Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-27
SHUT THEM UP

RI the police department, aided by
the assistant city attorney, viii carry
out the Intention expressed, as already
explained In the Deseret News, to close
up certain places OF resort which are
OF ill-repute. they win earn the thanks
Of all respectable people in Salt Lake
City. Reports have come to us Of do
ings In the dance halls alluded to,
which II true are enough TO condemn
those places and bring about their ut
ter extinction.
The cases that have figured In the po-
lice court, Illustrating the kinds Of
rendezvous they are for loose charac-
ters, are only samples of the evils COM
mitted there and It Is pretty clear that
the atmosphere of those resorts is dele
FERROUS to young persons who go there
without any intention TO do wrong. 1t
is on that account that they are dam
gerous to the community. The lewd
and disorderly persons OF both sexes
who congregate in those places are al
ready sunk in moral degradation and
are no worse off for assoclating there.
But the influence which they exercise
upon others not Of their class. is like
that of a pestiencc, and the nuisance
thus created ought 10 be ahated
IL is gratifying to learn that there
has been disposition for some time
on the part OF the police authorities, to
remove the curse of their presence from
the city. But the great difficulty in the
way was To find a legal method OF pro-
cedure, which could not be overcome
by the proprletors Of those places, with
the aid Of cunning attorneys. IL Is be-
Iieyed that section i2l OF the Revised
Ordinances Of Salt Lake city supplies
the necessary power to meet the evil
complained or. II provides that,
at shall be unlawful for any person
10 Keep or maintain, or assist In keep
Ing or maintaining "a dance house whore
lcwd or disorderly persons assemble to-
gether for dancing
There may be some difficulty in PROV
Ing the character and repute OF indi-
viduals who frequent the dancing
houses that have become 40 objection.
able but if the city authorities are de.
termiped to push this matter To it's
proper limits, It win be found quite
possible to show that both male and
female freQucnters Of houses OF Ill
fame oongregatc there, and this will
determine the character Of the dance
houses
We understand that there Is no city
ordinance requiring a license for run
ming dance-house. Where there are
sales of refreshments, candies, cIgurs.
etc, a license is necessary, but not
where dancing only Is the business OF
the place. This, I'VE think, might be
remodied by the passage Of an ordl-
nance imposing q license Zee for dane
ing halls, and then refusing such license
10 establishments of the kind complain
ed OF. and suppressing them rs provid-
ed for in the latest revision Of the pow
ers Of city Counclls,in the laws OF Utah
1905. Section 81 OF Chapter AZ gives uu-
lhorlty 10 incense or tax any private
corporation or business within the city
limits And section 80 confcrs power.
'To license, tax regulate. I'm cities
OF the first and second class. PRO.
HIBIT or SUPPRESS dancing nails.
dancing resorts, dancing pavillons aud
an places or resorts TO which persons
Of opposite sexes may resort Tor the
purpose OF dancing or indulging i'm
other amusements."
In looking for legal authority to pro-
coed against the places which have &c.
qulred such a foul reputation, we think
me civic powers that be- have over.
looked these latest amendments to the
powers Of City Councils, as conferred
In the Revised Statutes of 1885, and