The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-08
CHIEF PITT IS BUSTED
BY MAYOR BRANSFORD
Chief Executive Removes Head of Police De-
partment for Refusing to Transfer Fallen
Women to the Restricted District.
Council ConcurS but Notice of Reconsideration Is Filed
Mayor Assumes Full Responsibility for His Policy

Once more Salt Lake is without a
chief of police.
Tom d. Pitt, chief of police, was re-
moved from office last evening by
Mayor John S. Rransford in a commu-
nication sent to the city council. The
council confirmed the action of the
mayor, but following the vote Coun-
Gilman j. ]. Stewart gave notice of
reconsideration, which gives Chief Pitt
an additional lease Of one week on the
position.
The removal of Chief of Police Pitt
from. office is the elimination OF fric-
ton between the mayor and the chief
of police with reference to the new re-
stricted district. Chief Pitt declined
to consent to the removal of the wo-
men of the underworld from the BUSH
ness district TO the new district on the
west side. and the mayor asked Cor his
resignation. Chief Pitt declined to re-
sign. and his removal followed.
With the letter of removal of the
chief of police comes the announcement
by the mayor that the plan to move
the women of the underworld to the
west side OF the city has official sane
ton. The mayor has never before am
of the new restricted district. Now he
has made public the fact thar he is be-
hind the movement TO remove the DIS
trict to the west side from its incep-
ton, and it was because of his repre-
sensations that the project was COM
menced.
Successor Not Determined.
Chief Pitt. it is said, was az one time
. L
later changed his mind and now OPP
poses it. Because of his opposition 10
the move his removal has been asked
for by the mayor. Who his successor
will be has not been determined. Mayor
Bransford said that he hal several
men in mind. but that his selection had
not yet been made. There is no doubt
but that the new man VINO VIII succee ed
Pitt will be in harmony With the may
or's policy to change the tenderloin
district. There is scarcely a pussibil-
ity that any present member of the
department viii be made chieT.
The determination TO remove Pitt
came to the mayor after an interview
with the chief of police Monday aftel-
noon. The mayor asked the chief
whether or not he would consent 10
the removal from the business section
of the city to the somewhat isolated
stockade on the west side. The chief
then said that he would resign before
he would give his consent to such a
move. The mayor then asked for the
resignation. The chief, however de-
clined TO resign.
In the evening, before the council
meeting, Mayor Bransford met with
several American" members of the
city council and told them that he had
sent to the recorder his letter remov-
ing Chief Pitt. Nearly all of them
consented TO uphold the action of the
mayor.
Mayors Letter Is Read.
At the council meeting the following
letter from the mayor was read:
ITO the Honorable President and Mem
bers Of the City Council:
Il hereby remove, with your consent
Tom d. Pitt, chief of the Salt Lake
City police department, and respect
fully ask your honorable body to con-
cur in such removal,
This removal is made for the good
Of the service.
Respectfully submitted.
u. s. BRANSFORD,
Mayor"
As soon as il was read, Councilman
J. J. Stewart moved that. the commit
nicatiOn be referred to the police and
prisons committee, of which Mr. Stew
art is the chairman. This motion was
seconded by Councilman Reedall
Councilman F. S. Fernstrom was i'm
Immediately on his feet. opposing Mr.
Stewards motion. Mr.. Fernstrom said
that out of courtesy to the mayor the
communication should be acted upon
at once. He said that it was the duty
of the council TO support the mayor in
all that was within reason. Council
man Black said that he agreed with
Mr.. Fernstrom that out of considera-
ton of the city's executive the MEM
bers of the council should act one way
or the other on the matter at once.
Mr. Stewart said that while he be-
iieved that the police and prison COM
mittee would recommend the approval
of the mayors action. he believed that
the matter should not be acted upon
hastily. The council could confirm the
action just as well in another
week, he said.
Mr. Ferry said he was afraid that