Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-02-18
PUBLIC UTILITIES
UNDER DISCUSSION
Banquet Held at Commercial Club
For Consideration OF
Proposed Bill.
IT IS NOT REVOLUTIONARY
senator Badger Declares Measure Is
Framed In a Spirit Of Fairness
Toward Al Concerned.

An opportunity to- exchange Ideas as
TO the need in Utah for public SER
vice commission was what was sought
last night In O. banquet rendered Co the
legislature of Utah by the CONNER
cial club traffic bureau The banquet
commenced at $50 D. m, and lasted
until n o'clock Gov. Spry spoke briefly
declaring that he had advocated a COM
mission IN his message 90 the lesisla-
ture but not with any intention OF be-
coming "a fire-biaud towards thc ,or-
pOratons. senator Carl Badger was
present with "a copy of s. b. SIS. the
puzzle utility commission measure. t'or
the traffic bureau speech was made
by IS b. Babc0gk al some length, and
In addition brief talks were made b.
W. J. HalOran, George N. Lawrence,
attorney for the traffic bureau, stephen
IA. Love and Charles n. stroveN, who
acted as POSTMASTER,
Gov. Spry arrived late and was call-
cd ON shortly before the close of the
banquet He called attention 90 the
fUct that there is hardly an lns.gn.h-
cant town Boa Arizona but what o. iAv-
orcd with better rates than salt LAX
At the opening of the banquet Pfcsi-
dent Hau0ran invited Che legislators
10 make themselves at home in the
] club rooms. and then former state SEM
ator Lawrence was invited to speak
upon the subject % the state ana It's
DUTY 10 protect its Interests.
ITS POWER AND DUTY.
THE power and duty Of the state
! TO regulate ana prescribe the hmita-
| tons upon corporations controlling
l public utilities and Dy adequate legis-
| Iatlon 90 relieve the citizens Of the
! state from unreasonable and eXtot-
| tlouate charges, is primary and fun
| damentaI The state uf Utah has pro-
| yided in It's constitution direct author
lty TO the legislature to adopt meas
ures FOR the control OF common carriers
and t. correct abuses and prevent dis
elimination and eNtOrtion In rates %
freight and passenger tariffs and maxi
! ing 10 mandatory upon the Legislature
| 90 pass laws establishing a reasonable
maximum rate OF charges Tor Oh
transportation Of passengers ana
! freight
I'm about 40 out Of 46 states in the
Union there are now established, by
legislative enactment. state commits
sions Of various kinds. under whose
jurisdiction complaints by citizens arc
received aud attempt made. through
authoritative channels, looking 90 an
adjustment OF the rates and tariffs
charged by such corporations TO their
patrons
Ia closing Mr. Lawrence urged that a
| spirit OF fairness govern the policy to-
wards the railroads.
BABCoCK is HEARD
! Mr. Babcock was introduced with the
| statement that he would tell the story
OF freight traffic in the west. He
| narrated the story OF the building of
| the Rio Grande Western, OF It's plans
and Of its system Of charges for
freight, Of the entrance Of Hartman
and the day Of big mergers that came
with him. and then Of the water conf
| petition" system Of making high
charges FOR intermediate points.
= Are these things right In the face Ct
| the earnings these railroads are maxi
| ing?" asked the speaker. You have
stood 1t FOR p years, and you have
| simply been sleeping. The remedy is
| largely IN the hands Of such men as
/ YOU, state legislators. Rates outside
| the state. between other states are
/ not la your control, but In your state
| you. as Legislators. are supreme"
| WOULD ENCOURAGE INDUSTRY.
Preceding the final talk by Gov. Spry,
| former state Senator S. n. Love de-
| clarcd that to put the utility commits
| sion bin upon the statute books would
| b. 10 encourage industry Of every
! kind 60 open new mines. and 10 save
| a tremendous amount Of revenue 90
the state This revenue, he thought
| would be OF startling proportions and
| would far surpass the cost Of main
| tanning the bureau. Senator Badger
discussed S. B. So. declaring that Il
sought mo- revolutionary and dostruc-
tive ends but was measure conceived
in fairness and carried out in a spirit
OF hclpfuuess 90 an concerned
The banquet closed after "a number
Of questions had been answered by Mr..
! BabCock and Mr. Love following the
final formal talk