Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-01-13
lContlaued from pags ~


Sorih our grievances We followed no
nyecedents but started with plan
ariginal with ourselves, taking the
vrnnnd that the rates from the Missouri
river 10 Salt Lake city were unjust
and unlawful because they were UNI
reasonable. 70 verify this, complaint
forced upon US the necessity Of proving
the actual cost OF movement OF freight
over the defendants' llnes, for by no
other means could we prove that the
charges male and collected Tor the
seryice were unreasonable. This in
yolv.d n large amount OF work consist
ing In part Of the examination OF pup
lie documents on file with the govern
ment In Washington, also securing
bills of Iading, expense bills and other
documents from important shipping
points In the United states, as wen as
Europe, China and Japan.
A strong case was male out against
the transportation companies nnu we
were July able to prove much more
thnp was alleged In our original COM
ulaint. To substantiate our charges,
however, involved the reading OF over
thirty thousand pages Of public dotu'
mems. abstracts from which were 40.
soiuiclv necessary. These extracts
were sent 10 the departments ut Wash.
ington and certified 10 by the proper
nIblIc officers so rs TO admit OF their
being used In evidence upon the trial
Of our cases, before the commissioner.
After completing our cases and ust
prior 10 the date set for trial, our evil
dencc and all papers were submitted to
one OF the beet aud most careful attor.
neys In this city, and the cases were
pronounced by him TO be In excellent
shape for tr al. | need not dwell upon
the reasons for the dismissal OF these
cases without trial. rs every shipper In
Salt Late IN familiar with this part OF
the proceedings. The result OF our
efforts, Joined with those Of the com.
mittec appointed by the president OF
the chamber to meet with the trans.
portation companies at the request OF
their leading officials, produced n
saving In transportation rates Of over
$500, 200 per annum.
To all those who contributed their
time NJ well ~ their brain force to &C.
complish this work, the people OF Salt
Lake owe u debt OF gratitude which
feel sure they will not be unwilling to
pay.
10 the presidnnt OF the Chamber OF
Commerce., Colonel J. W. Donnellau;
the chairman Of the transportation
bureau, Mr.. Fred Simon, rs well as the
members OF the bureau and ths board
Of directors OF tho Chamber OF Com.
mercc, am greatly indebted for the
unilinchiBg support and careful advice
received during the progress OF this
work.
There are Just as important issues
ahead for the transportation bureau ms
what has already been handled, and
no thought should he given TO dis
banding this valuable organization or
weakening Its effective force. it should
always stand In the front rank OF the
chamber 10 guard the interest OF the
shippers. rnls can be done without
taking undue advantage OF the trans.
portatiOn companies, and In q short
time believe the two sides eau, by
proper methods, be working harmoni.
Ously together, but so long as there IL
my class OF shippers who are u fairly
dealt with, the transportation bureau
Of this chamber should take up the
fight In their behalf When there Ia no
injustice done In transportation matters
aud no wrong to DO fightod then the
transportation bureau can take rest,
but until this condition OF affairs does
exist In practice M well as In theory,
the bureau should remain well organ.
ICED, fearless and aggressive.
The work OF the secretary's office
proper has been more OF n routine ma.
ture, many inquiries have been made
covering the whole range OF business
and investment pertaining to this great
country. No effort has been spared 20
obtain and send out reliable aud intel.
ligent replies to all these inquiries, and
the chamber has received many letters
OF thanks for this work.
In addition TO tho correspondence
referred TO above, We have mailed
during the year ABOUT $4,000 printed
documents and distributed to visitors
at the leading hotels 5000 neatly got
ten up invitations TO call at the cham.
her during their sojOuru here. During
the year fourteen directora' meetings
aswell as several public meetings have
been called, and 10 the praise OF the
present board OF directors be 1t said,
that only once during tho entire year
have We failed 10 transact bushes, be-
cause Of a quorum not being present.
Those elected have served the public
faithfully, whether during the bust.
ness hours OF the day or at meetings
held during the evening.
During the year sixteen new mem.
beers have been added to our list, all OF
whom are active members and repre-
sentative business men. / would
recommend that each active member
constitute himself q committee OF one
during the coming year TO secure for
the chamber new active member.
This would double our membership
aud more than double the influence OF
The chamber for the Advancement Of
lhe material Interests OF the city, aud
would be tho means OF cutting down
The quarterly dues to much lower
hgures than those now In force.
Since our last annual meeting we
have been deprived by death Of three
valuable membere, namely, Messrs. o.
J.. HOLSTER, II. II. Dyer and w. IL.
shearman. The good work they did
while living anu their noble example
as publlc'spirited gentlemen are known
70 lhis community, aud nothing that
can be said here could add TO the lustre
o. their names or increase the appre-
Gallon Of their services to the country.
rISAscIAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
amounts received during thu Vear