The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-06-25

cheaper coal rates for Utah. under the
slogan, Coal Rates Must Come Down:
Utah Coal For Utah People" the Com
mercial club traffic bureau, by Its
commissioner of traffic. Stephen Fl.
Babcock. has directed a circular let
ter to the people of Utah outlining
n method of solution OF the problem.
The letter follows:
Constitution Of the state of Utah
article XII. section 15-The leeisla-
ture SHALL pass laws establishing
MAXIMUM RATES OF CHARGES
for the transportation of passengers
and freight, for correcting abuses and
preventing discrimination and extor-
ton in rates of freight and passenger
tariffs by the different railroads and
other common Carriers in the state,
and shall enforce such laws by ade-
quate penalties.
From bulletins issued by this bur
eau, OF which copies have been gen
orally circulated. and from the news
papers OF this city. you are doubtless
aware of the efforts now in progress
through the agency of the bureau TO-
ward securing reasonable railroad
transportation rates on coal within
this state for the direct benefit and
happiness OF its people.
80 far as this bureau. by itself, is
concerned 1t has no interests In the
matter other or greater than are pos
Sessed by any citizen, householder.
farmer or business man at any place
within the state into whose daily life
or business supply Of coal at reas-
on2be prices is necessity The
bureau simply offers It's services as
channel through which the organiza-
ZION Of the people throughout the
state upon this most important ques-
tion may follow.
The railroad freight rates charged
upon the coal produced from the meas
ureless Quantities native to the state
are held to be grossly excessive and
unreasonable. and their unrelenting
exaction works much hardship upon
all. and actual suffering upon many.
After the Investigation of coal
rates assessed by railroads in ether
states. the bureau reached the con.
clus0n that those now in effect IN the
state of North Dakota are the best
and most reasonable for adoption In
Utah The coal tariff rates shown in
The bulletin issued by the bureau un.
de: date Of May 81. 1910. are those
established by act OF the North Dako-
"a legislature. A copy OF the tariff
Is edcloSed. Upon their announce
menr. the rates were at once fiercelv
denounced by the railroads OF that
state as being conliscntory. lIareason-
able and unconstitutional, and attack
ed in the courts accordingly The sli-
preme court of the stote held the rates
constitutional and reasonable, and or.
dered their adoption The supreme
court of the United States affirmed
the decree and The rates are now in
use. Those rates. therefore, may be
said to have there trlumphantly with
stood the supreme te3J as by Are, and
II Is believed that they win be eoual
IS as victorious in Utah
This bureau is officially advised
mat the production OF native coal in
North Dakota has been greatly stim
ulaled, and that many new mines arc
being opened there as q result Of thu
establishment OF those reasonabl.
rates.
If the people of Utah want thu
boundlesS coal resources OF the stat,
properly developed and directed into
tue living streams OF prosperity ant
growth, if they want the value OF 1t.
coal lands and coal mines sent upward
through vastly increased demands 70,
coal, With the consequent necessit,
Tor and the profitable opening OF man,
new mines, IL they want manufactui
Ing industries TO multiply aud thrive
and the people Of all classes 10 them
selves live more cheaply. comfortably
and happily; ii they want UTAF
COAL FOR UTAH PEOPLE. then IL i
IN the power of the people TO brIn,
,hese attractive conditions into at
wai being by establishing reasonable
rates on coal within the state thronp,
legislative agency.
But II the people prefer to continu
'h meek submission TO the uniforr
and stranGuIatory policy OF The raj
road companies, with their probih