Show TALK COMMISSION L I. it AT MASS I Several Speakers Indorse the Movement Embraced in r Legislative Bill RESOLUTIONS ARE PASSED f c 1 1 M. M i. i anil nd Other A Speak Speak- i cr ors ers Take Tak I Hups al nt thoI tilo tho I t 11 r r. I 1 The rue mass meeting of citizens called b by the thc Manufacturers and Merchants' Merchants as association tho the Federation of oC Labor and th the Butchers and Grocers Grocers' ass asso association elation nl nt Federation of or Labor hall hail Sunday afternoon was composed of oC sixty persons persons The Thc meeting was slow I If r to begin Its Iw work but when it did i f tl t. t start upon the thc bu business before It things h moved mo lively and the reasons for the thc theL L passage of oC an act creating a railroad ad c commission were set forth In pointed pointed 54 C form by the various speakers The rf meeting was as called to order by b Charles Vinson of the Federation of ot Labor t and upon n a motion which was carried b by the me meeting George Brown was se selected selected se- se 1 as chairman of or the thc meeting and t. t z- z D. D I. I Elton Ellon was elected secretary I I f The fir first t speaker was D. D I I. I Elton 4 speaking for Cor the laboring man he j t declared eJr In favor or of oC the creat creation crea crea- t 4 lion tion of the commission and gave a his 1118 reasons the facts that the people 1 have h the right to dictate to the railroads railroads rail rall- roads whom have ha been conferred t upon millions of dollars In franchises as to I. how low they shall operate and what re returns returns re- re 1 1 turns shall shaH be made to the people for forthe the franchises which have c been granted grantt grant grant- rant rant- t ed od to them Mr 11 Elton said ald that the thet t conduct of oC the railroads was of great reat k importance to the toilers tolless for Cor the reason rea rca son lSon that with an equitable adjustment of freight rates there would be jc a corresponding corresponding cor cor- r. r respond responding In decrease In the cost of living liv liv- InS ing and that such things a as aM coal fain Cam famines ines would be unknown Gho PIl Passes cs for Something I rr Speaking of the th subject of free railway railway rail rail- J wa way passes Mr Elton ventured th the opinion that whenever cr a corporation gives a man something for tor nothing tl tHey are liro firm In their belief that there something duo due them thern and that they S get gt t It Mr l Elton paId said that cat 1 I nh rt dst ty j i- i crimination thIs b n hot n l 1 but Jut In the Increase noticed In the constantly constantly constantly con con- climbing cost of Df Jiving U Mr Mi- Elton was followed h by II H. S Hudson of ot the Butchers and Grocers Grocer 1 al Mr h Hudson speaking for hits his association said that he did not nol i come to the meeting prepared for a aI I speech or OL argument but that he endorsed endorsed endorsed en en- the tho plan for the commission and paid taId Id that the p people ople of th the entire tt le have ha their eyes oi Ol OI the legislators and that the passes which have been sven to them will pro probably abl result In their acting actinS' for Cor their own Interests In Ill lr preference to to the Interests of their con con- Necessity lt for Control Control Orson H. H Hewlett representing the M. M ana aitU M. M f. f association was the next Mr n Hewlett pre presented an array ar 01 ar- ar W f-W ij l' l ray hf- hf of cu which he hc nr argued ue plainly t that there was was was- wasa a necessity r- r for sta 1 control of or common carriers O lb lie Itc said Chut hut while the railroads were wert crying out against the proposed ed commission com com- l. l mission there are arc other Interests to tn tobo bo be considered and the fact that opposition op- op position comes from the railroads 1 may maybe be taken us as an indication that such uch a ai aj j i commission Is sorely needed in lii Utah Utah- v Mr 11 Hewlett cited that many millions 4 of or dollars have ha been beell given n to the raIl rall- 4 roads In the form of valuable fran fran- and that the taxpayers the their ir donors have ha a right to expect a fair fall fallt k t return Tho Thu two most important functions t. t of oC the commission when It shall be appointed said Id Mr Hewlett will be beto beto to Investigate ate the coal and freight r situations situation Of these he said the coal situation Is by far fur the more import import- I ant He said Mild that with a re reduction t In the price of coal many more 1 factories factories fac rac- I. I tories would come to Utah but under O. O I existing conditions they will not because because because be be- cause the they know the they cannot compete 1 with eastern concerns who arc favored ra J by frel freight ht rates The reduction In the 7 f price of coal also altu means a reduction In the cost of living hiving The coal famine of last lat year ear according according according ac ac- ac- ac cording to Mr lr Hewlett was welS no more mOIe severe cro than the present one and In Inconsideration consideration of oC the future needs of oC this city the M. M M M. u association took up the matter early In Jui July with a aview view to securing a remedy Committees Committees Commit Commit- tees were appointed to walt wait upon the parties rc responsible for the famine with no encouraging re results Mr Ir Hewlett said Hald that when Mr l Bancroft was seen In regard to the matter of giving conI consumers con con- I sumers storage rates he hc wild tid that he would not do so 50 but hut that he lie would jc iJ give e 1 dealers storage rates Mr hewIett Hewlett Hew lIew- lett Jett pointed out that because of or the thet t fact that there Is Js an independent coal coalmine mine not nol far from flom Mt l Pleasant the has placed freight railway company compan rates on coal to that point so low how that t-Jat the coal coat Is sold there for 10 per ton less Jess than tho the same Nuno quality of oC coal I can van be bo bought In this lIlls ell city to The reasons a assigned sl ned b by tho the railroads railroads rail rail- roads for the coal shortage c said Mr Hewlett IB is their own shortage of oC motive mo mu- tive Uve power and rolling stock Mr Hewlett ventured the time opinion that If JC the railroads would place more mOIo of their earnings S hi fn the these theae two Important factors of oC railway maintenance Instead millions of dollars In tiLe the r i of f placing surplus and nuLl reserves reel the tho famines c would be DC averted To secure this he het hei i t said ald be one of the alms aim of the thc railroad commission commission- lon The commission would be bc empowered b by the creating it to go o over o railroad company's I- I J books to ascertain the cost of oC coal pro- pro v and hauling and und of or freighting In general sentral and antI to a ascertain remedies A decision of or the supreme court of the f United States said Mr 11 Hewlett ha has haH id that the tho railroad commissions j- j C Continual on OH i two to I I iL l I l I i 1 1 I 1 I J I TALK COMMISSION AT MASS MEETING Continued from pa page 1 One havo have the tine right to fix rates an and to te equalize where discrimination is found Mr Hewlett answered ono onto of th tho objections which have been raised t to tt the tho proposed commission on 01 th tin tho ground that it will cost tho tire state stale too toe much money for toL tine the commission lItI He Ute Ml said that in iii the tine long ong- ong run urn the tho burden I Upon tho the taxpayer would woul bo be lessened Jessene I by tho tine commission for fOl tine the reason that tha It Il would result In a reduction in Sn th tin the cost of living To tine the objection that the tine state could coul I not nol secure the tine services sei s of oC honest and anC I I upright ht men Mr Hewlett replied that thai t the state stale for time the sum of couk I pay for the tho services s of or three capable and competent commissioners and nOll I their secretary and stenographer ant and L that tho the total expense of ot salary and anti I traveling un and office expense would not exceed OOOO per annum Tho The statement that the tine railway commission commission com corn S mission would act as an nn Influence t to I keep other othor railroads out of or too the state i was as denied b by Mr 1 Hewlett who said that If other lines JInes were given to Understand understand un un- S that they would wout receive exactly exactly ex ex- tho tine same samo treatment as the tine existing cx- cx lines hines there hero could be bo no objection tion Jon to coming conning into tine the state and that they would come conic un under cl this plan The existing commissions In other states stales I were ero shown to have havo acted as an Inducement Inducement In In- In- In rather than as an lon lion Mr Ir Hewlett Hewett said that ho lie had learned learn learn- earned earn earn- ed upon good authority that GOO passes had lad been issued by one ono railroad Inthis in inthis t this his state stale since tho tine first of tine the year and ind that if all other roads Old Uld the tine s same sarno there were 1500 passes issued The rue estimated value of these P passes was and that for this sum t tho he railroads naturally expected some return and that he lie was sure that the they would get it Others Favor FaAOi Commission sion rl V t f Fo Federation ra o 1 o of Labor abor for or that organization in favor CaVor avor of the commission i n. n He said al that thattie t tho tie he proposition of or correcting the tine coal shortage evil is up to lo tho the taxpayers an and nd that the time timo is ripe for fot th them to total tal take ako o hold of tho tire matt matter r and to remedy rem rem- e edy dy it Charles Allen Mien speaking for tho the I Butchers Grocers Grocers' association said t that hat as a man of ot 16 years years' experience In n i railroading ho Inc spoke with a knowl- knowl e c dge gc of ot the facts He Ho stated state as a fact t hat that about 1890 the tho Union Pacific ought bought out the tho Utah Central roa road r south of this cit city but that t the hey icy did not buy an nn Independent coalmine coalmine coal coat mine near the tho terminus of oC the roa road Tints This his little HUle mine was on tho tine opposite i iHl s Hl ide e of or the tho hill from the tire Union Pacific I mine line The Union Pacific railroad so sout I cut ut their price on coal and so raised t ho Ine freight rates for their competitors competitors' coal oal that up UI to this day ay tho the mIne I opening has been boar boarded ed up ana and it is I closed The Tho owners will not neil but bul have 0 avo been wall walling waiting ng for the tine day to come I hen irein they will mayo have redress through such uch an organization as the tine railroad commissIon that they may again enter ho tIne field Mr Allen Alien w ws vs followed b by J J. J N. N of th the Federation of Labor wino who spoke much along the tho same samo lines as havo have been stated citing the tine tact lad that hat manufacturers were afraid to toco co cone ne into Utah on of oC the Ule discrimination In freight rates and tho the price of oC coal coat C. C O. O Harris was V s tho tire next speaker He le outlined In general terms the tine work done dent one b by tho tire Merchants Manufacturers Manufacturers' 1 S a association in planning for Cor tine the commission bill and arid Intro Introduced mm his talk alk with tho tire following letter I-cUer from J J. G. G McDonald l Salt L Lako City Jan 27 7 1 7 Mr tr Orson H. H f. f Hewlett President Manufacturers and Merchants tion Salt Lake City City City- Dear Sir I fund find that very cry much temy tom to te tomy m my r regret I shall be bo unable to b be bo I at this afternoons afternoon's meeting Though absent In inn the tire flesh I shall shaH be bo with you in inn the lie spirit and heartily en en- en done dorse any action that mn may be taken on oil the subject that is ItS to be presented for Cor consideration Permit me to say asa manufacturer r and aUd a a. shipper that thal it lr there Is any state stale In tho tIre Union that needs heeds a railroad rail rail- road commission It Is Utah and no ito one knows that fact tact better than tho manu manu- and the tIne shipper unless It Il Is the railroads themselves The Tine intolerable able and harrowing burrowing restrictions placed upon tho the shipments of oC both raw ma nina- I and tho the finished product arc uro I such sueh as S to almost deter any but the I most from Cream rom embarking or continuing con con- a n manufacturing business in In this state stute There tire rue hundreds of or separate ar to con COIl that go to make up the tho whole i but the time following will 8 servo o n-o t to o call the tine I attention to what i la Is of Or vital Ital Interest I to the manufacturer I E cr Every manufacturer In hin n fact er c every consumer of or the pt product duct Is la Interested rf sl in tho the cost of or production One of or the largest Items In iii tine the operation arid and maintenance of fW every y a-y Industry is the tine fuel Cuel Item be lie It coal ga gab goto J. J oil or other fuel ruel The moer tho the fuel tuel costs the greater great r I is the tire cost of manufacture tine the greater the tire cost COl to the consumer r Re ne 3 this tins fuel ruel of or coal as I I. is necessary In iii Utah the tine coal Item is Js s sure re to run Into unto thousands of or dollars dallan each year eat with m th tine the added loss of several se hundreds of or dollars that Is wafted wanell heavenwards In Inn Inthe Inthe the form Corm of or smoke ineke With tho high h price of or coal conI as ns It If exists in Utah even though the tho cheapest grade of or slack alack be used thc manufacturer that has hus the tire temerity to locate it in 1 Utah is Indeed worthy of or time the congratulations of oC the tire people Denver gets its slack for Cur 13 per pcr ton while ville Salt Lake ak City pays pas 3 32 per pcr ton aut and dont don't get gel very much of or It ItI I at nt that price either cither At least not trot at present 1 The Tho coal shortage Is tho tire solo topic of or public Interest at Ihla time lime There should be no coal coul shortage In iii Utah with sith Its millions of or tons torts In sight within with with- in a few fow miles of or every cry city In iii the tine state stute There are arc so soral ral causes why a shortage exists as far Car as tho thu consumer consumer con con- sumer Is concerned none exists as to tho tine supply in the earth Time The Immense amount of oC coal that Is made In Into to coke tho tire steady steady and anti growing growing- demands of or time the I railroads and smelters the tire scarcity of or I minors the time small number of hours worked coupled with the tire very serious I lack hack of or motive power on tho thic part of or ortho tho tine railroads are arc the tine prime causes for forthe forthe forthe the present coal 1 shortage Anything that will servo to remedy tho time present situation meets with my hearty endorsement Yours very truly j. j G G. MCDONALD I Mr 11 Harris referred his hearers to lo tho tire utterances that mat have been beon made b by him In iii tho the newspapers regarding the time coal shortage and the tine benefits to tobe tobe tobe I be obtained through tine the propose proposed commission lon and gave a II summary of oC conditions which have been Investigated Investigated gated by the tire association and which i they would out present to the commission commission commis commis- sion when It shall havo have been ap ap- up- up pointed Mr lt 4 Harris gaid t 1 t 1 a i I from Mt It lh a. had said th that this his lils constituents cor did ld not hot want a n cOI commis commission inis- inis sion and that on the thc day following his assertIon a petition ha had been received from six hundred merchants and taxpayers taxpayers taxpayers tax tax- payers of or Ml Mt Pleasant risking asking that |