Show The Old Old Man Man of the Sea 1 I I F ORTS of the railroads to reestablish the Eo right to charge more for a short haul than a long one which tire rare re reflected in the hearing hear under way ay here before Examiner T. T 1 interstate commission com com- M. M Pattison of the commerce n mission should be vigorously opposed For Fors states s years ears Utah and other intermountain j i struggled against railroad I discriminations t which were predicated on this principle Not J until the fourth fouth section was written into the transportation act at the earnest behest of intermountain and intermediary shippers did f these states get an opportunity to develop their commercial territory jn in the tle measure that I natural conditions warranted Having once succeeded in in getting rid of this old man of the sea the same interests should hould strenuously resist every endeavor to rel re- re reestablish ret l t establish the handicap on intermountain indus indus- r try fry ry and initiative It is undoubtedly true that the railroads have a stern problem in n meeting l the thie h water competition which favors the Pacific Pa- Pa J f coast The intermountain states however t are not responsible and should not be hie asked I i to o pay the freight on the railroad fight on l this thi competition The whole theory of charging more for a short haul than for a Ia long one is contrary to sound reasoning as well ell a as fairness and nd i justice There is no good and sufficient reason reason reason rea- rea rea son why the intermountain territory should be penalized for a condition which prevails prevail on the Pacific coast The r railroads complain that they cannot meet water competition under un- un tv der tier the present rates In short if the railroads railroads rail- rail t roads were to meet the water r rates tes they j would do so at a loss And yet they would S r like to meet these rates providing they could add dd their losses to the transportation charges tJ of f the intermountain country In the final 1 analysis this can be regarded only as a willing- willing II 4 ness s to establish losses in transportation if J i the losses tosses are borne by the intermountain inU in in- interests t U i 1 rests and not by the railroads I t tf U Under the pl plans ns of the railroads steel prod- prod tu i ts or could be shipped to Pacific I JI coast from Ea Eastern te n points for less money t than thant an fJ t jt they co could ld be shipped to Salt Lake City 1 The he same tZ t same principle would apply to other v 1 ies ties which means only that the highest charges Z Y would be assessed against those receiving the i l least as service The Pacific coast in the old olds s days das received tremendous benefits from the discriminations practised against the intermountain inter- inter a S i mountain nt in in country There is no reason why this this vicious system should be revived notwithstanding notwithstanding not not- l' l withstanding the fact that the railroads rare are re hard put for a solution of the problem presented presented pre pre- By water competition It is unfortunate that tha many Salt Lake b business siness interests fail to comprehend c the dangers of the he railroad movement movement movement move move- ment leaving the burden of the fight to the thee e f fv v t active spirits who appreciate the dangers ei i which menace the territory J t if |