The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-09
A MUNICIPAL MIDDLE.

II
Mayor Bransford's summary call for
the removal of the chief of police in
dicates a queer condition of affairs in
that department. To begin with, the
chief refused to obey the order of the
mayor 10 remove the criminal element
from Commercial street to the west
side reservation; then the chief, after
defying the mayor, declined to resign.
On the mayors recommendation to the
council that Pitt be removed. the coun-
Gil after maaeuvering, approved the
recommendation and then postponed
action for week. on a motion to re-
consider.
On the question of discipline in the
police department the mayor is I'M
questionably right in his demand that
the chief be removed. The mayor is
held responsible for the success OF fail
ure of the department, because the
chief is his appointee; If he cannot
carry out his own policy. there is no
alternative for him but to demand a
change That is as plain as daylight.
On the same principle. the council
should have concurred in the mayors
action without hesitation or delay;
to retain Pitt after his act of insubOr-
dination would only be 10 discredit the
mayor and further demoralize an al
-sady disoreanized branch of the pub
tic service. So much for the question
Of discipline. The removal of the
criminal resorts TO the west side is
another matter.
Whatever may be thought of the
mayors position on this subject his
outspokenness and entire frankness is
certainly refreshing. His own party
leaders have hedged and lodged and
evaded responsibility. although some
Of them were directly concerned in the
plan 10 segregate such a district out
side the business center: but Mr..
Bransford believes the move is the
best thing for the city. and he sets
forth his side of the case with all the
candOr of man who thinks he is right
and is willing TO take the responsible
ity for what he does.
There can be no doubt as to the ad-
visibility for ousting the criminals
from Commercial street. No one de-
bates that except those interested in
the profits of crime. directly or indi-
rectly. The presence of a social plague
spot in the very heart of the business
district. within plain view of every
man, woman and child that traverses
the main streets. extensively conspic-
uous night and day. is a civic crime.
II has blocked the development Of the
best property, retained a lot of old
shacks and insanitary buildings where
they are a menace alike TO the public
health and commercial growth Of the
o'ty-and all for the sole benefit OF the
men who find in criminal tenants the
source OF exorbitant revenues.
Granting that the denizens of this
r't.ir- -'ouh h. 1aeHa1 sound policy
still calls for their restriction to some
district where they can be kept under
supervision and control. The good peo-
pie who call for the abolition of the
social evil argue that this class OF
criminals should be driven out OF the
city. and It takes some courage to differ
from their opinion; but as between the
results which Invariably follow an ef-
fort at entire suppression o. the con-
troll of the evil. the mayor is unques-
tionably right in assuming that con-
centration and rigid supervision IS this
better policy.
On this very point Chief Pitt COM
mitted himself fully in his report pub
lished in the annual city reports COW
ering the year 1907. He went fur
Their than the mayor does and recon-
mended that the city itself own tn,
ground. build the houses and enclose q
district. licensing the inmates out
right.
AS to the location selected for the
criminal element. there may be differ
ence of opinion. Any place selected
would bring a protest. and it seems
altogether wrong 10 impose this ele-
nent on the people who reside in the
neighborhood ~ the new <tockade
Fog them TO be driven from Their