Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-02-08
JUDGE MINERS VIEW.
Former Utah Jurist Writes TO NJ. and
VI. on Subject of Il. II. Commission.

The latest contribution to the present
railroad commission and railroad rate
controversy comes from former MEM
Der of the Utah supreme court. Judge
James A. Miner. who Is now in Los An
geles. Judge Miner is the father-in-law
OF state Senator Benner x. Smith, and
left the supreme bench on the election
OF Justice McCarty, several years ago.
His view is expressed IN the following
letter.
Los Angeles, California. II.
Hewlett. Esq, Salt Lake City, Utah:
Dear Sir--I do moi wish to get into poll
ties nor In any newspaper controversy,
but the just demands of u great major
ity of our people. who are laborlng un-
der excessive freight charges prompts
me to write you as | do, to encourages
you In the great work you are pursuing
IN the interest of cheaper freight rates,
am most certainly in favor of fulfill
ing the provisions OF the Constitution
which expressly provides that the legls-
lature shall fix the maximum rate of
freights in Utah. This express pro-
vision of the Constitution has been
wholly ignored. And presume the rail-
road bill already introduced is intended
TO cover that branch of the Constitu-
tional provision. IL It is not II SHOULD,
be. In addition to this a reasonable
regulation of railroads and freight
would be embraced In the bill so as to
conform to the provisions OF the legis-
latures In about 81 other states, and
also the federal provision. The people
of the whole United States are awake
on this proposition, and the people of
Utah will stand behind any reasonable
movement so that justice may be done
to every man In the state. If this legis-
lature does not do It's duty now In this
tl,a hn
whelmingly In favor of 1t as to leave
no question of their intention.
A member of the Commercial club
railroad committee informed me two
years ago, that their investigation
showed that over s5,000.000 were ex-
tracted from the people OF Utah by
means of excessive overcharges in
cess OF a reasonable charge for freishts
in Utah. / presume this sum is rather
over the maximum.
Many merchants doing business In
Salt Lake complain of the enormou:
| freight bills, in many instances amount
| Ing to ons-third the cost of the goods
| II Is apparent that this process of over
charging will very soon bankrupt the
| merchants OF the state. unless the small
dealer can receive donations by way
| of rebates, so as to conform 10 thos.
| received by the heavier shipper.
One man, miner. also told me thai
ne paid IS a ton for shipping baled hal
from Salt Lake City to southern Utah
and was unable to get any redress from
those and like charges.
have great confidence IN the Utai
legislature | believe they will do wha
they think Is right, but in my judgmen
1t would he safe to procure the passag
OF an "antl pass" bill as a prellminar'
| TO the other
Friend Hewlett, continue to keep you
ear 10 the ground. and you viii un
| questi0nably hear from all sections o
the state. an almost unanimous en-
dorsement OF your effort, and that o
the committee, to secure the passage o
these needed measures. believe s
per cent of the people are with you, o
Will be before the expiration OF anothe
two years. I am pleased to learn tina
the labor committees are foremost 4
pressing this movement. IL you loo
back over history, YOU Will find tia
nearly all great reforms have bee
brought about through tho agency o
the horny handed sons of toll.
with my best wishes. l remain your
truly, JAMES a. MINER.