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Show OLSON'S INVITATION. In letters of invitation sent out by Culbert Tj. Olson, chairman of the judiciary judi-ciary committee of the senate, he announced an-nounced that the committee would hear . eions desiring to be heard on the senate public utilities bill. The chair-. chair-. man did not simply invite the public to come, he dared them. In the following follow-ing words he told them just what they might talk about and what was barred: "No arguments wHl be heard on the question of policy in passing an act of this nature, that question having been determined by the people in party convention con-vention and at the polls. Only arguments argu-ments as to details of the bills will be heard." .Having sentenced L'tah to execution he summons the jury to choose the form of execution. "Which will you have," be inquires politely, "hanging or shooting shoot-ing T ' "Right or wrong the state is going to have a public utilities bill," says the judicial chairman, of the judiciary committee com-mittee in effect. "The public hearing i& niVrely to discuss the details." Of what interest is it to thei public, of what avail to discuss the details of a bill that is wholly vicious? The really convincing arguments are those directed against any public utilities utili-ties law for Utah at this time. The Tribune has outlined these arguments time and again. But Senator Olson would debar the public from omployiug the crucial arguments and limit them to a discussion of details. "We have contended all along that Utah would be injured, as Idaho has been injured, by a public utilities law; that there is a wide distinction between eastern and western states in this matter; mat-ter; that our prosperity can be and will be impaired by attempts to cripple our j developing .business interests, and we have made so bold as to urge the legislators legis-lators to "let well enough alone." Moreover, the absurdity of railway regulations by forty-eight different states is just beginning to be understood. In one state cuspidors are required by law; in another state the cuspidors must be locked out of sight. In one state cars of certain length must be Hied; in an adjoining state cars of another an-other length must be supplied. In one state cars must have platforms of a certain cer-tain width; in another state the width must be different. The regulations are getting to be a joke, but a tragic joke. The time has come when the federal government should govern all the interstate inter-state roads of the country according to uniform regulations, for only by such means can the railroads earn sufficient money to make improvements and provide pro-vide extensions. Utah needs development, develop-ment, but cannot develop if it shackles its public service corporations. Idaho and California have tried the experiment and have suffered. If we are wise we can avoid the same abyss. But Senator Olson Ol-son myites us to jump into the abyss and discuss the details when we hit bottom. |