The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-06-24
SALT LAKES CASE FILED,


SO far taken is appropriate. We there
fore carry the same here, with a word
Of high appreciation FOR the vita
services of Commissioner Babcock in
bringing the case to issue in the form
in which it is filed. He prepared it
and the case as so prepared by him
is pronounced by the highest authority
in Washington, to be perfect, both in
form and in substance.
The organization of the Commercial
Club Traffic Bureau was completed and
the Offices opened in this city on the
day of February n petition was for
wardcd TO the presidents of the vari'
Gus railway companies whose lines form
The common carrier service of Utah,
praying for reasonable basis of
transportation rates for the State.
Beyond simple Acknowledgements of the
receipt OF the petition, no action was
taken nor any further attention paid
to the petition by those presidents,
| Meanwhile, through the railway press
bureaus and addresses delivered by the
most prominent railway officials in the
country, the attempt to educate the
public mind to permitting a general
advance in freight rates throughout
the country was actively continued.
Mails were burdened with literature
reaus, and everything pointed TO i de-
termination on the part OF the rail
roads to further oppress the people by
making still further and important adj
ditions 10 the cost of railway service.
In thc so-called Spokane Rate Case,
after i season Of more than two years
employed in its prosecution and hear
ing, the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion handed down decision on the 9th
Of February last, very meager IN its
scope and terms, and the so-called Har.
rman lines Immediately proceeded in
earnest effort 10 have even that
decision nullifcd, so far as relating
TO those lines and interests, by pcti-
tioning the Interstate Commerce Com
mission TO relieve them from It's opcr
alton, under the assurances that those
lines would then retire entirely from
participation in the traffic of Spokane,
and upon the grounds that they could
better afford TO do this rather than to
have the rates upon their intermediate
business diminished by reason of MAX
ing operative these few reduced rates
10 Spokane; and in the midst of these
movements. while the time for the ap-
plication of the order was May 1st, a
postponement was secured until June
appeared TO be scarcely any definite
prospect of relief arising TO that com
munity through the finding of the
Commission within any reasonable
time.
In view of all these circumstances,
and the further fact that the railway
companies were even threatening to
test the constitutlonality of the act it,
self creating the Commission, and the
right of Congress 10 delegate authori-
ty for the establishment Of interstate
rates by the Commission. the CONNER
cia Club Traffic Bureau of Salt Lake
City, believing that some other more
direct and prompt method might be
found, finally determined 10 petition
the President of the United States di
rect, in the hope that the whole qucs-
,ion could he taken directly into the
Federal Courts and there threshed OUT
fully and finally upon its merits. There
had not appeared by suggestion or 9th
crwise the slightest information that
the lines serving Utah proposed to
make any reductions whatever in trans.
portation rates, but, on the contrary,
the evidence appeared clearly TO be
that there would not only he no re.
duction, but in all probability mate
rial advances
The petition from shippers here TO the
President Of the United States, bear
ing some thirty five hundred signatures,
was presented By the Utah Congress
sional delegation on April 21st. and
upon the following morning was given
to the country through the Associated
Press. Within twenty-four hours
thereafter the representatives Of the
Hartman lines in Salt Lake City, nm.
der instructions from Chicago. became
energetically engaged in assuring the
members of the Traffic Bureau and the
leading business men Of Salt Lake City
that it was the intention Of their lines
to do something for Utah, and thereby
attempting TO quiet the most remark
able stir which the petition to the
President created, not only in Utah,
but throughout the country, since 1T
had the direct effect of sharply calling
the matter not only 10 the attention Of
the Government itself, but to the rail.
way people throughout the United
States. Representatives of the Harri
man lines took great care TO make no
definite promises. nor have they made
any since, and 1t is quite sure that
nothing whatever in the way of equal
ization or reasonable readiustmcnts Of
rates will be done by them until abso-