Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-06-26
OBEY THE LAW.

NnhA Ahh 80 We
The salt Lake saloon keepers arc an
afflicted lot. The hoard Of police abd
fitr commissioners intend that viola
lions Of tho law iorbidding the sale Of
llquor on Sundays shall cease, aud the
whisky vendors therefore are az
grieved. At their business meeting on
Sunday they expressed the view that
nm injustice n being done by requiring
them to observe the law, and they
agreed to present the meter before the
commissioners with n view to securing
change Ia the official procedure.
They also urge that they are paying
license which contributes TO the city
revenue Of nearly 100000 per year that
many Of them now are on the verge OF
suspension; aud that by the closing OF
the saloons on sunday they are ds'
prlvsd OF from $500 to $500 per month
in business. Therefore they will urge
the commissioners to revoke the order
requiring tho saloon men to do other
than draw the blinds on Sunday, Or II
this 10 not granted, to allow them q
rebate on their license.
Under these circumstances would II
not be- very kind and liberal thing TO
allow tho saloon men to disregard tho
law once in while-only ons day In
seven, or every day In tho week
that there IL a possible opportunity
for violating the siatu,s7 And isit
not a little severe to insist on punish
ing these proprietoTs when they do a
little law.breakiug by carrying on NJ
forbidden times business which II
directly responsible for four.fftha Of
the crime committed In the couniryi
which docs more 90 augment thu ranks
Of harlotG, thieves anu murdoreIs than
any other known cause; which IL more
expensive to the state In paugers,
lunatics aud criminals than all other
lines Of business traffic combined;w hlCh
impoverishss and dogrades its millions
OF victims and brings untold mis-.
cry on countless homos, regard
ing neither age, sex nor conii.
ton; and without which large
proportion OF the almshouses, asylums
ami jails would disappear from the
land because unnecessary, aud the
constabulary Of the country would be
greatly reduced In numbeu2 And 10
1t not Jus, as severe to punish the
thief for stealing and the murderer for
killing2 But then the law Is always
soyere-irom the lawbreakef's stand
point.
Again, 1t Ia insisted that those en-
gagged In this business contribute 10 the
cityh revenue a large amount each
year. Even " this were true, would
that afford au excuse for Illegal acis or
basis for officials to ignore statu-
tory enactmenl,2 Is money the price
Of Absolution for lawlussness2 The
property owner the workingmsn who
owns his little home, the manufacturer
and mechanic who are building up tho
country and making the city desirable
for haUltauln, contribute 10 the munlc.
ipal revenue na Taxpayers. And be-
caulo Of this shall they be- granted per.
mission 70 plumber ami steal or CONAN II
other hwlessness, Or failing no obtain.
log consent 20 d. that, have rebate on
their taNef1 But the claim that tho
tal3ou heopers contribute such "a vast
amount 90 the municipal income
o. NOT honest, because % is
not true. What they pay as d.
uguse De- q miserable pItlancu com.
pared 10 the expense onlalled through
their busiaoss. For every dollar 10.
ggivei from the whlsky Interests iu
this city, the corporation has expended
Two dollars as gHB direl. rtsll. of that
business through the secret or open
law-itiylng proceedings OF saloon
keepers and their patrons, Co say
nothing o'iudireot expense. Instead
" being muuincsut contributors 10 Go,
ci,y'a financial department. tuoy are o.
heavy monetary lpIu. rury now
wautt1shiuu little more ultuu burden
900 Co the law abiding taxpayer lu orIcr
luat moy may reap Ila,e.ssI profits.
By this time the saloon men ougu
to uuItrrE-I THAT tlo city docs uo
owe them anything. They have no
teen eI gtgoI iu any charitable Iouau
log to the municipal revenue, co.,,
have no right TO consideration fou
that point Of view They have ben
bvnehoisnes Of instead Of contributor
TO the financial department Of the mum
cipahty, aud II would be better com
piiment to their good judgment
they would recognize that fact lustea
Of demnnding the privilege Of addiu
TO the expense Of the city and tarnlsl
ing lis name by urging its officials