The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-08
The Committee Failed TO Get To-
gether Last Night.
OPPOSED TIE REMOVALS
DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS DON'T
LIKE CHIEF PRATTS SLATE.
Believe the Scheme Outlined Will
Create Discussions In the Depart
ment-Even the Republicans Pro-
test-Some Open Secrets-Council
Will Act In Accordance With the
Public Wishes.

For the purpose of discussing the virtue
or. rather, the lack of that essential
quality in Chief Pratt's plan to reorganize
the police department the city council
committee to whom has been referred the
mayors removals and appointments. at
tempted to hold a meeting last evening.
Lately the movements of the committee
have been shrouded in mystery, and in
order that secrecy might surround the
anticipated discussions of last evening,
Councilman Fernstrom's tailor shop,
reached by a meandering route to
secluded spot, was chosen for the COM
mlttee assembling place That no meet
ing materiaiized was partly due to the
fact that Councilman Robertson failed 10
show up, thus giving Councilman Buckle
an opportunity to plead for postpone
ment until the entire committee as
sembied. Then, again, the committee is
deemed to be unanimous IN the belief that
no public interest is suffering If the re
organization scheme is held in allegiance
Tor few weeks. Another moving cause
for the meetings dismissal without an
extended exchange of opinion on the mat
ter in hand, was the desire of Chairman
Howe and Councilmen Allen, Buckle and
Fernstrom to participate in the patriotic
demonstrations then in progress on the
street. The next meeting of the police
committee viii be held at some unfre-
quented place. beyond the reach of Chief
Pratt's influence.
ATTITUDE OF THE COMMITTEE.
1t requires only meeting of the police
committee to formulate a recommended
ton to the council looking 10 the rejec-
ton OF Chief Pratts slate, which Mayor
Clark was induced into submitting to
the council. Mindful of their obligations
10 the public, the Democratic majority
OF the committee are unit in declaring
that there is no sound reason offered for
removing nine efficient officers TO make
room for an equal number of men whose
chief recommendation is their claim for
satisfaction Tor services in behalf Of the
nOE-DartiSan ticket last fall. Buckle and
Robertson, the Republican members of
the committee, are as emphatic as their
colleagues in denouncing the scheme that
they know forebodes trouble in the de-
partment and unbounded dissatisfaction
in the community, but 1t is feared that
they viii not have the courage TO speak
their convictions when the critical test
comes The promise of a few positions
for their political creditors in the water
works department, temporary of course,
is being held out to Buckle and Robert
son to induce them to vote to concur in
would occasion much surprise to their
colleagues and constituents, too if they
gave another faith breaking demonstra-
ton Even Diehl is strongly opposed TO
the removals and appointments, since a
very large representative class is unduly
Disseminated against, but he is under
obligations to support anything that
emanateS from the mayors office.
a FEW OPEN SECRETS.
From reliable sources it is stated that
vote to reject the appointments, even if
only a majority OF the committee recon-
mend rejection, but several members of
the council have reason to hope for
from the committee. Voicing public
sentiment that everywhere prevails. and
according to gossip heard in official
haunts, councilcen assert that it is a
patent fact, if his desires triumph that
Chief Pratt cannot conduct the police de-
partment without again having trouble
turmoil. strife. jealousies, inefficient ser
vice and unnecessary additional expense
TO the taxpayers, the same as under the
old regime. They point to the fact that
tried. true and efficient men are to be
for no good cause whatever,
save, of course. for political reasons.
The fact that the mayor has another
relative to reward; that the chief is pro-
viding place for his brother that Coun-
Gilman Callister is anxious to see if his |
brother-in-law is not fitted for police !
that at least six of the nomi- |
nees are thought TO be Incompetent for
these particular positions, and would be |
unable to pass the physical examina ton !
required under the old rules, where as all |
the nine slated for removal satisfactorily |
nlled these rSquirementS-au these are
freely discussed topics in and out of rnu- |
nicipal circles. Indeed, many councilmen !
predict that to remove the old men would |
under the law, be illegal and result in the !
city having to pay double salaries.
THE MISREPRESENTATI LEVER. !
Again, it is alleged by councilmen that |
the chief has resorted to misrepresenta- |
ton and falsehood 10 poison the minds |
Of the confirming power against the /
marked policemen. 1t is related, too. that |
the chief has made certain statements to !
the committee against an officer recon- |
mended for removal and almost instantly |
has confded to the faithful. undefended |
bluecoat, that he had done ell he could to |
save his subordinate and that the mayor 1
was to be blamed for prejudicing the /
committee. When the mayor was sought /
for for verification he repudiated. as in
the case of Desk Sergeant Smith and /
and returned the onus to |
Chief Pratt. Such incidents as these and |
others unrelated are inducing the police |
committee and members of the council to |
hear both sides before voting 10 remove !
any of the nine officers.
AND EFFICIENCY HOPE
LESS
The opinion is gaining ground that the |
needs of the public service do not re- /
quire any such radical changes as pro- /
posed in the chiefs REORGANIZATION |
plan, and that the desired harmony and !
in the police department under |
Chief Pratt's readjusted tenure of Office |
cannot be accomplished in the question: |
able manner proposed by him, through |