The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-02-22
POLICE CHIEF GRANTS TALK.

Chief of Police b. F. Grant, in
his talk on Tuesday night before the
Brotherhood of st. Paul's Episcopal
Club. resented the stigmatizing Of the
efforts to enforce the Sunday law here
under the claim that these laws are
'bme laws. But that is merely
relative term. The substantial fact is
that the city undertook to enforce Ger
tain State laws which it was not com
peteut to cuforcc, and which effort was
a material departure from the Gus
toms that have prevailed in this city
from its first settlement. Tho lesson
ought to have been sufficient TO show
to all concerned that the city IS
not competent primarily TO enforce the
statutes Of the State, although it's Off
cials are properly required to be dill
gent in seeing that all the laws are
duly observed. 1t may be noted IN
this connection also, that the failure of
the police department TO take up the
living and unlawful cohabitation, as
well as the offenscs Of the red-hght dis
trict, made discrimination or par
tiality with respect to the attempt TO
enforce State laws in designating those
which should be enforced and those
which should not, that does not speak
we'll for the department, For, II the
police are going to enforce the State
laws, it is equally their duty TO en-
force all the laws. But, as the County
Attorney very distinctly pointed out,
there are limitations upon the city s
authority, and while the city may make
arrests under State laws, it is not com
petent for the city to prosecute the
cases, and he declined to enter the
suits which were requested In this
he was strictly within his lawful rights,
and the powerlessness Of the city was
manifest. This lesson ought to have
tempered the zeal of all concerned IN
their effort partially to enforce the
statutes of the State. and should have
taught them the lesson that they would
do very well if they attend strictly
and wholesomely to the affairs OF this
municipality.
With respect to the police taking uE
of triflinc matters in place of occupy
ing themselves with the graver con
Germs and the erosser crimes prevalent
in the city. Chief Grant llkcned the
case TO housewife washing her dishes
who takes the lighter and comparative
" clean dishes first, the cut glas:
and china. leaving the heavy work OF
washing the pots aud kettles to the
! last 1t is beautiful analogy, so fal
as applicable; but how far is it ap
plicablc, The housewife. In washing
her cut glass and china first, does moi
| find that the pots and kettles career
about the kitchen, hcsmirching anr
| blackenina the floor, the shelves, aut
getting mixed up with them, invading
the dishpan and smashing the delicate
| dishes while she is washing them. The
pots and kettles quietly remain where
they arc put, and when their turI
comes the housewife takes them UP anc
cleanses them at her leisure and con
venience Not so, however. with TIT
pots and kettles of the criminal world
They do just what the pots and ket
ties OF the kitchen would do
| they took on life and careened about
carrying confusion, dirt, and destruc
ton wherever they went The pot
h, al a
not in the least idle while the polio
court is washing the glassware AM
china On the contrary, they seize tina
very opportunity, when the police ar
occupied with trivial matters. I
pe, in their most destructiv
and murderous work. The polio
department which occupies itsei
with the cut glass and china /
police department very much to tn
satisfaction Of criminals of the des
peratc tribe The murderer. the burg
lar. the whole evil company is deiightc
with that kind OF "A police force, and ;
is the red.Iight district or its TYP
in whatever part OF the city IL may d
found, as well as the unlawful &c
habiters.
And so, while We must admire Chic
, Grants ingenuity in explaining wh
the police have not taken MP the NOR
, serious work of their department. an
lament that they have not been NOR
efficient in repressipe burglaries an
catching tho offenders OF the deePe
! criminal class, VIC may fairly hope fo
the best. and trust that before lon
!. the police will &c, through washing cu
g glass aud china and will seriousl
! tackle THE harder problems that are b'