The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-09-08
PANEL is DRAWN
FOR GRAND JURY
Continued from Page 4.

The drawing of the grand jury panel
took place at 10 o'clock yesterday
morning in the county clerks office in
the city and county building and was
attended by Deputy County Clerk
Farnsworth, in the absence of County
Clerk Eldredge, who is out of the city.
County Attorney Hanson and County
Treasurer Groesbeck also attended the
drawing of the jury.
The first name drawn was that Of
Hyrum Mounteer OF Union Judge
Armstrong approved the list, but has
fixed no date for the return of the
venire. 1t will unquestionably be Mon
day, however, and by the last of the
week it is expected the jury will be
hard at work.
Every effort is to be made to raise
sufficient money to employ special
counsel to assist the state officials in
presenting evidence to the grand jury
showing the existence here of trade
combinations which are unlawful I'M
der the state laws.
The fund is now about $3.50.
Court Investigation.
Real estate men yesterday were en-
phatic in stating that If there is any
bination to raise rents about town or
have been instrumental by the form
ing of combinations or otherwise in in
creasing the cost of living here, they
will court the fullest investigation pos
sibie by a grand jury.
Independent merchants throughout
the city are making the most of the
charges Of uniform and high prices
made against the butchers and grocers
who are members of the Butchers &
Grocers' association.
Yesterday T. II. Knott, who recently
purchased the grocery business of the
Peoples Cash Store at the corner of
Richards street and West First South
street, stated that he is not a mem
Der of the b. & G.. association, though
representatives of that organization
have repeatedly asked him to join, and
that he has had considerable trouble in
purchasing goods in large quantities
from local wholesalers.
Il can buy twenty-five sacks of sugar
at a certain price from the local whole
salers. 1 have the money in the bank
to buy carload of sugar, and no
wholesale company will let me have
carload for one cent less per sack than
they will sell me twenty-five sacks for
Il was told by a representative of a
certain firm that it wouldn't be any
use for me to try and buy the sugar at
the local factories. or of the firms
handling the sugar from the factories
to the wholesaler. They said the sugar
must go through the wholesaler to the
retailer or the consumer. / have been
unable to buy my carload of sugar at
the price 1t is customary when a car
load lot is taken. 1 have trouble in
getting any large order filled by the
local wholesalers. The larger lots
can buy in, the cheaper 1 can sell the
goods and the quicker and better is
my profit. The wholesalers shut off on
my big orders. when have the money
in bank to pay for them
Want AmaIgamation Investigated.
Mr.. Knott and other independent
grocers claim there is plenty of room
for a grand jury inquiry into the man
ner in which sugar is handled from the
factories here TO the consumers. The
three sugar companies have recently
organized and entered into an amalga-
nation that the independent grocers
say spells trust"
There has been considerable talk of
an investigation in the local coal stu
alton. The Commercial club will this
week some time issue a report of its
work in looking into the situation after
conferences with local mine operators.
1t is understood the board of directors
will lay a good deal of the blame for
the present high prices of coal at the
door of the railroads in Utah. The
members of the board are not willing
to say that their report will claim the
existence of a trust among the local
wholesalers or the retailers, but there
| is considerable talk OF a grand jury In
vestigation into the rumors that have
! been current all summer.
There is little question but that the
alleged combinations existing among
| the grocery and meat wholesalers here
and the retail grocers and butchers
will be the first thing to be taken up
by the grand jury, and 1t is hard to
| tell where the inquiry will end.