Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-24
CHIEF pAUL's STATEMENT,


tChief Of Police Paufs statement to
the News" last night. concerning the
closing Of gambling houses is satisfac-
tory as far as It goes, but II does not
20 far enough II Is frank inasmuch
as the Chief admits the existence Of
that kind of places, and the power Of
the police TO close them, when an ef-
fort is put forth in that direction, but
Il is absolutely lnexplicable, when 1t
goes on TO say, "This order is that all
gambling houses must close and stay
closed tonight, tomorrow night and
Cor some time to come. This Is my or
der and FOR THE PRESENT It must
BE- obeyed on the face OF 1t, this
would seem to mean that the Chief al
though he admits that he has the pow-
en- to close the dens, reserves for HIM
self the right to permit them TO keen
open, whenever he thinks the time has
come to do so safely Rut the CHIEF
has no such discretionary powers in
the matter His business Is 70 main
tain the law TO the utmost OF his abil-
IT'S He has no more discretionary
powers IN that matter, than he has,
were the question 20 suffer thieves and
ROBBERS to maintain dens. The Chief
had better make his order permanent.
If he VIII do so, he viii find that he VIII
be sustained by the great majority OF
citizens. OF all cfeeds and parties.
The matter IL by no means Indifferent
TO those engaged In legitimate lines Of
business. one Illustration may be
given. only The other day, work
ingman had received his weeks wages.
He was owing his tailor for a slit of
clothes, and had agreed to pay 50 much
week. But his instalment did not
materiallze on being asked for an eN-
plantation he confessed that he had
taken the money and gone 20 pay as
usually but on the way 10 the tailor
he had been entlced into a gambling
den and, OF course, lost every cent he
had And this is but an everyday
story in cities where gambling houses
are permitted TO flourish. That kind
OF vice Is as much detrimental to bus
ness, as II Is, considering its moral et'
fects, dangerous. The Chief does well.
II he takes firm stand against the
dens.
His statement concerning the Sunday
closing Of saloons is even less en-
couraging. The force, he says, Is too
limited TO make the closing complete.
That should be remedied II a fey men
more on the force is all that Is neces-
sary Ne men should be appointed
But itVloes not seem to be certain that
the enlargement Of the force would
have the desired effect For the Chief
points out, that II Is almost impossible
to secure conviction for that kind Of
law breaking, even when arrests arr
made There should be some remedy
for this, too, II there is any virtue in
circumstantial evidence.
II It is true that the administrators
OF the law are practically powerless as
regards Illegal liquor selling, st would
seem high time for the people
to take the matter in hand
in some way We believe that
by a determined effort the saloons
can be closed a great deal more firmly
than they are now. Only last Sunday
so we are reliably Informed saloons in
the business center of the city Were
wide open People were seen TO 20
out and in. The hum OF voices was
heard issuing from the barroom and
policemen We're seen In close proXlmi-
ty TO those places They took no no.
tioe Of the matter To them II evil
IDENTIFY was nothing unusual Such
lagrant violation OF the law can be
stopped We have heard il said that
II the low dens were strictly attended
to, the more respectable places would
cause no trouble for the keepers OF
these would be glad TO close. as are an
respectable business houses The plan
would be worth while trying. at all
events.
Somebody has suggested that all sa-
looms be compelled TO keep the blinds
up. and otherwise render the interior
N the banoom visible from the street
That. II is believed, would have the
effect of closing them. We recommend
the suggestion to the consideration Of
The City Council.
We. too believe that Salt Lake city
deserves the reputation 1t has for order
and peace. And on that ground We
give voice to the very general sentl-
ment that protests against the law
breaking. Drunkenness and gambling
are the progenitors Of crime, and UNI
less they are suppressed as far as far
az possible the offspring will soon be
90 numerous for the good OF even the
cry best reputation.
We hear a great deal OF talk re-
afdlng the imposslblllty Of making sa-
,onmen obey ,the law. This is sheer
onscnse Tho sole question is, are our
hy authorities IN earnest in their de-
Ire TO have the laws enforcedg II
hey are, the Deseret News can point
Il he way that VIII achieve that end.
horuy, sharply and suddenly. Let the
ny authorities take a leaf out Of the
ook of the county authorities. Let the