Salt Lake Telegram | 1934-04-14 | Page 1 | Church Fees in Water Use Draw Attack

CHURCH FEES IN WATER USE DRAW ATTACK Clergyman Charges Mayor of Member of of Atheist Group STATE MAY INVESTIGATE Official Claims Privileges Being Be Be- lug ing Abused Maor H. H C. C Gallagher ot of Green Green- 1 vcr Satur Saturday ay was accused by a clergyman of that town of using his office to propagate atc atheistic beliefs by sponsoring an ordinance requiring two churches to pay 24 24 a year for their water The clergyman Dr M. M R. R Steven Stevenson son of the Presbyterian church asked Attorney General Joseph Jo Jo- seph Chez if the mayors mayor's conduct had the sanction of oC law and if he could be removed from office As a result of the charges Mr Chez announced he would instruct W. W G. G Peacock Jr Emery county attorney at- at torney to investigate the mayors alleged al al' conduct and p passage age of the ordinance ordinance or- or out federal and state constitutions prohibit laws r restricting re- re II free religious worship Claims Church Insulted In a letter leller to Mr Chez Dr Stevenson Stevenson Ste- Ste venson Mayor charged at ata a recent council meeting uttered strong vehement remarks against all churches and called them leeches and breeding grounds of oC Immorality immoral Iy ity The pastor a also o charged Mayor Gal Gal- lagh r was a paId up member or of an atheist society We have never heard tell of oC such an ordinance here before Dr Ste Ste- Stevenson venson said The churches do not use more than 1 worth of oC water waler a year In an opinion written by his dep dep- It ity Grover A Giles Mr Chez held that while he did not have all the facts irs connection with the ordinance nance he assumed the 24 charge was unreasonable arbitrary and dis- dis discriminatory and viewed wed in the light ot of alleged remarks by the mayor manifests clearly a design to hinder delay and oppose the free exercise or of religion especially the religion espoused by these two churches COming as they allegedly do from 1 on PAVe Two Ti CHURCHES AND 0 MA BATTLE Clergyman Charges Official With Discrimination t Against Religion Continued Stern PAre One one having a public trust the remarks reo re- marks are shocking to the sensibilities of anyone believing In free religious religious re- re worship the opinion saId In calling attention to the federal and state con constitutions which it said are an absolute barrier denying the right to pars laws law opposIng or upholding upholding up- up holding a religion However the pointed out an is not barred by reason redson of alleged athe atheism m from holding his position U It Js Is sufficient to say the alleged conduct of the mayor and the coun coun- cil roust must be investigated the opInion opinion ion held It cited that officers not liable to impeachment are arc subject to removal remo for high crimes meaner meanor or Dr malfeasance in office and explained the proper proceedings are areto areto to me file a written accusation wIth a attorney a county attorney or grand jur jury Mr Chez said ald he would send a copy of the opinion to Mr Peacock and direct an investigation Says Privilege Abused I 1 sponsored the ordinance because or of the financial condition of the water system and because because be- be cause the churches abused the liege ot of free water Mayor Gallagher Galla- Galla gher declared when informed or of the charges Custodians at the churches would go away and leave the hydrants running I 11 think th that t is a personal question ques- ques Lion tion I dont don't have to answer the mayor said when asked Jt 11 he is 15 an atheist I did call the churches leeches at council meeting but charges IS as to the other remark arc untrue The ordinance was riot not passed to restrict religious worship but to provide provide pro pro- vide payment for lor a commodity fur tur- by er he said