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Show Public Grounds. Salt Lakh Lake, U. T., June 13, 1S77. Editors Herald; In your report of the proceedings of the city fathers, published yesterday yester-day morning, I see that the Deseret base ball club have presented a petition peti-tion to that hody asking that they be allowed to charge au admission fee to their ground on Washington tquare, to those desirous of attending a pre iected match game of hne hall, to be playod between thu Centennial club of San Francisco, Cain., :md the Deaerela of ihi city, on or about the 4th of July next. . Inasmuch as a similar until, un win .resented to thejcouucil nut many days ao, aud the udversu action ot that body upon Die same tnkeu, permit per-mit me to inuke a few uhaervalions upon this question, not will, a view to iuduencti the action of our nylons one way or another, but simply to preaeut tho question iu its proper light. Strenuous opposition was made to the granting of the petitioner's request re-quest for the reason that the grounds were publio property, and tbat if the request were granted the public, who have a right to come and go upuu the property, would be excluded on the occasion ol the match game referred to. I 1 do not deny that there is much apparent force iu this argument, but I respuctfully maintain thai under existiui' tsircamstfincaa it iu .hnr f-.U lacy. Before proceeding lo Bliow the whys aud wherefores, let me say that the council are altered a consideration for the use of the property by the Deserets, as I am informed. It will not be denied that the city council have the power to grant the petition, therefore the only question ia one of expediency. It is well known that Washington fquare affords no attraction to tho public unless un-less something ot especial interest is occurring thereon, such, lor instance, as a cirus, a game of cricket or base hall. Now, if the gates were thrown wide open and the public permitted to enttr and look around, nothing would be presented to charm the eye And ear save the bucolic scene of a few cows grazing and anon a doleful ound issuing from the throat of some onely bovine. Such a scene certainly presents no interest to the public which should enlist the solicitude of our sympathetic city fathers. What is it tb-.it attracts people to the square? It is these special features I have above noted: a match game of base , ui Wltuo JC. .UiLU- ance. The Deseret club propose, if permission is granted them to charge an admission lee to aeaist in delaying delay-ing expenses, to have the famous I Centennial club come here from Sao Francisco and engage in a game or two with the Deaerets. Certainly no wide-awake citizen would object to paying a small consideration for the privilege of witnessing this sport. It is not for the purpose of denying the right of a citizen to have the freedom ol the square accorded him that he is requested to pay an ad mission fee; it is for the purpose ol witnessing the special attractions that have been provided at a large expense. The benefit or pleasure in this case is reciprocal. The person receives a benefit apart from his rights as a citizen, citi-zen, and heis willing topay for it. The petitioners. I take it, will not object to allowing a citizen to have the Iree dom of the grounds alone; but if his purpose is to . witness a performance or amusement &b an "extra," he ought to pay. I further understand that the petitioners offer to rent the whole property for the purposes cet forth in the petition. If this is the case, it strikes me that there can be no dcubt about the propriety of aucb rental. A circus comes along and tfets permission to use the square; they pay for the privilege, as the De erets propose to do. This is purely business tranHactiou by the city council, as representatives ol the public, pub-lic, aud the other party. The transaction trans-action is just, the public are not defrauded, de-frauded, for value received is rendered lor the privilege. This is met by some that a circus is only allowed to cast their tents over a poi tion of the square, such as may be necessary for their purpose. Now, is there anything different in principle between the rental of a portion of the public property and a rental of the whole, provided the people receive the benefit ol the transaction? I trow not. Let me cite a precedent to illustrate this point. The square was rented a few years ago to a citizen for agricultural purposes, and, I suppose, a consideration considera-tion paid tor its use. Will anyone tell me what objection could be urged to such action? Yet the case is a parallel one with the present. Let me respectfully suggest that our city fathers grant the petition. It will induce a large number from eut-lying eut-lying settlement to come in town and witness the proposed base bill contests; it will induce a eeneroue rivalry among Bister states and territories terri-tories to encourage the noble, national na-tional pastime of base bell, and induce in-duce many of our famous professional and amateur clubs of the east to exhibit some of their skill on the diamond field in this city. I am satisfied if the council grant the request that no person will be mean enough to decry t.ieir action. Pubi.icus. |