The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-05
Brigham Clegg in His Defense

Editor Trbune.--A few days ago Il
/ Tribune local article reviewed n letter
which | wrote 10 the iieraid Republican.
The letter indorsed the fight which that
paper is making against the present eN-
tortionate price of coal. It also eX-
pressed the hope that the incoming leg
islature would enact such n law rs To
prevent q repetition OF a robbery OF The
people on coal prices. | took exception
TO the arguments used by The Tribune
and Telegram on the coal combine ques
tion. as tending 70 favor, rather than
reduce, the existing evil. but with no
intent 10 impusn the motives of these
papers In the fight they are making.
The Tribune charges that my record
during the last two sessions of the legis-
lature. OF which ! had the honor to be
member. is against me, and TO this
statement desire 30 reply. The house
journals OF l90. and 1909 show my atti-
tudc on the many bills introduced One
OF the first votes l cast in the session
OF 1907 was for the adoption of the follow =
| ing resolutions:
''Pesolved. by the house OF representa-
t!Tes. that special committee OF three.
10 be named by the speaker shall he
epDoDted to investigate the shortage OF
cars and transportation facilities. in con
nectlon with the scarcity of coal and
the methods now employed in regulating
the supply of coal within the state Of
Utah, and report back TO This house any
legislation which the committee may fnd
necessary to correct any existing wrongs
OF 2DuStS. tScC H. d.. page luS.l
As shown OH page 13i. ~. !. 1907 |
voted for a senate concurrent rcsolu-
ton. similar 70 the above. by Lawrence.
also voted for house Joint memorial No.
/, requesting President Roosevelt ITO re-
scind his order withdrawing coal lands
from entry. with the hope Though I
doubted the effectiveness OF such propo-
siIion. if carried out) that the coal short
age evil then existing might he rcmedjed.
The writer also favored the railroad
commission measure Oh, r. l6l and house
bin ~. calculated TO relieve the coal sit
uation. More than that ] introduced a
measure directed at the coal shortage
situation GH s. 2SSN entitled IAN act
making ii the duty To railway companies
To promptly furnish sufficient cars for
freight. and providing a penalty for fail
uTe to do So. which bill was referred to
the railroad committee,
No coal legislation was effected in 1907
on account OF the lengthy investigation
made by the special coal investigation
committee. which did not hand in It's re-
port until towards the close Of the scs-
sion. Tie majority report of that COM
rittcc suggested that it was too lutc 10
effect and properly consider remedial log.
islation, and recommended that the sub
iect and COPY OF their report be con-
Sjdcrcd by the 1909 Legislature.
L was not a member OF any committee
general or special. which had To do with
any bill aimed at the coal question. and
referred that the weight of the RESPONSE
biity attaches for the outcome OF the
measure.
Regarding bills introduced at the 1909
session. the writer supported the public
service commission bill. No. ll2. which
was finally killed in the adoption OF The
sitting committee report adverse 10 that
measure.
/ partially prepared 81 public service
commission bin To introduce in the sos
| sion uf 1909 which was based public
utility bills, copies of which | obtained
| from the secretary of state OF New York
and other states where public service
commission Inv is in effect. 7 was per-
/ sUadod however. that T. would be mort
! effective Ia the cause were | not 10 in
| truducc my proposed measure, but sup
port house bill No. l13 which covered
the same ground in general as my bil!,