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Show IffilLROKD COMMISSION; RESULT OP IMVESTIGHTION Business men examined before the joint commission of the Legislature appointed ap-pointed to lnrestigate the coal situation situa-tion in Utah, which commenced work yesterday afternoon, declared that they did not bellere that a railroad commission commis-sion would accomplish the needed results re-sults in relieving the situation, but thst a maxim"" rate would come closer to getting the desired results. Former Mayor Richard P. Morn declared de-clared that he was not in favor of a cnmmifsioD. Facilities for the transportation trans-portation of coal, he asserted, are not as good now as they were five or six vears ago, although the coal traffic has increased over 50 per cent. He averred that there was a shortage of power and cars. Only a slight complaint of discrimi- nation was made, and bat was that the Bamberger Coal company waa able to get alack when the others could not. Examined by La-vrrenc. The hearing commenced in Mayor Thompson' office yesterday afternoon. The examination of the four witnesses called yesterday was conducted by Senator Lawrence, who is the attorney for the commission. Representative Harry J. Robinson, as chairman of the commission, presided. Mr. Morri was the first witness called. With hut a few questions from other members of the commission, he was examined bv Senator Lawrence. The commission is composed of Senators Sena-tors LawTenee, Clegs:, Hollingsworth, Bullen and Johnson, and Representative Representa-tive Robinaoo, Tolton, Hone, Bowns and Barnett. Not For a Commission. Mr. Morris told of the experiences of the Citizens' Toal company. He said that he thought a maximum tariff rate would be beneficial in solving the shortage problem, but did not believe that a commission would be the proper means of reaching the trouble. The situation, he declared, has been worse recently than ever before. During the past sixteen years Mr. Morris said that there had bfen an in crease of 50 per rDt jn coal, but that half of this had been due to local dealers. deal-ers. He denied that ttiTP was anv contract con-tract whatsoever among the dealers to hold up the price of coal. The railroad companies, he declared, charged a rate of (1.75 a ton from all mines. Rock Springs, he said, was '240 miles awav, Diamondville 200, and 'astle (ia:e 110. The rate at which dealers r ceived coal was t 'ri a ton. A number of old mines, he declared, were not operating now. Lay It on Prosperity. Robert Marsh, who is with the Km merer 1 'oal company, declared that the great industrial activity of the cmin'rv was the causp of the shortage of power "id cars. He declared that orders 1 bv the railroad for a July de have not vet been filled. : witness declared that he he . 1 d the I'nion Pacific haul on coal at about cost, but that the Rio (Jr.inde haul from the Utah Fuel cm parv mines was excessive. W. B. Sprague, who was called. to,k an opposite view in regard to th K'10 iirar.de. He said that the physical ct. Iditions the h'io Grande had to overcome over-come rr.ade things about ecjiial. Gave Them Advice. In his evidence, Marh ad;ed the commission to take the master up w.h 1 the railroad companies, and that he believed be-lieved a reduction could be secured. J. R. Brough. manager of tne I'tah j Soap companv, declarer! he was not well acquainted with 'he condition. The hearing will again he taken up Mor.dnv. when a number of the man agers of the coal companies will tie called to testify. |