The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-04-30
WILL COME TO UTAH
FOR INVESTIGATION
Continued From Page One.

II is pointed out that the city Of Reno
Nov, observed the law in drawing the
attention OF the commission to the dis
crimlnatory practices on the part OF the
Hartman lines, and that at once an in
vcstigation was Instituted, This case is
not finished.
Other cities In the west have made
similar complaints and they. too. have
osen made the subject of inquiry. But Il
blanket Investigation, such as the depart
ment OF Justice proposes, has not been
thought OF by the commission though 1t
Is realized that good may flow from 1t.
Commerce Act Protects Road.
-, 1t may prove difficult thing to force
me railroads TO cease discrimination be
tween communities or to lower rates be-
tween Chicago and cities lying east OF
san Francisco The claim Is advanced
by the railroad men that under any cir
cumstances II Is cheaper TO make through
shipments than IL Is to pick up freight
along the line, since In one case there are
no stoppaSes, but continuous haul, while
IN INC other time Is lost. terminal facilI-
Ties are Inadequate, and there is more
expense attached TO the operation.
An examination OF the last act TO reg
ulate commerce has shown the officials
three sections which it is believed affect
lnis siiuation though favorably to the
railroads. One OF these defines and for
bids unjust disc. nina ton Another pro-
hibits any common carrier from giving
any undue or unreasonable preference, or
advantage to any locality, as well as per-
son or corporation, The third declares
1t is unlawful for any common carrier TO
charge any greater compensate in the
aggregate for. the Transportation Of pas
senGers or OF light kind OF property, under
substantially similar conditions and cir
cuinstanGes, for shorter than for a
longer distance over the same line, IN the
same direction, the shorter being includ-
ed within the longer distance.
May Prove Illegal Combines.
1t was specifically added that this was
not 10 be construed as authorizing any
carrier TO charge as great a compensation
Tor shorter as for longer distance, al
though the commission was authorized
TO direct that less charge be made for
a longer than for a shorter distance, il
after investigation such action was prop
or. 1t would seem that the railroad in
tercsts engaged in the transcontincntal
business realized that complaints might
be made when the Interstate commerce
bin was pending In congress and secured
protection from action injurious TO them
selves
But even il the railroads cannot be
reached because of alleged discriminatory
practices made against the interior
points, II is possible the investigation will
which Will enable the government to ap-
ply the antitrust law. The investiga ton
Of the Union Pacific system on the
charges of violation of this law has been
finished by Mr.. Severance. law partner
of Mr. Kellogg. the governments counsel
III tho Standard OH prosecution, and it is
expected he shortly will present his state
ment of facts TO the department. OF JUS
tlCc,
1t is claimed in the Salt Lake petition
that If the already constructed lines of
railroad were operated Independently and
upon their individual merits. as was
doubtless originally intended by their
builders, the Utah capital would possess
eleven separate and competitive routes.
What the city actually possesses is one
line to the east and one other line to the
west.