Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-07-31
WILL ANYTHING MORE BE DoNEP


Action has been taken az length by
the City Council on the petition pre-
scented some time ago by a number OF
gentlemen, representing the Desefet
Sunday School Union,an asking for the
enforcement of the city ordinances
against the sale Of intoxicants on sun
DAYS. It's sale to minors at any time
gambling, etc. The petition was re-
ferred 10 the committee on police ana
prison. That committee returned II
with a recommendation that 1t be-
turned over to the Mayor and chief OF
Police, the Council adopted that rec
ommeudation. and so the matter STANDS
where il did before the petition was IN
troduced.
The evident purpose Of the city
Council was to get rid Of the disagree.
able subject In the easiest way possl-
Bile. Members Of that body found
themselves between two fires, or be-
tween fire and water In active force
whichever way one pleases to view II.
On one side are most Of the saloon
keepers, Sunday imbibers and the ele-
ments which affiliate with them. On
the other are the religious societies ana
a host Of people who desire TO see or
der established and the ordinances en-
forced. Shifting the petition upon the
executive branch Of the city govern
ment, offered the speediest and least
offensive way out Of the dilemma in
which the Council found itself.
The Deseret News has received
great deal Of abuse for its suggestions
TO the Mayor and Police department of
the city. as the executive authority hav-
ing power and clothed with the re
sponsbllity to enforce the city ordl-
RANGES, which are being onenly ana
continuously violated. The City Coun-
ell will now have to bear It's por'
OF the hostility exhibited against the
News" hat body formally places the
onus Of tne whole business upon the
Mayor and the chief Of Police. VIII the
Council be accused Of personal or politi-
cal motlves, in thus calling the atten
ton OF the Mayor and Chief to the
duties of their official positons2 We
shall see.
The law-abidng people OF this city
ask for nothing extraordinary or inn
practical. There are ordinances which
have been duly enacted by the city
Council, and approved by the Mayor,
that have been re-enacted and reap
proved by succeeding councils and
mayors and that stand on the records
today as the voice and viii Of the people
Of this municipality, They are not the
expressions Of the wish OF any political
party or faction, but they stand as
the written law All that Is required
by the petitioners and those whom
they represent is, that these ordinances
be put into action. The executive de-
partment of this city is charged with
this duty. II is o matter of public
comment that the duty is utterly and
completely neglected. Is this right2
Is It In accordance with public polity?
Is It proper example TO be set before
the rising generation? Is 1t good
thing to have 1t understood that laws
in the interest Of morality, order. peace
and good government may be set at
naught and nagrantly, openly and in
sultingly dehed?
There Is something in addition to
this Sunday saloon business, and the
selling Of liquor 10 minors, that needs
the attention OF the Mayor and Chief
Of Police. II is the so-called room
ing" evil. We are told that It is a
notorious scandal which has increased
of late to alarming proportions. No
effort appears TO be made TO check II.
Rooms can be had by the night or
by the hour without any question or
dlfiiculty. by the payment of the rent
demanded. il is said that couples OF
young people and older persons com
monty resort to those places for vile
purposes. and lewdness immortality and
crime are thus fostered In this city In
constantly increasing ratio. Officers
and other persons who know what Is
going on at night, declare that Their,
never was a time in the history Of this
city when there was so much immoral
ity permitted without hindrance as at
present.
The Deseret News has had nothing
personal against any officer Of The city
government in calling attention TO
these evils. or 10 urging the executive
department TO DO SIS duty II Is strange
that a demand upon public officials TO
a. what they have sworn 20 perform
and what they are elected by the pco-
pie to accomplish, should provoke COM
ment as 20 our intent and purpose. II
I. not the individual or individuals who
are thus appealed to. II does not mat.
ter who they are what they may be,
their personal views or opinions u Is
as the city executives that they are
called upon 10 enforce the city ordin-
ances. n they are determined not 20
act they should resign their positions.
There is no escaping this straighifof-
ward and simple proposition.
We think the city Council might have
sone something more than shifted the
petition addressed 70 that body on 20
.he shoulders Of the Mayor and Chief
- our opinion and that Of thousands