Salt Lake Telegram | 1933-08-31 | Page 4 | Public Opinion in Action

I PUBLIC OPINION IN ACTION J THE HE city commission 01 on W Wednesday edn took the only logical course open when it unanimously unan unan- turned thumbs down on a tentative draft of an ordinance to license licens certain forms of games of skill a at amusement d devices and vending machines The city attorney stands instructed by the tho commission to present another another an an- other ordinance for later consideration that will afford a d desirable measure of control over certain of such devices and provide for a Ii- Ii action responsive to toan cense censo excise This was an an aroused public opinion manifested by the presence of interested citizens to air their V Those It was an outspoken gathering who voiced their sentiments made very clear just st where they stood A spa spade c was called a a. spade We should ha have e much h more sa satisfactory satis is factory government if officials frequently had opportunity thus to gauge the thc public will It was admitted by several persons engaged in operating and distributing devices in question question question ques ques- tion that though their business was lucrative they were paying no tax or lic license to the city for the privilege of carrying on There was little or no argument as to the thc fairness of exacting a license from such enterprises V It was against racketeering long rampant in Salt Lake however that th the mo ino most t severe criticism was hurled Over a period of time The Telegram has Ims endeavored to make male clear to citizens ns and alid to the city government that official laxity has permitted an offensive monopoly to grow v up in this his field It has pointed out the responsibility o 0 of f t the h e authorities to afford the public protection against this evil The proceedings at the thc city hall hail Wednesday gave gratifying ing evidence of quickened public conscience and amI recognition recognition tio tion by the city commission of the thc need Deed for action This newspaper b believes that when hen an ordinance ordinance ord nance has been presented and passed that will require enterprises distributing or operating amusement games and legitimate trade stimulators 1 l tors to bear a fair and just portion of the cost of conducting the city government one of the objectives of the thc campaign which has Jias been conducted conduct d by The Telegram will win have been realized V S There is one other objective Driving the thc racketeer from Salt Lake and prosecuting operators operators op op- of all gambling games and devices by such uch means as the city commission ion in its wisdom wisdom wisdom wis wis- dom and with the advantage of knowing public pub pub- lie lic sentiment in the matter shall see fit The essential is that the means adopted shall lu be workable and that the proper authorities authorities authorities author author- shall p perform their prescribed duties by requiring complete and impartial enforcement of cf f the state laws a and d city ordinances against the operation of these rackets They are concerned concerned concerned con con- chiefly with slot machines and other similar devices Under existing circumstances stan es and nd conditions the police have manifested inability inability inability in in- ability or unwillingness to control the rack rackets ts The Telegram has dem demanded that the city government government government gov- gov gov gov- get into action Now the first steps have been Deen taken Keen interest will follow developments