Ogden Standard-Examiner | 1920-09-05 | Page 5 | R. R. to Fight Rate Decision

!R. R. TO FIGHT RATE DECISION National Association of Public I Utilities Commissioners to Meet in Chicago SALT LAKE. Sept. 4 A blttci ! tighl en 'he part of rallroHda conteat-I conteat-I Ing decisions reached by local public utilities bommlaslonfl In four states, is predicted In a telegram received b I the Utah Public Utilities commiesloh, The messaie from the National s-I s-I soclatlon of Public Utilities commie-i commie-i sloners, announce a meeting at Chi-I Chi-I cago immediately The matter win then be taken before the highest court ! ot the nation to determine whether the state or Interstate commission has authority on matters within i Btn I e Four states, through their public , utilities commissions, have recently refused re-fused to grant the railroads as great ! raisci In some few particular cases, as the railroads thought they were cn-I cn-I Utl .1 e and which the Interstate com merce commission also allowed them. I The rallroaU In these four states have I assumed tht the Interstute commerce ; commission has greater authority than the local state bodies, and are i " . 1 1 -J ing to the international body to install high r rates; In spite ot 'he fai I thai Inrnl suite hnitlu h-.ve ,1 e 1 1 1 ,e r . I , . I nn ! the matters, looked Into the details, i and decided that the raises were unjust un-just find would locally kill or cripple Industries, Into which the Interstate commerce commission, had not taken the time to Investigate fully as to details. de-tails. These refusals of state commissions in the four stales, will be backed by the international body of commission - i ers who will Mtand upon the rights of local commissions to Jurisdiction In local affairs. The local state utilities commission in discussing the regality of the posi- tlon regarding the right of Jurisdiction over freight matters wholly within this state, takes the position that Its i decisions trere Justified nnd It will sustain sus-tain is position The commission is Invited by the telegram to si-nd a man to the conference of the local state commissioners, but Is unable to decide as to whether or not it will do so on ! account of the absence of Judge Greenwood Commissioners il II. Blood and Warsen L. Stoutner said the: fee thoroughly Justified in their stand in refusing higher rates upon low grade ores and coal, and that they will stand upon their decision, that the stnte commission has final jurisdiction juris-diction according to the constitution of I tuh. over freight rates on shipments ship-ments wholly within this state. Hoth Commissioners blood and Stoutner will send a telegram to the national committee of stale utilities commissioners stating that they expect ex-pect to stand with the other states in asserting their rights even to the ex-lent ex-lent of an appeal to the courts. on