Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-12-08


There was nothing in the written
notification of the mayors action To
Indicate the reason for 1t, 1T merely
stated that he had removed Tom ID.
Pitt from the office of chief of police,
and that tho removal was for the good
of the service, asking the councils con-
curtence.
MAYORS REASONS.
Tllat the action OF. the mayor has its
INCEPTION in the plan to remove fallen
women from the business district OF
the5cty to the proposed new restrict
ed district, there is no doubt, as the
MAJOR admits that there has been
much friction between his office and
thatFof the fallen chief. over that ana
kindred subjects, and that the matter
Is not altogether of present date. was
Indicated with certain foresight of
UNPLEASANT things to come, when the
returns Of the last election became
known at which time Pitt remarked
that he was sundone.
Later, in speaking of the removal
of the chief of police, and his reasons
for the action, the mayor stated that
some time ago, in trying to arrive AZ
a satisfactory conclusion regarding the
disposition of the district embodyins
the half-world,. he had tried to get an
and at that time had tried to get Chief
OF Police Pitt and Sheriff Emery to-
gether on the matter, and that Whlie
the sheriff had responded to a request
to call at his office for the purpose,
the chief had not done so, and that he
had, the following morning, expressed
his views on the subject through the
columns OF q morning paper, whlcn
later lie had admitted was q fair eN-
OF ne >vtnf 1,n 11a1 stated In
interview, the burden of which was to.
the effect that he would not allow the
new restricted district to be opened as
such. and that he would resign as chief
before he would consent to it,
The mayor had decided that this So
slItion Of the problem was the only
feasible way of disposing of what he
believed to be a, necessary evil, hence
the friction.
DELAY OPPOSED.
32 When the mayors note was read last.
night, the last word was hardly out
OF the clerks moutl. before Councli-
man J. j Stewart was on his feet,
Offering a motion referring the COM
lnunication to the committee on police
and prisons, of which he is the chair
man. In explanation of his wish 10
refer the matter to the committee, the
councilman stated that he made the
motion in the belief that 1t was the
duty of the council to examine into
the causes Of such actions as this, and
not to act without knowing why they
We're doing it.
Councilman f. S. Fernstrom, because
he believed that the council should
support the actions OF the chief ex-
ecutive, opposed the motion to refer
The mayors note to the police and
prisons committee. and nearly every
member whose vote was recorded III
the matter, offered an explanation for
his action.
When the motion of Mr.. Stewart had
been duly seconded by Councilman
Rcedall, and amended by Councilman
Fernstrom, and the vote taken, it was
found that Hodgson, Raybould; Reed
all. Wood and Stewart, had voted to
refer the communication to the COM
.mittce, and that the other members Of
the council had supported the
first 4 declaration oa Councilman
T'ernstrom, namely that this was
q matter which could as we'll
be settled at the time as to hang fire
for a week, and then be gone into
again Ihe council might as well go on
record as supporting the mayor or op-.
posing him, one time as another.
At the conclusion OF the vote am
Councilman Stewart gave
notice of a motion to reconsider at the
next meeting. and, in accord with par
usage, the matter rests in
allegiance to that extent, till next Mon
day night.
PITTS LAST ACT.
Among the other communications
reaching the notice of the council last
night and one of particular interest
at the time, because OF the action Of
Tho mayor, came one from the fallen
chief, which acted as a guillotine fos
Police Desk Sergt. Silas t. Smith, as it
was an official notification to the coun-
Gil that Chief Pitt had removed him
from office, also, for the good Of the
service The last official recorded aat
of Chief Of Police Pitt, was therefore,
one OF intense patriotism, as II was \
removal for the good of the service. -
There was nothing III the business
before the council which might be taxi
on as even an indication that the sue
cessor fol, the empty place at the head
of the police department had been
thought of yet,s and no name has been
mentioned. at least above a very low
whisper, but it Is not supposed that it
Will be necessary TO issue Il petition 70
the selected man. when the time comes,
10 Induce him to take it, or that he
will have any occasion TO say. this is
so sudden
Those who are supsrstitiously inclin
ed, will at once see in the matter of
last nights action, that after the rolf
call nothing could have saved Chief
Pitt from the loss of his official head.
because there We're IL councilmen at
the board, and the spelling of bad luck
to someone was inevitable.
The removal of the chief of police
was of such an unlocked for nature.
that the other matters coming before
the council, We're rather discounted In
The matter of public interest. For in
stance. the matters OF tho repair OF
early decay in the incomp1eted out
let sewer of the west side. which has