Show 0 HOARD CAN CA fiX COAl FOUGHT hATE HAlf SAYS Af AfI I I I I But Selling Price Cannot Be Bc Regulated According to Decision of Attorney General General Gen Gen- eral cral Handed Down Today A A GENERAL DAN B. B SHIELDS in an opinion handed down today declared that the state public utilities commission commission commis commis- 1 sion on could not regulate the prices at which coal might be sold in Utah The C attorney general however stated that the commission would be hc acting within its powers in ordering au an investigation to determine whether the cost of freight on coal from the mines to the market in Utah was reasonable reasonable rea rca and to make adjustments if found necessary The reason that the commission cannot the prices of coal is that the coal industry docs does not form a public utility so far as the laws of Utah arc are concerned Tn In several other states coal is recognized as a public utility and its price is subject to regulation regu reu- lation laUon by the state In the drafting rafting of the Utah public utilities act tl coal In Included in- in tile o industry was n- n I as a public utility but was hated deleted and it passed the house I without any clause governing governIng- the activities activities ac an- of coal operators To have coal now recognized as a public In Utah would mean the calling of a special session of the legIslature legislature legislature leg leg- to Insert a clause In the act According to gossip at the capitol itIs it itis itis is not unlikely that steps might be betaken betaken taken talen in this direction pro providing that an agitation in support of it was taken I up strongly by the coal consumers The opinion as given out by the at attorney attorney at- at torne torney general is in response to a question as to whether the public utilities commission had tho the right to order a reduction in the Uie price of coal Coal consumers a few days daya ago appealed appealed appealed ap ap- ap- ap pealed to the commission commissi n to hear an application that the cost of fuel b b reduced In view o the attorney genI generals general's generals general's gen gen- eral's opinion the commission cann cannot t thear I I hear the application I |