The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-09

The council remained firm to the last
IL its antagonism to Arthur Pratt, and
last night his re-appointment by Mayor
Clark was flung back to his honor with
an unequivocal and decisive protest.
The action came up upon a communi-
cation from Mayor Clark, in which he
sought to restore Pratt to the chief
taincy OF the police department.
The council acted promptly and with
no indication of wavering. The senti-
ment towards the dethrOned chief was
manifest in the incisive speeches OF the
ccuncilmen and the applausive clapplng
from the Hobbies each time negative
vote was recorded There We're only
two changes in the ballot by which
Pratt was once before rejected, and
these were Occasioned by the voting OF
Weller, who stood with the opposition,
and Wallace, who cast his ballot In
favor of the eX-chief.
The final and Only ballot stood nine
against and six in favor of confrma-
ton.
a crowd filed the Hobbies to the doors.
and the sentiment of opposition to-
wards Mr. Pratt was shown in way
that could not be misinterpreted: me
overthrow of Mr.. Pratt last night is
IdAtll 10 Dt q lillelt p4btD9Nr N-AAo-- 49,
mayor viii no longer seek TO overcome.
FROM THE MAYOR.
Following is the full text of the may
or's communication making the reap
pointment.
To the President and City Council, Salt
Lake City:
Gentlemen-I am in receipt from the
city recorder of a copy of the report OF
your committee on fire and ponce, IN
the matter OF the appointment OF Ar
thur Pratt as chief of police, recon-
mending that said appointment be re-
ferred back to the mayor for reconsid-
Grafton" which report was adopted oy
your honorable body on the 25th ult-
! regret to learn, from said report,
that the appointment OF Mr. Pratt is
diStaSteful to a considerable number OF
The members of the council, but cannot
ccncede that it is so, TO any consider
able number of the taxpayers OF the
CITY. much less to a large majority. Dis
taste in this matter may arise from
various causes, personal prejudice, po-
GticaI differences, dislikes imbibed from
a strict enforcement of the laws ana
ordinances of the city in the past None
Of these. however, are diSqualifications
under the law.
In this connection, permit me TO call
your attention to the fact that the state
laws, as we'll as the ordinances of the
CITY. impose upon the mayor the duty
Of seeing that the laws and ordinances
are faithfully executed" and conters
upon him the power TO suppress dis
order and keep the peace" He can
only perform these duties by having
reliable men at the head of the several
departments, in whom he can place I'M
plicit confidence, and who will work in
harmony with him The people OF TINS
rity have, by their franchise, imposed
the duties of mayor upon me, and
desire to perform those duties in such
manner as win best subserve the inter
ests of the whole people, without refer
ence to political preferences, past pref
udices or personal distastes. In this et-
fort I hone 10 have the support and
cooperation of the city council
In selecting a man for chief of police,
[ sought for man Of large experience,
of conceded honesty, who could not be
corrupted by brides, of courage, discre-
ton, executive ability, and one who
would see that the laws and ordinances
were strictly and uniformly enforced,
without fear or favor, and yet without
radicaIism. Such a man I believe l
found in Arthur Pratt. While out of
courtesy to your honorable BODY have
carefully reconsidered the nomination,
I have seen nothing TO change my opin-
ion relative to him, but still believe he
is the proper man for chief of police
There are no charges against him of
1nalfeasance or maladministration in
office in all the years he has held office
in this community.
Believing that the appointment of
Arthur Pratt rs chief of police will
conserve the best interests Of the po-
lice department" 1 again submit his
name and ask your advice and con-
sent to his appointment. Very respect /
fully, JOHN CLARK,
on motion of Weller, the rules were
suspended By unanimous vote and the
ballot proceeded with.
BUCKLE BEGINS THE FIGHT. (
The fight against Pratt was led by +
Buckle When his name was reached, I
he arose to state that he wished to
give an explanation of his vote The
question, he said, was one which had
been agitating the public mind for
some time and required consideration.
There are some reasons" continued
Mr. Buckle for my voting in the neg
alive which l should not care to state
publicly, but which I shall be pleased
to state privately if the information is
asked for. The mayor, in praising Ar
thur Pratt, has slUrred others of equal
ability. l viii state here that 1 have
nothing against Mr. Pratt personally,
and as far as 1 know, his integrity is
beyond reproach."
Mr.. Buckle read part of the mayors
communication. in which it is stated
that the appointment would not be OBJ
5ectionable TO the large majority of tax
payers.
THE TRIBUNE'S FAKE.
In that regard said Mr.. Buckle. 'I
viii say that just prior to the election,
the Tribune said, under a display head
that if Clark were elected, Pratt would
not be chief of police. The reason for
this was that that journal knew the
general opposition to Pratt, and, in my
opinion, If that statement had not been
made Mr. Clark would never have been
elected
To prove the antagonism of taxpay-
ers towards Pratt, Mr.. Buckle related