The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-05-12
LETTERS RELATING.
TO RATE QUESIl'l||!1!| TO
Attitude of Government to sUt
Complaint Is Fully Set
Out. sseaf
BABC0Ck CAN FURNISH -
NEEDED NF0RMATI|
Attorney-General Recomme1
Proceedings by Interstate
Commerce Commission.

Following the announcement IN ~
patches from Washington that ~;
interstate commerce commission, AZ
an informal consideration of the
mortal setting forth the complalnt
tic Utah shippers against the raliror
Of the state, which had been referred
the commission. for investigation, ~
decided that there were not such -
clhc charges in the complaint as wtp
Justify the official notice Of the c,]
mission, Stephen II. B1bcock, conii
sloner Of traffic for the Commercially :
traffic bureau here. has received the y
lowing official correspondence: R
Wickersham to Commission J,
Washington. May 6. f96>r
To tho honorable, the Interstate c.
lncrcc Commission. Washington. Ut
Gentl"men-On April Il the presiti
referred 70 this department. a petil
signed hY many business men. CONN
clal organizations and other citfzenI>
liah, complaining that the cities OF ~
den, salt Lake and Provo. In that st ,
nave been Tor some time. and are y,
subject Ia unjust and discriInina
constituting the principal common csft
service for that section 10 and from q
Pacific coast on the west and the tx
tory OF the United states east OF :.
Rocky mountains. and asking that
government Intervene 10 compel .on,
cncc by said railway companies OF q
laws charged To have been violated. q
particularly o! tho inters tate CT
mcrcc act. This petition sets out y
character OF the discrimination complat.
Of. which comprises chiefly I'm the cxac.
Of higher rates for the transportat
of freight between those cities and =
state OF Utah and Chicago. the Mississ
aud Missouri rivers. and Denver tcfrin
on the east than those charged toN
from the Pacific coast. otwiths tau1I
Tie fact that In tho latter case thcfp'
Il n!uch Target haul and far gre
service. 1, seems further 10 be -clHtrf
that such rates are unre aSonablc in Z,
OF themselves, without respect 10 a5c-
larison with Pacific coast rateEi WI
are said to Inc affected by water COM
tition. -1,.
The president requested the atto,'
general. either by reference 20 the IN
state commerce commission or by+di-
action In tho courts. TO take such 81
as would most eXpcditiously ascertain1
facts and provide effective relief. - =
On April - the attorney generals -
fed the petitioners that their conlplt
would receive the prompt attention.
this department and that they wouitc
informed within a Few days or fhcf'
ton determined upon by the dep,
mcnt =
Upon careful examination Of
subject il seems clear that the most 6H
remedy is a formal proceeding by-.-r
commission. This appears further III
the better course, In view of the supy'
courts decision in the Abilene GO
case (20i L. :. 1861, therefore tran-
this petition. and the papers submi>
herewith. suggesting that the compl'
Toe regarded as formally presented toA
commission by the petitioners. and Z
rI, h,. a .aI I'm
Your rules. as VIII secure an carly h
ing and determination y
The department of Justice Will be y
to cooperate with your commisSiori
any way desired. Respectfully.
GEORGE W. WICKERSifAAA+,