Heiss went back
to his corner, Beardsley announced that he
would have TO plead ignorance as to the
object Of the meeting, but he,
understood, it was an executive
session, and he saw reporter present. He
would ask the sense Of the council whether
or nothe should be allowed to remain.
Simondi was the only man with back
bone. He said, as he understood it, the
council could not hold executive sessions,
and the previous CITY council had so ruled.
Karrick, from whom we might have ex-
pected better things, said yes, he under
stood that was the old way of doing
things, but 1t was his opinion that execu-
tive sessions were all right.
Someone then moved that the meeting be
considered an executive session.
Horn was OF the opinion that the coun-
Gil could hold an executive session if 1t so
desired.
Wsntland arose to the Importance of the
occasion and said the meeting, as he un-
derstood 1t was an unnecessary one, any
way: but he thought it should be private
session, and be then seconded the motion
that the meeting be considered IS an
executive session.
The motion was carried and the room
cleared Of all but the brainy men who
propose to do the work fer which they are
paid by the people behind closed doors.
A KETRosPEcTIoN.
1t might be just as well at this time to
call the attention Of the brainy men of the
city council to an episode which occurred
IN the council chamber on April II, 1890.
Mr.. Cohn said there were matters of
great Importance to be considered and he
therefore, moved that the council 90 into
executive session. The motion was car
ried and the crowd dispersed.
Then II was that Judge Powers arose
and claimed that IS citizen of Salt Lake
ne had q right to be present a. ali delibera-
tons of the council and so had any other
member Of the great public He quoted
the law on the subject, the council tum bled
ana the action of few moments previous
was reconsidered and the business OF the
evening was resumed.
WHAT WAS THE BUSINESS?
This is a question which win probably re-
main forever unanswered.
It might have been 20 pass upon the bill
Of s., 500, presented for the entertainment
of the Boston aldermen.
II might have been that resolution was
rushed through to open street TO some
subdivision
1t might have been that a resolution was
sprinkling service.
There are many other things that might
have happened Also
II is not now claimed that any such
things were done, but the tax payers have
the right to view with suspicion work that
is done behind closed doors; work for
which they pay their hard-earned dollars.