The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-13
To the Herald:

To the Herald:
At the risk of provoking the opening of
another one or two of the walls of
wrath of Mr.. Arthur Pratt's personal
organ, the Salt Lake Tribune, wish to
say few words concerning the ordinance
which 1 introduced at the last session of
the city council. My motives in so doing
are not, it seems to me. a matter which
should particularly interest either the
other members of the council or the pub
lie, and 1 am willing to take all the con-
sequences of the act, whether immediate,
or those to come in the future. Personal
abuse of me should not be permitted TO
divert attention from the main cause at
issue.
| became convinced some weeks ago
that fearing a test of public opinion by
openly Offering his name as the next chief
of police for nomination by the mayor
and confirmation by the incoming councll,
Mr.. Pratt and some of his political friends
had determined upon plan to have him
take charge of the police force on Jan. l,
and perform the duties of the Office under
the assumption that he held over under
the law until his successor should be APP
pointed and confirmed and thus avoid
the necessity of risking a confirmation by
the council.
That my convictions were well founded
has been clearly proven by the feroclty
of the personal attack of his organ upon
me, and the strenuous efforts he ana ms
friends have been putting forth TO deIeaI
the ordinance. If the full history OF all
that has been done in this direction by
these parties during the past week could
be written, the public would soon locate
where political trickery is being prac-
ticed and an attempt made to conceal II
by yelling stop, theft at others.
The ordinance l propose simply abol-
iShee the office of chief of police on Jan.
l next and carries over all the other men,
ha- of ha fire
until the next administration enactS an
ordinance re-creating these departments.
That such a new ordinance by the next
council win be necessary, all attorneys;
will agree and l in no way curtail any of
the powers of either the mayor or council
of the incoming administration.
But it is asked, why abolish the once
of chief of police and no other-the chleI
of the fire department, for instance?
There seemed to me to be reasons suffl-
Gent for takin gthlS step, ana am Will
ing to state them briefly: Almost during
| the whole of the past two years there
| has been a conflict between the board OF
police and fire commissioners and the
| chief of police. ! do not know the merits
! of the contention and cannot say which
party was right, but L do know that the
/ general public is disguised with 1t all
and would like to see it ended. MIR. Pratt
/ is under charges preferred against him
! to the board and, having been cited to APP
pear for trial before them, is under sus-
I pension pending such trial. He elected, as
! he had the right to do under the law, to
| be tried by the full board of four mem
/ bers. but one member of the board re-
! fuses to sit in the trial and blocks further
action. Did Mr.. Pratt or his attorneys
/ have knowledge that this member would
! so refuse when he was named to fill the
vacancy on the board?
The charges at the time they were made
seemed to me trivial and not Sufhclent to
warrant Mr.. Pratts dismissal from the
/ force, and he has always so claimed but
! if this was true, why did he not meet
/ them? His answer will probably be that
| the board had determined upon his dis
misSal and that he was pre-judged, nc
matter what the testimony produced.
! do not know if this be true, but even If II
We're, he should have met the situation as
a man and trusted to the public and the
/ future for Yindication if his suspicious
/ had been verified.
AS to the chief of the fire department
/ he is under no charges and no suspension
/ of which I am aware. Charges were pre-
stood his trial before practically the same
board and they were not sustained, a
least so far as dismissal.
Again, it has not been brought to my
notice. at least. that the chief of the fir;
department is intriguing to be retained il
! Office without the consent or confirmation
of the next council. If he is, then 1 an
willing that he should be included in TIT
| ordinance also.
In conclusion, the incoming council is
coordinate branch of this city govern
ment with the mayor; the members O
! that council are interested in and viii
be held responsible for the success o.
failure of the administration with tn,
mayor and should have the opportunit!
to pass upon the qualifications and fitness
of the next chief of police and heads o
other departments. Especially is this tru
of the members of my own political part.
who are in majority in the council and t
aid in securing them that right is all tina
am aiming to do. I regret that unde
the particular existing circumstances
became necessary for me to take thi
step at this time. but no one else APP
peared willing TO do it, and it seemed Il
be left to me. If, in SO doing, have a
hari-kari." then 1 trust at the place o
my interment may be erected a plail
stone with the inscription: He questione
the inalienable right of certain MAI to
life tenure in offlce-hence his fate!''
w. H DALE.