The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-16
plTT's VALEDIcToRY.

pitts VALEDlCToRY.
IN his farewell to office, Chief Pitt
makes a most eloquent plea for his po-
sition, and an interesting argument
against Mayor Bransford's theory of
the way to handle the social evil. 1t
was a foregone conclusion that the
council would sustain the mayor in his
removal Of Pitt; there could be no such
thing as discipline if a chief were re-
tanned who was not in sympathy with
the official head of the administration,
and that is true. no matter what the
final disposition of the immediate prob
lem.
However. the statement made by Mr..
Pitt deserves serious consideration, be-
cause he bases his attitude on the law
contained in the city ordinances which
he was sworn to enforce. The law, as
quoted. prohibits specifically the crimes
covered by the general terms of the So
cial evil. and Mr.. Pitt says he could not
follow the mayor in his course, because
il would have been violation of his
oath of Office. That is to say. the chief
suddenly awakened TO the existence Of
the law and his conscience reached an
acute stage OF activity when his official
position was threatened.
IN view of his statement. it must be
assumed that he has held office for
months without knowing what was go
ing on within two blocks of the police
station. Otherwise, there would have
been no such crime district as CONNER
ciaI street with it's brazen women. and
in that event there would have been no
need of such an unpleasant episode as
his removal from the department 1t
he been matter Of notorious publicity
that such places existed unmolested of
the police. untouched by the city attor-
ney's Office. By inference Mr. Pitt
would have US believe that he could not
rest content if such places existed with
out executing the law
The valedictory statement is valuable
chiefly as showing the queer views of
duty that can be developed when men
lack frankness in public life 1t is pos
sible, but not probable, that Tom Pitt
has been ignorant of actual conditions,
but if he was, he showed his unfitness
for the Office. The more probable con-
clusion is that he meant to drag over
board with him the mayor who appoint
ed ard then removed him. Vice has
fourished under Pitts administration
as openly as it ever did; the black holes
fhat sheltered the criminal fraternity
were known to the police and paid trib-
ute TO the city in monthly fines More
than that, a record OF the individual
victims of the system was kept at po-
lice headquarters and the city shared
in their business to the limit of its COL
lecting capacity.
What is the use Of Pitts heroics?
What does he contribute toward the
settlement Of a grave problem? Why
not admit that he refused to follow the
mayor because of political pressure. and
not because the evil itself had suddenly
come TO his notice? Why should it be
necessary TO evade responsibility for
rast official action unless to justify de-
hberate. conscious neglect OF the law?
Pitt is gone. and the mayor is left to
nil the vacancy with the certainty that
no man competent for the place will
care to take il under present conditions
unless he is willing 70 sacrifice his per-
sonal peace of mind for a thankless Job
and to be embarrassed by the democrat
ization that has prevailed in the force
ever since Sheets went out.
The mayor has said frankly that he
would establish a new district if he
could have his way; the council is
against it, the American" party is on
record in opposition 10 him. the preach
ers condemn his idea-and no one Of
fers any alternative except the estab-
lishment of the millennium by the ex-
termination OF the social evil. II ever
there was a complete Generalization OF
a city administration, the Americans
have attained it. Meanwhile, if the
mayor is well advised. he will drop the
whole question and let the council as
sumo the responsibility for whatever is
done. They have discredited his posi-
ton. LEI them declare what is to come
next.