Salt Lake Telegram | 1935-06-21 | Page 3 | Utahn Opposes Rail Rate Bill

UTAHN UT AHN OPPOSES RAIL RATE BILL industry Utah's Ulah manufacturing manur would be demoralized If It congress should repeal the long and short short haul clause of ot the Interstate com com- merce act said Ernest D. D Salm executive secretary of oC the Utah Citizens' Citizens Rate association Thursday Thursday Thursday Thurs Thurs- day be before Core the house interstate commerce commerce commerce com com- merce subcommittee according toa to toa toa a dispatch from Washington D D. C C. M Mr M- Salm representing the Utah Citizens' Citizens Rate association Utah Manufacturers' Manufacturers association and other Industrial groups was the first witness from the intermountain tain country at the tho he hearing ring on the bill which would repeal the fourth section of oC the interstate commerce act The official pointed out that the Utah legislature at its last session had adopted a joint asking asking asking ask ask- ing that the fourth section not b be repealed and that the Utah Wool Wool- growers' growers association and most of ot the industrial groups of the state had also gone on record in favor of ot its retention Figures from old documents were quoted by the official to show the benefit to Utah when the fourth section became fully tully operative in 1920 He also quoted Joseph B B. Eastman coordinator of ot railroads and decisions of ot the interstate commerce commerce commerce com com- merce commission to the effect that thai repeal of the long and short haul clause would prove damaging to the Intermountain territory All AH railroad officials and em em- are not in favor of oC repeal Mr Salm said Some believe that tha such a change would be detrimental detriments to their interests Some railroad are mistaken mistaken mistaken mis mis- taken in their assumption that the fourth section is responsible for lor unemployment unemployment Unemployment un un- employment among them Mr Salm Salin quoted department o ot of commerce figures to show the In Increase Increase increase In- In crease in the the number number of ot ton miles that railroad were handling handling han han- in comparison with former years This he maintained was positive proof of oC more efficiency in railroad management The official maintained that the railroads would lose millions of dollars dollars dollars dol dol- lars If it they were allowed to establish establish establish lish low Jow transcontinental freight rates as they proposed