Show LEGISLATIVE ACTION SEEMS NECESSARY GREAT many persons who the tha singular unanimity of action A among the coal dealers dealer of Salt Lake ake in raising the price of coal fifty l is a ton on November 1 hare have beon been putting in their spare time ever since m in lf endeavoring to 4 what necessity sity there was for that action Most Host If d 1 them ther have abandoned it and turned their attention to the Fifth Problem i t t f Euelid and d other simple matters that do not wear so heavily on the theuman I human uman brain lilt All agree that it was wag an outrage i The mattar ought to be taken up by the legislature when it meets for two purposes purpose To learn as a matter of satisfaction whether the tho increase v Wai a u necessary and as u a basis i for legislative action just how the dealers I upon sueh BUeb a Ii joyous coincidence for them thorn as an nn increase of price on the tm flame same day by all an of them I in the price of coal was There Thero is no question oR however that the increase not necessary If 75 a ton was all that coal was worth at the beginning of the fall faIl months when the summer rate was wu automatically canceled that thai thaia thata a 13 all aU it was worth on November 1 and aU all that it is worth today toda It costs it did then far as the public has hns no n more to mine the coal eoal now th than u so been informed there has been no increase in the freight rates on coal Diligent inquiry has bas failed to discover any added cost in getting the coal conI conIto to t Salt alt Lake All that is i left is the reasonable inference that the dealers raised the price because they needed money And of course they can get the money because coal is a necessity to the tho people of Salt Lake at this season of the year they thoy must have it As Aa all aU the tho dealers denIers raised the tha price at the tho same time one ono must pay tho the fixed price if ho he gets the coal Now as to this th l unanimity of action on the tho part of the coal dealers that thai thatis is a mattor matter which the next legislature may properly handle If it should happen to be bo shown that there is a working agreement among the coal dealers deniers it would seem to be such a combination in restraint I of trade as Uncle Sam is getting after a ter with considerable energy wherever it shows its head in interstate business The Utah legislature would nothing do amiss if of it took steps to learn whether there is a combination in Utah that is isable isable able to dictate the price of coal If there thero should be such sueh a combination it would be b well for the legislature legi laturo to provide authority for the officers of the tho law that will enable them to get at the matter An exhaustive investigation investigation gation on by the legislature would do no harm and it might result in great good for the people of the state It would be he interesting to know now also allO whether the railroads of the state are arc playing any an part in this increase in iu the tho price of coal coat Unless s they control the coal output it would not be possible for thep to do so A 4 raise in freight rates would have haye the affect effect of putting additional hardships on the dealers but this has bas b not been done If the railroads own the coal coalmines coalmines coalmines mines mines and are able to say to the dealers that they must pay more for their coal oal then that is a matter into which the legislature might properly inquire Remedial legislation should be enacted only after it has been definitely established that the remedy is needed It is entirely proper for the legis legislature legislature legislature lature to inquire whether r there is a situation that dInt needs correction At all events an increase of fifty cents a ton in the price prica of coal at this season of the tho year is an outrage The price was raised of course because the tho people need the tho coal The agreement gre between the tIle dealers is be that the legislature legisla legislature smacks macks suspiciously of a combination It to hoped ture will give this matter its i attention soon after it is organized |