Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-24
THE LAW AND THE OFFICERS

The position Of the Mayor ana my
NJ Police of this city IN reference ~
the suppression of vice and the enforce
mont Of the city ordinances In relation
thereto may now be considered as ue'
fined The committee appointed by the
Deseret Sunday School Union to wan
mon the officers Of the city and induce
them TO enforce those ordinances nave
aeted according TO their Instructions
and are entitled to public commenda-
ton They have applied to the C''y
Council. Their application was turned
over TO the Mayor, That funcuona'y
has made his reply, The Chief OF roc
lice has been waited upon and ne mas
expressed his views and Intentions
This is the situations
The Mayor. in response TO conilhun'
icatlon from the committee asking MN
20 enforce the ordinances against the
sale OF liquor on Sundays, selling III
toxicants to minors, the sale OF topac-
ca 10 persons under eighteen years OF
age. etc, Informed the committee by
letter which has been published, that
the police are enforcing the laws
against permitting children to visit sa-
looms and billiard rooms and to purchase
,ntoxlcants and tobacco, as well as thelr
limited number enables them to do ana
expressed his Willingness to act on any
sneclfe case or cases which fhe COM
mittee might present which would lead
10 the arrest and conviction OF the Vlo-
lators Of the law, But he was entirely
silent as to the ordinance forbiddins
The sale OF intoxicants on Sundays
That question he eyaded by making
not syllable OF reply or allusion to H.
In plain language he treated the re-
quest with contempt
The Chief Of Police, when waited up
on, stated that he did not see how con-
ditlons could be bettered 10y enforcing
the ordinance against Sunday liquor
selling and remarked: Unless | am
convinced that conditions would be I'M
proved by closing the saloons on sun
days. no action will be taken In that
direction lie offered some reasons why
II was, In his opinion, inadylsable to
attempt to close up the saloons on sum
day, which were no doubt plausible to his
own understanding, but which really
have no bearing upon the direct ques'
ton. lie stated, however that he had
instructed the police to arrest any per-
son who is known TO have sold liquor
or tobacco 10 minors.
Now, at the risk OF being charged
with personal hostility to the Mayor
and Chief Of Police, which would he
totally unfounded aud untrue, we cali
their attention and that Of the public
10 very simple proposition. Il Is this
Laws and ordinances should either be
enforced or repealed, While they re-
main, 1t is the duty Of the executive
officers o. carry them into effect ac-
cording to their meaning and intent II
this is not done those officers are de-
relict They are not performing the
duty Imposed upon them by the Law
and which they have taken an oath TO
discharge, There Is no way to eyade
this. II is beyond reasonable dispute.
What right has either the Mayor or
the Chief OF Police TO interpose his
opinion against the mandate Of the
law We do not question the motives
OF these officers. or either Of them, and
we do not care TO take up an arugment
10 show them that they are mistaken
IN their views. That has nothing to do
with the matter. Here Is a law enacted
BY the Legislature OF the state, ana a
city ordinance passed by the city Coun
eli ana signed by the Mayor, prohibit
ing the sale Of intoNcanis on sunday
and imposing penalties for their infroc'
ton. What right has any public officer
20 set himself up against these enact
ments. and interpose his opinion as To-
their wisdom or folly? What force Ia
law has the personal notion Of any pub.
lie officer. in disagreement with REQ
oenized and valid act Of a laW-maNihF
body?
II one statute or ordinance can be 81
aside trampled upon or Ignored by ol'
ecers sworn 70 execute IT, other enact
ments may be similarly treated y
s,rest broll may be winked at by
neace officer and no arrest be made D.
The officer thinks It better TO let th'
aebt go on 10 a finish than to ny u
.nrnress IT, II the executive depart
ment Of the city should take the vac"
which has been publicly expressed o'
advocates OF the let-alone policy ina
certain vices exist and must he provided
Tor and no attempt ought to be mad'
FOR their suppression, then every iorh
OF lniquity. immortality and corruption
may run rampant, and the laws agains'
them viii all become dead letter
wha, Is the use Of legislation agains
any social evil. II its enforcement de
ponds upon the within. opinion or dis
position Of executive ofiieers2
who constituted. appointed or an
thorized the Mayor or the Chief Of Pc
lice 10 decide as to the advisaoil''y
necessity or probable effects, good o.
had. OF any law or ordinance duly en-
actedg What business Is It Of their
10 say whether 1t is right or "ront
beneficial OF otherwise II is the hish
OF presumption Tor any executive OF
aciAi 10 assume 70 pass on the advisa
buity or inadviseh''''S Of a statutor