The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-05-15
SHIPPERS ACCLAIM
ACTION OF SENATE
Local Traffic Bureau Chief
CongratuIateS Senator
Smoot on Victory.
BIG STEP IN RATE FIGHT
LONG AND SHORT HAUL CLAUSE
ADOPTION BOON TO STATE.

That the adoption by the United
States Senate of the Tong and short
haul clause" in the railroad bill Is
a step toward the commercial eman-.
cipation Of Utah is the consensus or
opinion among members of the Com
mercial club and shippers generally
who have felt the weight OF heavy
freight rates.
the interstate commerce law now in
force and such a decided victory for
Utahs representatives in Congress, as
well as those who have been in the
front rank of prosecution of the cam
paign, that an interchange Of kilograms
between Senator Reed Smoot and s. II.
Babcock. commissioner of the CONNER
cial Club Traffic bureau, yesterday was
very timely
follows:
Commercial Club Traffic bureau,
salt Lake City. Utah:
Victory on the long and short haul
clause is ours. Vote in favor So, against
10. Great fight Am tired out Best
~ REED sMOoT."
Commissioner Babcock sent the fol-
lowing reply:
Hon. Reed Smoot,
United States Senate,
Washington, D. c.:
Message received. Your brilliant
conduct of the heroic stru ggle over the
long and short haul clause entities you
to the earnest gratitude of the people
of this state and the whole intermoun-
tain country. The result is long step
forward in the commercial emancipa-
IS. H. BABCoCK."
Long and Short Haul.
The long and short haul clause" as
explained by Commissioner Babcock;
has been a bone of contention for some
time and is actually the first real rem
edy to existing conditions that has been
found. II is fundamental and reaches
the very root of the freight rate evil.
In a word the writing into law of this
clause means that the railroads can
not charge a lower through freight
rate from Missouri points to the coast
than the rate charged to Utah points
without first going to the Interstate
commerce commission and explaining
why.
1t is proven fact that freight rates
on many commodities from Missouri riv-
er points and, for the matter of that
from New York, to the coast are ac-
tCaly lower than freight rates to SAT-
Lake and other Utah points. Instances
OF this have been cited by shippers and
others who are fighting for lower
against Utah in favor of coast points.
The law provides that the railroads
shall have six months in which to pre-
pare for the new arr7 ngement. 1t is
expected in washington that the House
VIII concur in the Senate amendment.
and that the law will, sooner or later,
become effective.
In the famous memorial signed by
$500 citizens of Utah, and sent to Presi-
dent Taft in April, 1909, in which the
Injustice of freight rates was cited,
the petitioners asked for Just what has
been accomplished at Washington. That
petition, after reciting conditions was:
Wherefore, your petitioners. faithful
" believing that through no other
course. with necessary and equaI-expe-
dition, can a complete, Just and final
determination Of the important issues
H. Il
the department Of justice MAJ be
charged to take early cognizance of the
long-Standing violations of the laws of
the United States and OF the lust
rights of your petitioners by the said
railway company and by proper action
compel them to forthwith and wholly
desist therefrCm; and that their ODE
dience TO all the requirements of the
law, particularly within the territory
through which the interests and rights
of your petitioners are concerned, shall
be fully accomplished to the effect that
all existing freight transportation rates
in any manner or form contrary to law
or the just and reasonable rights of
your petitioners shall at once be dis
continued: and, further, that no excep-
lions to the first terms of the Fourth
section of the net to regulate COM
merce, or contrary TO such Just and
reasonable rights, shall thereafter be
made operative in or through the said
territory by the said railway compa-
mics i'm any instance, upon any COM
modify, OF to and from any locality,
until after full hearing a. to the rea-
sonaBIe necessity and right therefor
by, and an order being obtained from n
competent court commission author
izing the same TO be done.e
Adopts Effective Slogan.
Under the head of Coal Rates Must
Come Down." an effective slogan that
has been adopted, the Commercial Club
Traffic bureau yesterday issued an
other bulletin. It is:
The constitution of the state OF
Utah (article XII, section 15) is ex-