The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-14
THE COMMISSION COMING.

II is stated that the Interstate Com
merce Commission will hold session
IN this city beginning one week from
next Monday. The probability is that
this session will be more one of inquiry
than of direction ss to rates or Of set
tied requirements under the new proyi-
sions of the law. It is possible, of
course, that some grievances which may
have been sent forward from time to
time may also be considered. but we
think il ia fair to assume that the
meeting will be largely one of CON
sultation and investigation upon prac-
teal points in railroading out in this
mountain country.
The probability is that the commits
sion will be met with perfect good
will and freedom by the railway Off
cials here, and that every facility will
be afforded for acquiring the needed
information as to what the roads are
doing what they charge on the differ
ept classes Of freight, and why, and
what the bearing of our situation is rs
to such questions rs were referred to
IN these columns few days ago in
relation to the suits filed by Spokane
and Denver in protest against charg-
ing those interior cities more than the
charges on certain freights through to
coast points. AS TO those suits, the
situation of Salt Lake is identical with
those Of Spokane and Denver, and
their relief will be our relief. We do
not understand, however, that any suit
has been filed in behalf of Salt Lake
City on tho points involved, and prob
ably it will not be at all necessary to
do so.
We assume that the railroads, acting
in good faith and with perfect adhe
renee to good public policy and to the
law, will aid the Commission in every
possible way in arriving at the right
solutions of any questions that may be
brought up at the session here, 1t is
to the interest Of the railway companies
to favor the development of all these
interior regions and to do whatever
is possible in full compliance with the
law to relieve whatever may be op
pressive in the charges for the service
that the railways render to the COM
munitles Of this mountain region. We
assume, for instance, that the time has
passed for charging more for freight to
Salt Lake from Atlantic points than
is charged for the through haul to
San Francisco on any class Of freights
whatever. We assume that in the full
adherence of the law TO which the rail
road companies have committed them
selves, there will be an amicable under
standing between the shippers and the
railroad companies throughout, and
that there will be no disposition on
the part Of the companies in the least
to evade or withhold anything that
may be to the advantage OF the public
in the treatment broadly Of the whole
question involved. 1t may be as well
to say in this connection that, in some
respects at least, the concessions made
in the schedule published the present
week would hardly satisfy the require
ment of free construction on equit-
able lines of the requirements OF the
new railroad law We do not think that
as a practical business proposition the
reduct tions made were In all cases worth
while, being IN some things so small as
to be an aggravation rather than a
relief.
We assume, Of course, that the So
called reduced schedule put forward
the other day is merely temporary, u
step toward fuller realization of the
benefits of the law. That is to be ex
pected later on. The companies un-
doubtedly see their interest in the up
building of the country, and in the
fostering Of business which will lead to
more transportation and greater busi
ness for themselves.
No doubt the companies understand
fully the benefit OF meeting the com
mission on the most friendly terms, and
in the spirit of perfect obedience to
the law. They understand, also, better
than we can explain to them, the neces-
sity OF keeping on good terms with ship
pers, so as to develop the trade of those
shippers and add to the transportation
that may be had from time to time.
The most friendly relations will be
cultivated with all who arc in this
business Of transportation or who have
TO do with ii in the payment of freights
and the building up Of railway traffic.
With this friendly spirit, we look for
ward to session of the Interstate
Commerce Commission here that will
he fruitful of good things for the State,
for the shippers, and also for the rail
way companies,