The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-01-15
sought and obtained heavy loans in
New York on treasury bills.
A PARALYzED SUNDAY.

Salt Lake City had Yesterday, "a
touch of severity in the enforcement of
Sunday laws. that it had never known
before m all of its history; and the de-
nunciations Of il were fervent and
plenty, The cause for the interference
with minor AMI harmless occupations
did not appear; but the effect was evi-
dent everywhere.
The orders of the commission. so far
as known, did not in any way interfere
with the worst evils that prevail in
the city. and for which the commission
was supposed to be panacea. These
were not touched at all so far AS
known: and certainly no open order
was made against the dives and vicious
and criminal resorts Of NIL kinds. In
ferentially, to be sure, il might be
supposed that some Of these at least
would come under the general order;
but also with quite rs emphatic infer
ence. the lawless element would pay no
attention whatever to the order. Aud
so tho criminal classes in the city were
practically left free and the peaceful
and orderly inhabitants were bound.
The singular part Of the whole bust
ness is. that it was not a matter Of
ordinance but of statute that was
pleaded for the orders as made The
statutes are, of course. binding upon
the commissioners both in their per
sonal and their official capacities. But.
it is not usual for municipal officials 20
make their first strenuous and sensa
tional move in the matter Of enforcing
statutory law, the enforcement of
which is commonly and properly in the
hands Of the county and State judlcial
dGite true that the commissioners in
their official capacity, arc bound to
take notice Of and to enforce the State
laws as well as ordinances; but it is |
also truc that municipal officers, as a
rule devote the stress of their efforts |
to city affairs, AMI not to State affairs;
to the enforcement of the ordinances,
leaving the enforcement of the statutes |
to the usual channels laid down in the !
law. and where the authority IS ample !
for full dealing with offenders. The |
municipality lacks the full authority |
for dealing with trausgrcssors of the
statutes and while it is. of course,
quite proper for the city 10 enforce the
laws. it lacks the final authority under /
the statutes for dealing with Offend |
ers. 1t is for this reason that munich
pal administrations, as a rule. devote.
the stress Of their effort to the enforce
action of the municipal business.
We do not. of course object TO the
commission stepping out of the usual
order and taking up the enforcement OF
the statutes if that is their purpose.
That is, we do not object to it as a
question of law. As a question of in
reference with small, quiet, Inofensive
and usual occupations, however. IL GER
tainv is Objectionable, and good deal
of nuisance. It Is evidently true,
further, that, if the commission under.
takes to take upon itself the enforce
mcnt of the statutes, it viii find il nee
cssarv to go very much further than
IL seems to appreciate at this time. The
of the ordinances, the
keeping of good order. and the ma king
Of an honest. efficient city administra
ton is generally held TO be pretty
eoodsized Job for Il city administra-
ton. If tue commissioners, IN addition
to this. iuteui TO take up the burden
Of enforcing the general statutes, then,
indeed. il Will find IT necessary 10 go
far: for. once this policy is fully de
termincd upon. it will find that there
arc matters here that Will require
vigilance and drastic treatment which
arc apparently little dreamed Of At this
time.
In the meantime. it must be admitted
that the commissioners arc disappoint-
ing the hopes OF those who put them IN
Office. Their supporters expected iras-
tie treatment along lines Of importance
in the way of banisbiug the dcmi
monde. the touChs, the thieves and the
fclonious element. To have expectations
like that switched OFF on a hunt for
peanut odenses, is not only gloomy
but il partakes very
largely Of the nature of foolish farce.