The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-11
1snecial 70 The Herald.l


Boise, Feb. 10-The railroad bill in
troduced in the house of representa-
tives by Randolph (Pop.) of Latah,
which was the subject of a long de-
bate Monday, and which was finally re-
committed, for the purpost of securing
a substitution of a modified measure,
is very stringent in it's provisions. 1t
is lengthy bill, of q pages, and COW
ers almost every conceivable feature or
the business of the common carrier.
The old bill provides that no railroad
company shall charge more than 0
cents a mile for passengers from one
point to another within the state, and
that not more than l cent a mile shall
be charged students going to or from
any of the states institutions of learn
ing.
The maximum freight rates on agri-
cultural products are fixed at y of a
cent per ton per mile, for distances
exceeding 800 miles, and l cent
per ton per mile for distances exceed
ing 200 miles and not exceeding 300
miles: ~ cents per ton per mile for
distances over 100 miles and less than
200; cents for distances over 90 and
not exceeding 100. and 212 cents for all
distances over 10 miles and not eX
ceeding so, provided that no charge for
hauling in car load lots shall exceed 50
per ton from any point within the state
to any other point within the state
The schedule of maximum freight
rates provided is to apply whether it
be over one line or over two or more
connecting lines. The long and short
haul of the interstate commerce law is
also a feature of the bill.
The strongest support for the bill
comes from Latah county, where the
people claim the railroads rates are eX-
cessive. Those who live along the Ore
gon Short Line, in the southern part
of the state, are generally very bitterly
opposed to the measure. This company
has shown a very lenie1t disposition,
that is much appreciated by those pat
ronizing the lines. While the bill finds
some supporters among representatives
from the southern part of the state
who are either Populists or Populistic
in their tendencies, the business men
and the masses of the people generally
are opposed to it and want to see the
whole subject dropped. 1t does not
seem likely that any such measure
can be enacted into law
THE FEE BILL.
A subject that attracts quite as much
attention as any other, if, indeed, il is
not the foremost in the minds of legis-
lators. is that of amending the law
respecting fees of county officials. The
senate took the initiative on this sub
ject and almost from the beginning
of the session has been laboring over
a bill introduced by Senator Davis of
Oneida. The body is very evenly di-
vided ON the subject. and the bill as IL
stands, making a cut of nearly 80 per
cent in the more important fees, has
so many opponents, that its passage is
rendered very uncertain. AS often as
il comes up a wrangle arises over some
feature and postponement results.
Monday. after a comparatively fruit
less session in committee of the whole,
a motion was made by Rich of Bear
Lake that the subject be referred to a
committee composed of Keller of Ban
mock. Ballantine of Blaine and Dais of
Oneida. These members represent three
schools of opinion developed during the
session, and it is hoped they can ar
rive at a compromise that will be salts
factory to all parties.
The debate has developed a great di-
versity of views and astonishing con-
trariety of information. The most pro-
nounced advocates of the bill insist
that they were elected on platforms
pledging them to the enactment of just
such measure. This class maintain
that their county officials, especially
the sheriffs, are all paid exorhitant
salaries. The opponents of the bill. on
the other hand, though in many cases