The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-01
Has No Lega! Authorization TO
Act in Matter of Coal
Combine.
SO DECLARE OFFICERS
OF THE ASSOCIATION
However, the Gentlemen Named
Believe Secretary of State
Has Ample Power.

The Commercial club traffic bureau.
by stephen H. Love. president. and
w. >. Mccarthy, secretary, addressed
lengthy communication to Secretary
Of State Tingey Wednesday afternoon
regarding the price Of coal in Utah.
1t is set out that the bureau is power
less to obtain redress, for want of legal
authorization TO act and its INABILITY
TO obtain such authorization under the
laws now in existence.
II is then set out that it has been
suggested that the secretary OF stare
mas ample power and authority 10 act
Ia the matter, under the provisions OF
sections 1152-1162 Of the compiled laws
OF the state. and the result OF the in
festigatlons made by the bureau are
connded TO the secretary. Following
IS the communication addressed tc the
| secretary OF state:
Here Is Communication.
Hon G. S. Tingey, Secretary OF staie
salt Lake City. Utah-Sir-The CONNER
cIal IIo9 Traffic Bureau. corporation
| organized and existing under the laws O:
tlle state OF Utah for the purpose among
othsr things, Of promoting the business
Lnterests oi It's members, and 10 dissent
| nate Information regarding rates charges
and changes in classification that In anyr
way afIect It's members etc submits
LOT your consideration and approp-iate
acSon the results o. information in refer
ence 10 reasonable rates for the produc-
lion, transportation sale and delivery OF
coal, acquired by it while Investigating
questions OF transportation and -easonse
bic freight rates for the bencfit OF the
people OF this state.
lhe infoFma tion we submit herewith
strongly tends 10 establish that the price
OF coal has been unjustly and unwariart-
edlT raised, augmented and increased.
competition destroyed. and the consumer
compelled 10 pay eNtortionate prices arbi-
tTaTlly and uniformly fixed or established
oy some sort OF general understanding
or acdplescencc between the producer the
| carrier and the local distributor. Our
reasons Tor submitting the information 20
you officially (Which Is undoubtedly well
known generality are the following:
Reason FOR Letter.
l. This bureau is powerless TO obtain
redress for the manifest wrongs being
done to the people in this state in the
respect referred 10. for want or legal au-
tnoTJSeion 10 act. and it's inability 20
obtain such authorization under the lars
now in existence.
.. II has been both publicIy. and pri-
vately suggested 10 US That the secretary
OF state has ample power and authority
pursuant 10 the provisions OF sections
lI52-l16c of. the Compiled Laws o( the
State OF Utah 10 take. or cause TO ne
taken, proceedings 10 prevent combina-
tons whereby exorbitant prices are being
charged and eNacted for coa mined
transported and sold within this state
This same contention has heretofore been
made whenever additional legislation has
been sought TO establish maximum rates
for transportation within this state as
authorized and directed by the constitu-
ton.
3. That unless the officers OF this state
have the requisite power and authority
10 act In the premises. then the people OF
Utah are without any adequate redress
for the Oppression forced upon, and suf-
(. For the further reason that should
il be found by YOU and the attorney gem
eTal. after careful consideration and in
veStiga tion, that the present provisions
OF the law are insufficient. inappropriate
and unsutcd to remedy the conditions
now existing. then II must be apparent
that appropriate legislation should be Sc
cured without delay. to the end that the
people OF this state in their representa-
tive capacity, may be abls to obtain just
and proper protection.
Request of Investigation.
To the end aforesaid. We submit: Our
investig3 ton has convinced US that r-a-
sonabc transporta ton charges for lump
coal from the mines In Utah TO Salt Lake
City should not exceed 81 per ton, that
any charge in excess OF that sum rs un-
reasonable and excessive for the services
performed. This is apparent from the
data hereto attached. marked Exhibit
y,
Of coal in other states for no greater
distance and under no less favorable con-
ditione.
Our investigation mas further convinced
us that reasonable price for lump coal
from the mines in this state. I. O. b. cars
at Salt fakc city. should not in any case
we submit herewith Exhibit B." show
ing prices a destination. for lump coal.
charged other communities: many OF
which are much less favoraby situated
ip n prTDinction than lis salt Lake
Ci,g, tT POINTS ''''u''''i- ',''i''
r'or handling and distributing Jump coal
AT Salt Lake city. charge OF not eh1
ceeding sl.50. We find. upon inquiry ana
invest iCution to he resa rjoo as reasona-
bic and Just afforuiDS liberal retnuners-
ton TO the distributor. Upon the fore
going basis lump coal should reach the
consumer at salt Lake city at Si23 per
ton. allowing all concerned-the producer;
carrier and diStributor-each pncEs'
margin OF profit
What Former Rate Was.
On aud prior TO November 10. 1903,
lump coal from Utah mines sold in SAT-
Lake CITY. Utah. for nvc doll tS5.oVl
per ton delivered. and Wyoming coal ct
i've dollars and twenty-five cents tSo.2o'
On the last mentioned date. the price OF
lump coal was uniformly advanced TO
Eve dollars and seventy-nve cents co.,
per ton delivered. The Commercial club
at Salt Lake City, under the leadership
OF It's then president Colonel Edwin T.
Holmes. with the able assistance OF eN-
Governor lt'hcT Al Nf't!Ss N''N tiie
ter vigorously in hand. \ personal ap-
neal made TO the late D.. H. Hartman
The then head OF the Hartman system.
In a reduction i'm the price OF
Wyoming coal at the mine from two dol
lars and twenty five cents t$c2o) 10 one
dollar and ninety-iiyc cents SlYop per
ton and the retail dealers in salt Lake
City thcrcupou made Il reduction OF
twenty-five cents per ton. The hnel
outcome OF the efforts with the Denver
& Rio Grande system * clearly shown
by the telegram from George w Kra-
mer. then vice president OF the Ctoh
reading as follows;