"This article recounts early conflicts over railroad regulation and tells separate but intertwined storied : first how Utahns complains of 'despotic' railroad charges, and Sale Lake jobbers used federal regulations to win lower rates; and second, how state government, led by Republicans, relied on free markets, while Democrat came to advocate state regulation and eventually to enact a public utilities commission. Railroads presented the first instance of an enduring Utah question : how to attract needed investment while preventing exploitation by big out-of-state corporations." [Author]