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Show What the Newspapers of the State Say From tho Inter-Mountain Republican. .September 21, 1000: Beyond question this Is amattei' which will receive tho attention of tho next session of tho legislature Tho experience of other states, together togeth-er with tho records of conditions there beforo and after the enactment of a railroad commission law, will bo secured, se-cured, and in tho light of all the facts tho representatives of tho peoplo of Utah will tako such action as may seem to them best for all the Interests of this stato. Utah stands today at the threshold of a splendid career. If tho creation of such a commission shall promise material benefits- for tho shippers who aro now largely at tho mercy of transportation trans-portation companies with which they do business, then It is a move that should bo taken. And without doubt, on such a showing, It Is a move that will bo taken. . & From tho Inter-Mountain Republican. October 18, 100G: "Wo believe that much of tho difficulty diffi-culty can bo obviated by a wfso and tempornto exercise of tho power of tho state, and wo believe tho coming session of tho legislature will tako action ac-tion in tho matter which the fundamental funda-mental law of tho stato requires at Its hands." 1 v From tho Logan Republican, Novem- bor 17, 100C: "Railroad Commission. What tho stato needs is a railroad commission, mado up of about threo men who do not caro a jigger about politics; who will not work for potty partisan advantages, ad-vantages, but with an eyo single to tho wolfaro of tho peoplo of Utah, and wo suggest In all candor to tho next legislature leg-islature that It creato such a commission commis-sion nnd put It to work. "Othor states havo them nnd they do well. No stato has been ruined by a railroad commission's work, and tho roads run trains and pay dividends. divi-dends. Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Min nesota, and several others have brought tho recalcitrant and purse-proud purse-proud offlclals to time, nnd it is very nearly, It not quite, time for Utah to get busy and demand something in return. "Tho constitution contains a provision pro-vision directing that uniform rates shall bo established, but as yet no political party has had the nerve to carry out that provision. The republicans repub-licans aro In complete control this winter, there is no senator to elect-there elect-there need bo no political jimmying, and wo expect to securo some relief at the hands of tho party. If the people peo-ple do not get it there Is going to be a kick made, and wo are not going to bo at tho tall end of tho procession, either." ' From tho Inter-Mountain Republican, November 2G, 100C: "A railroad commission would Insure In-sure a reasonable rato to tho transportation trans-portation companies, would give tho peoplo a rato they could easily pay, and would so vastly Increase the business bus-iness of tho railroads of the stato that they would mako moro money than thoy do now. "Railroad companies in states whero the commissions havo been in operation opera-tion prove that statement to bo true It Is a step in tho right direction in tho direction taken by tho older states. The quicker it is adopted in Utah, tho better It will bo for our peoplo in tho present, and in the future. fu-ture. "There will bo no confiscation of tho railroads. "There must bo no confiscation by tho railroads."' From the Inter-Mountain Republican, November 29, 100C. "And if there were a commission, tho stato's development would bo so hastened, would bo so helped by tho freedom tho railroads could give, that In ten years this would ho tho producing pro-ducing garden and tho market and tho distributing point for tho wholo region between tho Rockies and tho western slopes of tho Sierra Nevadas. "Somo state and some city is goIn to tako that place. If it be not Utah and Salt Lako, It will bo some other ' "Tho one power that can veto or vitalizo tho movement is tho railroads They will not do it voluntarily. That would bo asking something more than human naturo usually concedes. But with a commission tho stato would bo enriched, and tho railroads would flourish in tho era of a general and magnificent prosperity. "What will tho representatives In tho legislature do?" From the Utah State Journal, December De-cember 20, 100G: "And notwithstanding the arguments 'ft they make, which would sound nearly as well as they would If they had been offered by Mr. Harriman himself, him-self, we think tho peoplo of this stato bellovo In a railroad commission, and feel to pray that the legislature will constitute one to carry out tho commission com-mission and tho statutes." "Because In order to carry out those provisions, a commission must bo created, having tho power and the authority to perforin specific acts." From tho Utah State Journal, December De-cember 21, 100G: "Until tho legislature enacts the constitution into statute, with adequate ade-quate penalties for violation the provisions pro-visions therein aro worthless, for while the constitution provides a method of protection It requires a statute to provide a vehicle for carrying carry-ing that method Into effect." From tho Tribune, December 29, 190G, (Copied from tho Provo Enquirer): "This opposition to a railroad law by some of tho Salt Lake papers is tho moro astonishing when It Is remembered remem-bered that somo of tho men who aro now opposing through tho papers a law to regulate railroad rates and trafllc, helped frame tho constitution of the state, which makes It mandatory manda-tory upon tho legislature to enact such a law." From tho Richfield Record, January 10, .1907: "It seems to us that It is up to tho railroad companies to bo doing something, some-thing, and that mighty quick. Tho people are not in a humor to tako chances of two years moro of such treatment a3 they havo received In tho past beforo another legislative session ses-sion is hold. Railroad charges in this stato aro extortlonato and accommodations accommo-dations and servfees nbomlnnblo, nnd if tho companies show no disposition to make changes for tho better, then -A,.,, tho people must take recourse to harsh methods." From tho Deserot News, January 14, 1907: "Tho railroads have always been treated with great consideration. They may not havo obtained any moro than they aro entitled to; yet It is well known, and tho management of tho roads know better than nnyono else, that In Utah thoy havo not been under un-der tho necessity of spending largo sums of money in order to ol'taln fair treatment. Thoy havo as u. rulo obtained ob-tained all kinds of valuablo concessions conces-sions "without money and without price." Read every word of this. It concerns con-cerns you. Tho necessity for a commission com-mission is plainly demonstrated by tho keen antagonists of tho railroads and their subsidized press. Wo arc making mak-ing this flglit for the people. "Get into line" and let your representative understand that Utah demands a railroad rail-road commission. e & Resons Why Utah Needs a State Railroad Commission, and What . a Commission Could Secure t for the People of Utah. A commission would not bo In possession pos-session of free transportation, and, could act for the best Interest of tho people. Free transportation entails an obligation on tho holder thereof to work and voto for tho giver. Esau sold his birthright for a mess of Pottage. Pot-tage. Don't be an Esau. A commission would have tho power pow-er given it by tho state, which no Individual has, to Investigate the ehlppilng rates on coal charged by tho railroads, and ascertain why it is that while Salt Lake pays 5.25 por ton, ijj. Mount Pleasant only pays $3.50 per 19 ton. & J A commission would prevent tho coal companies from shippling coal out of tho state, whllo our own citizens cit-izens aro suffering for the want of It. A commission would prevent tho unjust discrimination in freight rates which at present enables certain well favored shippers to get reduced rates for distribution within tho state, as against others. A commission would investigate tho arbitrary "weighing association" and permit of some method being adopted for a more reasonable manner of adjustment ad-justment of disputed weights. A commission would Investigate the "pool association" that exists and which serves to prevent competition, vJ JX A commission would provide a means whereby less favored shippers desiring desir-ing cars, would havo some medium through which their requests would receive attention. A commission would havo tho power pow-er to investigate and regulate tho unjust un-just dlscrlmnatlon In passenger rates prevailing In somo parts of tho state, whereby certain localities aro favored over others. A commission will prevent tho giving giv-ing of freo transportation for the purpose pur-pose of Influencing shippers, and the creation of favorable legislation, contrary con-trary to the people's Interests. ' & A commission will prevent tho railroads rail-roads from layinlg their "heavy hand" upon tho peoplo who aro unfortunate enough to incur theid displeasure, and for seeking to secure their constitutional constitu-tional rights. A. A commission will create such rates t ' on coal for domestic purposes as will enable tho consumer to live within his if means and still keep warm, by making the rates consistent with tho distance hauled, tho vital necessity for coal, and tho prices charged for tho samo In other states. & s A commission would regulate the rates on manufacturing coal to that extent that hundreds of new Industries Indus-tries which In the past year havo refused re-fused to enter our borders owing to tho high price of fuel, would bo induced in-duced to establish factories In our cities and towns. A commission would havo power to Investigate tho numerous fatal railroad rail-road accidents that occur within our state every year and apply such penalties pen-alties and restrictions as would Insure In-sure tho safety of tho travelling public. pub-lic. I A commission would servo to Investigate In-vestigate and regulate tho exorbitant freight rates charged for short hauls within tho state, which In many Instances In-stances aro higher than that charged lor tho samo goods from far eastern points. A commission could save tho citizens cit-izens of the state over $1,000,000 each year in tho reduced rate of coal, made so by a reduction of tho shipping rato on coal from tho mines. A commission would Investigate and remedy as far as possible tho poor service, poor road beds, and poorer poor-er equipment that makes tho railroads of tho state a constant danger to llfo and limb, and a menace to health and morals. A commission would compell tho railroads operating In tho state to maintain adequate and decently equipped equip-ped stations for tho comfort and health of tho traveling public, and tho general welfare of the state. & s A commission would co-operato with tho Inter-Stato Commerco commission com-mission in securing such rates for Utah as will enablo this state to occupy oc-cupy Its natural position as tho manufacturing man-ufacturing and jobbing center of the lnter-mountain country. A commission would have tho power pow-er to create, control and regulate freight rates within its own borders, given it by the state and confirmed by tho Supremo court of tho United States, December 1G, 190C, which clearly and specifically places the power for such regulation upon the "State Railroad Commission." A commission would prevent railroads rail-roads from putting Into effect, special rates at a moments notice for tho purpose pur-pose of favoring certain shippers, and certain shipments, in which frequently certain railroad officials aro themselves them-selves pecunlarly Interested. 4t .St A commission would prevent ns nothing elso will, tho raising of freight rates within tho state to offset off-set tho reduction In Inter-stato rates which tho Inter-stato Commerco commission com-mission will undoubtedly cause to go into effect in tho near future. A commission will havo tho power , to investigate the earnings and expenditures ex-penditures of tho railroads and to de-termlno de-termlno what tho rates shall bo consistent con-sistent with a fair profit on tho capital and prevent tho enormously largo dividends div-idends and surplus which havo been wrung from tho earnings of tho people. peo-ple. A commission will put now railroads seeking admission at our doors on an equality with those already operating within our borders, and make It possible pos-sible for them to secure Instant recognition recog-nition and patronage. A commission will prevent tho granting of freo transportation to tho law makers of tho state, which still prevails In splto of tho Federal laws, and which Is tho prime cause for tho many Infractions and passive acquiescence, acqui-escence, coupled with tho unjust discriminations dis-criminations that aro all too prevalent. preva-lent. A commission will save to the railroads rail-roads themselves thousands of dollars that aro now annually wasted In freo transportation, which saving can be applied to tho reductions in freight rates. MANUFACTURERS & MERCHANTS' ASSN. Of Utah. |
