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Show MAXIMUM FREIGHT CLAUSE STAYS IN UTILITIES BILL Motion to Eliminate This Feature of the Measure Loses by Tie Vote; Car Limit Also Fails. PUBLIC utilities amendments suffered suf-fered a decided slump yesterday on the Utah legislative market. The line of demarcation so distinct between conservatives and extremists in previous discussions of the public utilities utili-ties bill in the upper house faded to such an extent that scarcely a singlo amendment other than in connection with orthography, rhetoric or punctuation punctua-tion was able to pass muster. 1 The proposal to eliminate the maximum maxi-mum freight rate section went down to defeat by a tie vote, as did the amendment amend-ment to include a car limit provision. In each instance, however, the subjects were held for debate on presentation of a notice today to reconsider. Two efforts to boost the salaries of the commissioners also went by the board by a vote of 10 to 8. The first proposition was to make the salaries jiliOUU a year insteady of $4000 and the second effort called for an increase of $1000 a year. The proposal to insert the word " adequate " so as to provide that the commission should fix "adequate" "ade-quate" as well as "reasonable" rates lost by a like vote. Are Not Voted Upon. The minor amendments were not voted vot-ed upon: if they had been they probably proba-bly would have been defeated. The president pres-ident merely mentioned that if there were no objections, the amendments would be made, and, inasmuch as Senator George Dern, the official proofreader for the senate, recommended recommend-ed all the little changes, they were allowed al-lowed to pass without objection. There was dissension even on the motion mo-tion to adjourn. This, however, was due principally to the time specified for the next session. Some of the solons so-lons desired to adjourn until S o'clock last night, some until 10 o'clock this morning, and others until Monday. The motion to adjourn until Monday was not offered, however, and it was finally voted to recess until 10 o'clock this morning, when the public utilities bill will be taken up as unfinished business. busi-ness. A definition for automobile corporations, corpora-tions, mentioned in the bill but not defined, de-fined, was accepted without opposition. It includes all concerns engaged in business busi-ness as common carriers. Question as to Rates. Senator Reynolds expressed the opinion that the public utilities should be granted grant-ed adequate as well as reasonable rates bv the commission, and the question brought forth a considerable quantity of oratony, which was all wasted. The argument on the proposal to eliml- nate the maximum freight rate section took up the greater part of the session. Those in favor of retaining the section presented the argument that it was a necessity ne-cessity to prevent a fuel shortage such as had been experienced in the Inter mountain moun-tain country during the past few months. They asserted that If the rates were fixed on such a basis the new rates named by the commission would not make much reduction; that coal would be stored during the summer months. The opponents of the section were positive that the legislators had had no experience in rate making and were not in a position to say what should and should not be charged for such service. They insisted that the matter should be left entirely in tiie hands of the commission, commis-sion, one of the duties of which would be to care for just such conditions. Senator Dern and Senator Evans of Salt Lake deserted the conservative camp temporarily, as did Senator Woot-ton Woot-ton and President Funk, with the result that the motion to strike, out the clause lost on a tie. Senator Armstrong changed his vote and served notice that he would ask for a reconsideration of the amendment today. Would Limit Trains. Senator Olson presented a motion to insert a provision for a limit of fifty-five cars to a train and1 this time Senator Armstrong and Senator Dern moved over into the Olson camp, while President Funk and Senator Kvans chased back to the stronghold of the conservatives. Senator Sen-ator Kvans declared that he did not wish to go on record as opposed to the car limit, hut asserted that there was a bill in the lower house carrying the provision and suggested that it was not a matter to be considered in a public utilities bill. Inasmuch as the maximum freight rate section was to be included, temporarily, at least. Senator Bevan proposed to reduce re-duce switching charges to 10 cents instead in-stead of 25 cents a ton. But the solons were not ready to agree on any proposition propo-sition off-hand and they insisted on fixing fix-ing the charge at 12 cents a ton. More Time Needed. It is probable that the two amendments amend-ments open for reconsideration may take up a good share of the time of the session ses-sion this morning. Both amendments were lost on a tie vote last night and it is more than possible that some agreement agree-ment will be reached before the senate convenes whereby both will be permitted to come before the body for further discussion. dis-cussion. More than three sessions have been taken up with the proposed amendments amend-ments to the bill and many more are yet to be presented. It is scarcely probable that a vote on the final passage of the measure will be taken at the morning session and there is every indication that an a f ternoon session will not be held today. The discussion of the public utilities bill was delayed long enough yesterday to hear reports from some of the standing committees and to read communications from the lower house. A few more bills were added to the calendar as an incentive incen-tive to the solons to push the public utilities utili-ties bill if they wish to quit work at the end of sixty days. |