Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-03-06
SHALL RAILROADS
OPERATE MINES?
Coal Question Comes up for Dis
ousSion Before the Utah
Legislature.
WHAT MEASURE PROVIDES
s. b. 95 by Benncr Y, Smith Due 10 be
Thoroughly Thrashed Out---Major-
ity and Minority Reports.

When S. b. e5. by Benner y. Smith,
comes up in the senate for cousdera-
lion today, it viii be contested on the
floor between majority and minority
report, This bill will permit the
railroads TO own and operate
coal and iron mines within the
state and to sell any product or by
product OF the mines and to purchase,
own hold. pledge or otherwise dispose
OF the capital stock, bonds or other
obligation OF any corporation owning
or opera ing such lands or mines when
not inconsistent with the laws OF the
United States. 1T Is to be attacked by
the report Of the majority. backed by
the sentiment of the Commercial club
OF Salt Lake City.
The Objectionable part IN question Is
known as subdivision 9 Of section s. and
the majority of the committee, consist
Ing Of Senators Lawrence, Seely, Clegg
and Park, have signed the report RECON-
intending that this portion of the bill
be eliminated, while the minority, CON
sIstIng OF Senators Johnson, Benner Y.
Smith and Holdings worth. recommend
that the bill pass in it's original FORM
giving railroad corporations the night
TO mine and sell their Own coal. The
majority of the committee holds that as
long as the federal law prohibits the
railroads from shipping any coal mined
by them out OF the state in which II is
mined, that the state should prohibit
the roads from owning and operating
any mines whatever,
MASS MEETING CALLED
The board OF governors Of the Com
mercial club endorse this view OF the
matter contending that should the bill
be passed as introduced, a monopoly
would be created for the railroads that
would be impossible to eradicate from
the body polite At meetings held
Monday and Tuesday, the Commercial
club registered Its protest against the
passage of the bill. unless the sec
tions named were stricken out, and
mass meeting has been called for to-
night AT the club rooms 10 further con-
slider the matter.
THE OTHER SIDE.
The leader of the minority, Benner
y. Smith, takes an entirely different
view OF the matter. He claims that the
greatest fuel famine ever known would
be the result next winter should the
railroads be prohibited from operating
their own mines, There are not indie
pendent operators enough TO supply the
increasing demand for coal in this
state, and where are the people TO get
their fuel, If the railroads themselves
are not permitted TO sell IL to Them?
IL is further argued that by allowing she
railroads 10 operate their mines after
Jan ]. 1905, they will still be prohibited
from shipping their products out OF
the state, thus greatly assisting In the
solution OF the fuel problem. From
n practical standpoint" said Mr.. Smith,
ut would seem that the railroads have
superior facilities for handling coal.
and should be allowed to continue TO
operate their mines. If the roads are
compelled 10 shut down the mines. 1
cannot see where VIC are going TO get
our coal supply next winter II was
bad enough this winter with the mines
IN operation, and one can scarcely i'm
asine the condition II they are forced
out of the market with their coal"