| Show I I RAILROADS BEATEN ALREADY BY SHIPPERS Application for Increase sc of Rates Shown Shown to to Be Without Ca Cati Cause By E. E J. J David Fighting a h hopeless ba 3 l iId d realizing realizing real Teal izing that against the great force of facts mobilized by the that the railroads cannot carnot count on n victory in their application for an increase In Inthe Inthe inthe the freight rates rate on coal in Utah the carriers aro are lingering in the fray flay The whole railroad organization nas has not only been beaten but h has been absolutely demoralized In the tho application application tion and the protest of the cities of ot Salt Lake and Ogden private concerns hearing upon which is proceeding be before ne- ne fore the public utilities commission The people have havo proved their ease case to the hilt Every obstacle thrown across th their ir path by the railroads ha has bee been 1 re re- re moved In a last desperate effort to stem the tide of battle running against them the railroads have attempted to show increasing cost of operation upon which they claim they are entitled to toan toan toan an increase in revenue throughout the tlc channel of an increase in th the freight rates on coal In no case that the writer can recollect recollect lect have railroads been ben routed so thoroughly as In the one now before belore the state commission The he rout ruts has been complete and the railroads recognize nize the fact As a consequence they are arc now bending their efforts to stop t I the protestants getting a reduction In Inthe Inthe inthe the freight rates because they are well wen aware that t the e commission in iii the face fac tho the overwhelming evidence submitted sun sub will vill not order an advance In Inthe Inthe inthe the tariffs The question has hall been repeatedly asked as to why the railroads picked on coal as the commodity which should bear a higher freight rate Of all commodities commodities com corn coal is the last that should have been selected The people have been burdened altogether too long with high prices for coal oai Whatever decIsion decision deci deel- sion idon the commission might make If ie an application for an increase in freight rates other than on coal was WitS presented it Is as clear as crystal that It cannot order an increase in the coal tariffs The freight rates on coal will consequently consequently consequently conse conse- be reduced and every consumEr consumer consumer con con- sumer In Utah will benefit Evidence given in behalf benalt of the railroads railroads railroads rail rail- roads showing increased cost of operation operation opera opera- tion avails little In face of the fact that Increased revenues show the railroads railroads railroads rail rail- roads in an extremely healthy financial financial finan finan- cial condition It has always been the practice of the Interstate commerce commission to determine the tho revenues gained by the railroads and to contrast them with the cost of moving traffic The state commission will be bound to emulate the federal body in this respect and It would be an insult to the Intelligence of the commission to 10 believe for one ono mom moment nr Ih lb view of the pre presented te l that it It will do otherwise order a reduction in the freight rates The pr protestants claim that Montana freight rates on coal should be he a fair rail basis lasis for determining the tariffs which should prevail in Utah Realizing the great point scored by bythe bythe the protestants In this connection the railroads Arc iro rc attempting to show that the Montana rates rats should not be taken as a comparison D. D R. R Gray assistant general freight agent of the Oregon Short Line railroad railroad rail rall- road stated on the stand yesterday that he did not believe that the rates in Montana were fair While one ono might admire his temerity in making such a statement it Will be recognized that the opinion is absolutely absolutely anso- anso lately without value Nobody will consider for tor a moment that Mr 1 Gray should be bethe the judge as to what or what whatnot whatnot whatnot not is a f fair lr rate The railroad commission of Montana has already decided the point It held helda a afew few years ago that the freight rates on coal Montana In-Montana were too high and on its own initiative ordered them reduced On top of this the railroads last fall fail attempted to obtain an Increase in increase increase In- In crease In the rates Tile The railroads failed in the application and the rates re remaIn remain remain re- re main as ordered by the commission years ago when the cost of operation w was s considerably less than at present Freight rates on coal In some in instances instances in- in stances in Montana do not approximate more than 60 per cent of tile Inc rates in Utah This fact should be sufficient to show that Utah consumers ers era must be protected There must on this showing be a reduction in tile rates Mr 1 Gray went into the question of rate m making aId ng He asserted that each commodity was supposed to pay for forI itself in transportation Thus the railroads make a profit on every haul no matter what the commodity Is On coal the tho railroads not only make malce a profit but hut a huge fortune It co costs ts moro morn to transport coal than ore orp at- at though the latter's market value is higher I There is no reason why coal should be bo unjustly singled out to help the tho railroads railroads rail rall- roads distribute their dividends The railroads can well wel afford to cut the I price in the coal freight rates In Utah and still make handsome profits Increased cost of operation must be I ignored by the commission in view atthe of at the fact that such increase is well taken care of ot in iii Increased revenues I The railroads have taken altogether too much money out of this state in comparison comparison com com- comI I I parison to the service rendered and I the fight of the people because It Is I I founded rt on justice will wil succeed I |
