The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-08-27
A WEAK RESPONSE
At the Meeting in the Chamber
of Commerce.
ONLY S75 A MONTH SUBSCRIBED
Efforts to Appoint Railroad Commissioner
TO Secure Just Rates for Our
Merchants.

The call for a meeting of the merchants
of this city at the chamber Of commerce to
consider a matter of vital Importance at
tracted not more than fifty persons last
evening, many representatives of large
mercantile institutions being conspicuous
by their absence. This was no doubt due
TO the fact that the purpose Of the meeting
had not been announced. Had it been gen
orally known that it was intended to con-
slider the advisability Of appointing rail
road commissioner to labor with the rail
roads for a correction Of discriminating
rates wherever they exist, the response
might have been better
Mr.. Simon presided at the meeting and
Mr. Meloy acted as secretary.
President Simon in presenting the pur-
pose of the meeting said: mo one can
deny that there is a great deal before US to
do ii we would prosper as we have in the
past three years. For the last three years
business has increased and in some cases
double and trebled One would expect
that this increase in business would secure
q reduction in freight rates. When Mr..
Gould, who was with US the last few days,
took the management Of the Union Pacific
he gave out by his action that the rates
should be increased in certain cases to
swell the roads revenues. Since l came
home ] have heard nothing but complaint
among our merchants. Denver, for in
stance, is working with zeal worthy of
our emulation to hold its own. Among the
organized associations to push Denver for
ward are the transportation bureau, the
manufacturers bureau and others.n
Mr.. Simon then referred to numerous
pamphlets issued by these bodies to edu-
cate the public to the value of
iron, coal and other products of the state.
He then called upon Ex-Governor West to
come forward, but the governor modestly
declined, stating that he had been absent
so long that he would make better listener
than speaker.
EX-CoUNCILMAN HALL
saw very prosperous and happy time in
store for Utah Several years ago." he
said, 1--WE had q severe drought while this
year the rains were abundant. The crops
are unusually large, mining was never in a
more prosperous condition and the wool
crop largely in excess of previous years.
1.-The railroad receipts for the last year
have been several times more than they
were few years ago and yetwe are pay
ing as high rates as we were when the rail-
roads received but one-fourth of what they
are getting now. That is not the way to
build up the territory. We must secure
Dur rights. A railroad company does not
respect anything that does not have power
to it, In unity there is strength, and I'M
less we are united they will not listen to
us. Unless the business men stand shoulder
TO shoulder we might SIS well talk TO the
winds"
W. b. sHEARMAN
illustrated the disadvantage that Salt Lake
merchants are under by citing q case where
a man in another city undersold him. not
because the other merchant bought any
cheaper than he did, but because he got
cheaper freight rates. He had heard it
said but did noS know, that some of the big
houses in this city received rebates. II
this is the case the small merchants might
rs well go out Of business and hire out rs
clerks to these big concerns. We must
have equal rates for all. Some time ago
investigated car rates on glassware, and l
found that could ship car through from
New York to San Francisco and back to
Salt Lake city cheaper than to ship it di-
rect IL we are TO succeed will not say
cheap rates, but just rates. There are som
large institutions that either get a rebate
or are not alive to their interests.
COL. DoNNELLAN
stated that about year ago they started
transportation bureau and they found that
IL was necessary to employ person to give
his entire time to this business, and this
man must be thoroughly acquainted with
It, He cited Lincoln, Neb., as city that
had paid commissioner as high as s., 600
year, and Denver had also paid high
salary TO man to protect the interests of
its merchants. He also referred to the
complaint of the 4. Q. NJ. l., which brought
the Interstate commission to this CITY,
Rates then existed by which denims
could be shipped TO San Francisco and
made up by Chinese cheap labor into over
ais, sent back to this city and sold at
cheaper price than the Z. c. NJ. /. could
manufacture them. The case was never
allowed to go before the commission.
General NeaZey, member of it. ex-
pressed himself as astonished at the way
this city was Disseminated against He
said that a number OF the merchants had
concluded that the citizens should raise
at least $500 month TO employ L. p. Sears
who had represented the merchants OF San
Francisco IN like capacity very satisfac-
torily, and who came highly recommended.
E. p. BEARS
was called for and spoke as follows: II am
satisfied that you are Disseminated against
more than any western city. We should
not go at it Ia windy speeches. My plan is
not TO declare war on the railroads, but to
go to them and show them how they can
build up our business men by giving them
such rates as will enable them to do the
business that belongs TO them. Did not my
friend Sherman strike atgthe root that
helps saddle this incubus upon us! If it is
true that these men are standing in with
the railroads, we should know
It. and have the matter settled.
] know of three officials on the Southern
Pacific who get $685. in yearly salaries.
What do you business men get. Have you
not as much business as they have. You
are being taxed 500 a car for first-class
goods from the Missouri river ana 500 for
second-class goods. On your first-cass
goods you pay the railroads profit of $3.50
q car. Your rates should be adjusted so
a Uou shIn SOnds os or IL
Northern Pacific and as far south as the
Atlantic & Pacific. l would like to see the
men OF large interests take hand in this.
but fear that they can not do so. You
should employ an honest man, a man whom
the railways can not buy. am not speak
Ing Tor myself, as stand ready to give any
other man the benefit of my information
on this subject.
GOVERNOR WEST
regretted that all the business men of Salt
Lake were not present to hear the earnest
statements in regard to the transporta
ton business. The railroads should be in
hearty accord with the merchants
statement has been made of a complaint
made and redress had. How long could
that large mandatory have stood without
that redress. Suppose it had been forced
TO close It's doors; how many families
would have been thrown out of work.
President Simon asked the members IN
come forward to put their names on the
subscription list.
After an urgent request to do something
for the cause, there were only two re-
sponses. This made President Simon
hufy. 81 have worked since the mans
portation bureau started to secure redress
for the merchants of this city. If lose
another moments sleep l would like IN
know it. Twill never again open nv month
on transportation matters. IL the rail
roads put up the rates 10 per cent. il will