The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-06
MORM0NS URGE
OPEN GAMBLING
Saints in City Council Attack
American Party for Clos
ing Games.
SOLONS HOLD A WARM
AND EXCITING MEETING
Ferry Resolution for an Inter-
est Fund Passes by Strict
Party Vote.


ciL led by Rulon s. Wells, one or the
general authorities of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints,
championed wide-opep gambling last
night. They deprecated the fact TINT
the American party, from the inception
of its administration, has refused 10
levy tribute upon gambling. for the
benefit of the city; charged that secret
gambling was permitted to run, and
expressed regret that the city was no
longer deriving a revenue from such
source. g.,
Last nights meeting Of the Council
was a warm one The trouble all came
about over Councilman Ferry 3 resolu-
ton. which has been pending for sew
eral weeks. requesting the Legislature
to pass Law permitting Salt Lake TO
levy special tax, not exceeding tnree
mills, to pay interest on the city
bonded debt and to create a sinking
fund for the payment Of the principal
Mr. Ferry's resolution was bnalY
adopted, with all the Mormon members
voting In the negative. 1t was only
adopted, however, after the Mormons
had exhausted their vocabulary of
rninistration, and the police depart
ment in particular. Mr.. Ferry, author
Of the resolution, and Councilman Hob
day. who supported it strongly, both
expressed doubt as to whether the Leg
islature would grant the desired rebef
in view OF the fact that the action or
the Council in asking it was not unani-
nous.
Wells Opens Mud Batteries.
The Ferry resolution came before the
Council as unfinished business, and
Councilman Wells was promptly on his
feet to attack 1T. He started in by
declaring that the contingent fund Of
the city was sufficient TO meet interest
administration. He declared that he
had been studying the auditors re-
port and was prepared to point out
a number of instances of mal-adminls"
tration
First on the list, the Mormon high
priest cited the fact that the fines and
forfeitures in the Police court had fal
len off $4,000 and more during the first
year of the American administration,
He said that the explanation that this
was due to a cessation of gambling was
not true, but charged that the money
formerly paid in. fines was not now
finding its way into the city treasury.
Mr. Wells also attacked the Ameri
can admi ministration for not collecting in
terest OF city deposits, ignoring the
fact that the city has overdrafts on
which IL pays no interest, one balanc-
ing the other, and wound up by charg-
ing that the City cemetery was not col
lecting enough revenue. He declared
that not enough money had been col
lected in 1905 for sale and care of lots
and for digging graves, He suggested
also that the interest on tho citv'
water bonds could be paid out of the
revenues of the water department
When Wells had concluded, Council
man Mulvey asked him If he could
point out a way in which the ex-
pcnses of the city could be retrenched
Wells admitted that it would take time
TO do so.
m willing to give you time,' re-
torted Mulvey. "Take two weeks, and
let us know two weeks from tonight
whether you We found any way we can
Tetrench our expenses.
Holiday Flags Wells.
Councilman Holiday grilled Mr..
Wells. He pointed out that when
Wells e party had been in the majority
gambling was rampant in Salt Lake.
He was surprised, he said. but never
theless glad that Mr., Wells had the
nerve to come out and champion open
gambling
"Mr, Wells complains said Mr..
HOLIDAY, ''because this administration
has suppressed public gambling; but
the wives and children who used to
suffer because the husband and father
lost his wages at the gambling table
are not complaining
Mr., HOLIDAY argued for the adoption
of the Ferry resolution. He declared
that for fifty years Salt Lake had
been making few improvements, and
that there had been practically no i'm
provemcnts until within the last few
years. The new Improvements demand
ed, he sand, new methods of paying for
them.
81 am aware" said Mr.. HOLIDAY,
that one dissenting vote will defeat
or weaken the effect of this resolution
before the Legislature. / rejoice, how
ever, that Mr. Wells has assumed the
responsibility of defeating it. | am
glad that he stands here as the cham.
pion OF wide-open gambling
Councilman Black pointed out that
with over sl,000.000 on deposit in the
banks Of Salt Lake. the Morris adj
ministration had only collected inter
est on little over 100000 for short
period of time.
Fernstrom for Gambling.
Councilman F. S. Fornstrom. a MEM
Der of the high council Of the Salt
Lake stake of Zion, and the real Nor
mon leader in the Council, backed IN
Mr.. Wells arguments about the al.
legged negligence and extravaganza of
the American administration. He. too.
deprecat ted the loss of the revenue from
gambling, and declared that gambling
existed now, although it paid no reve,
nue..
Mr., Fernstrom said he could find
gambling in Salt Lake City He closed
by declaring that the American admin
istration had made mistake in rails
ing the wages of laborers employed by
the city from 80. to 1925 day. 'SI'm
glad / voted against that" said Mr.,
Fernstrom,
Councilman L. D. Martin challenged
the Mormons TO show where gambling
exists i'll the city at present.
Gas member Of tho Police COM
mittee,' said Mr.. Martin, "I'll guar
antee You fellows that if you point out
where gambling exists-and you say
you cant will be prosecuted to the
limit. ] challenge you to do it. If you
have the evidence and don t do it, you