Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-10-21
CITY COUNCIL DISTURBANCES

The squabbe in the city Council on
Monday evening, was a return to thosa
unpleasant scenes which some time ago
presented that body in most unfa
yorable light before the public, ana
which Il was hoped would not be seen
ngaln The Council assemblies for pub
lie business, not for personal reerim
ination nor the manifestation Of spite
and chagrln. The imputation of i'm
rroper motives is In the highest de-
gree reprehensble That body is not
endowed with authority or with
the power TO Judge the mo
tIyes and intents Of It's men'
ters, but to decide as to measures ana
actions and recommendations It is
organized for public business, no'
for private purposes nor the indulgence
in private animosites or friendships.
The quarrel--for II could not be dig
nfed by the term debate--which oc-
cured In the council on Monday even
Ing was, to say the least, disgraeeiul'
There was too much temper displayet
Nv all who were engaged In IT, but the
responsibility for it centers upon one
Membership Daveler OF the F1fth
municipal ward, He had the right 70
oppose the motion TO adopt
the report Of the committee
10 whom the city Jail question
had been referred and such reasons
as he had for his opposition deserved
fair and patient consideration. But
his attack upon the gentlemen with
whose Views he could not agree, was
uncalled for, and in the nature Of per-
sunal abuse. 1t naturally aroused the
Indignation that followed and the anger
displayed by the members who replied
20 him.
They might have known, however,
that his charge that they had been IN
structed by Church authorities how
they should vote was the last resort
Z Of demagogue who had no argu-
+ ment 10 offer, and SO was reduced to
. the weapon of personal assault. IT vas
proper that they should resent this old,
decayed and foully-reeking missile dug
up from the rottenness of buried con-
: troyersy, but they might have done so
without getting down to the low level
Of their vituperatlye accuser,
Mr.. Thomas and Mr. Sharp were op.
posed TO the motion. but they did not
+ lend themselves to the tactics OF Mr..
Daveler. Mr.. sharp, particularly, gave
some business reasons for his dissent
from the motion. and that portion Of
the public who disagree with him VIII
honor him for his abstinence from IN
temperate language. MI Thomas saw
the trend OF the tide in the council
and expressed the opinion that to at
tempt to breast II was useless. We do
not think that this should be con-
strued as an attempt to impute improp-
err influence as the cause OF the move-
ment
We think 1t is about time that all
such unworthy, groundess and mex
!cusable insinuations, sneers and ac-
lcusations as those resorted to by Mr..
lDaveler and his kind were put an end
ITO. They ought to be suppressed by
the presiding officer as soon as they are
commenced. They are not In the proper
order Of business They have no bear
ing upon the questions at issue Every
proposition should be discussed and
decided upon on It's merits Without
positive proof OF improper influence
brought to bear upon member or
members of the Council, no speaker
should be permitted to introduce such
charges as those injected into the de-
bate by Mr.. Daveler and evidently
fused for the purpose Of provoking an
ialtercation and which legally consti-
.tutes public offense
The retorts made by some members
iof the council. however true and per-
stinent, might have been suitable to
NOISY political caucus or bar-room dis
scussIon. but should not have been con-
descended to IN the deliberations Of the
CITY Council. There are very
,strcng suspicious ahoat IN regard to
sthe reasons why small clique
of city officials are so anxious TO pre-
serve the whole OF the ground on the
Horner of State and First South streets
Nor real estate deal. But these ought
not to enter into the main question as
10 the proper site for the new city jail
land we viii not inject them into con-
federation of the subject But If the
smatter OF motives is TO enter into IT,
i've are OF the opinion that great deal
dan be brought forward which would
make interesting reading. and may
have 10 be ventilated before the ques-
lion Is closed
:, However. We have no desire TO stll
slp further agitation which can be o.
Pho public benefit, and while We desire
tt.hat the interests OF the city be mad
he first consideration. and that the jail
c,nd courtroom and police headquarters
p.hall he established in the most con
ss,enIent place. where they will not be
h,bnoxious 20 proeprty.owners In the
,icinIsy and are in favor OF fair IN
dd;estigstion into the whole subject from
,sll standpoints. we deprecate and pro-
TEST against the cosardly and con-
,ssemptibl.y insinuations that have beer
u,ut forward IN the City Council in OPP