The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-06
What the Corporation Commits
sion of Oklahoma Has Done.
Guthrie Politician Tells O
Workings of This Body.
is SAVING MOST WOOD
Playing Leading Part In Devel-
Opment of New State.
Other Items of Interest in
Railway Circles.


The corporation commission of
Oklahoma is one of the most talked
been said both pro and con on its
merits. 1t has remained however for
a Guthrie politician who is in close
touch with politics in the new state
to compel the following account of
what the commission has accom-
plished in its short existence:
OF all the busy branches of the
government OF the, youngest OF the
United States, Oklahoma, the state
corporation commission is saving the
most wood in these early days of
Oklahoma's statehood.
While the nation and the other
states are striving for reforms affect
ing public welfare, Oklahoma is Sc
curing many of them in her baby
hood.
The secret is the almost unlimited
power with which under the state
constitution this corporation commits
sion is invested.
The chairman of the commission is
]. E. Love C'Jack") a Swapping live
stock raiser, whose considerable
wealth Is estimated principally in
mules and whose characteristic is
the western rough-and-ready way of
doing things. They say he has never
q
dead shot
When train carrying number
of delegates to the state convention
was delayed for an hour, Love re-
marked that if it didn't move on in
ten minutes he would take command
and move it on himself. 1t moved.
Termed the brains of the commits
sion is A. p. Watson, known as "Po-
tato Watson so-called on account
Of his notwithstanding potato farms.
He is also the conservative member.
The third member is J. ]. McA1es-
ter, retired banker Just before his
election he was caught in a real
phony, sucker gold-brick game,
which cost him $4,000, but he says
that is the only time he was ever
stung. a-
The commission came into being
November 16, 1907, along with the
state. ss.s
Here is what it has done already:
1t has caused a reduction in freight
rates of so per cent on lumber, 80
per cent on coal, 40 per cent on oil
and 20 per cent on grain, and now
plans to readjust the shipping
charges on cotton, these conditions
being the leaders IN the trade and
traffic of the state. These reductions
will mean savinghof about $4,000
600 annually to the people of Okla
homa. Not only have the railroads
agreed, but they have declared a
willingness to cooperate in the fu-
ture with the commission, to the end
that the greatest good may come
both to the railroads and to the peo-
pie. ~
The commission has restored the
trains east, west north and south,
which were discontinued during the
railroads first apprehension
1t has made express and telegraph
companies furnish free delivery ser
vice within city limits.
During its first three months of
service the commission acted upon
nearly one hundred complaints Of
citizens and has improved conditions
from ordering weeds cut from the
railroad right of way to providing
a special train to start from the di-
vision point when a regular train,
unless unavoidable, becomes an hour
late.
1t has taken up the elimination of
grade crossings in cities and has in
stituted an inquiry into telephone and
telegraph rates as now fixed by mon
opolies.
But the commission is gaining a
reputation for being square. When
one railroad showed that the ordered
2-cent rate was confiscatory, the
commission promptly authorized a
change to 2 u cents.
So far the commission has reserved
decision on the mo seat COM
plant Of the travelling public. but at
a recent hearing the railroads init
mated a willingness to increase their
equipment and endeavor to provide a
seat for every passenger.
Experts are now valuing the rail-
road property in the state. When this
report is perfected the commission
will have something to say about the
elimination Of watered stock.
George A. Henshaw, assistant at
torney general. who is the commits
sion's counselor, declares that the
commission has not been radical and
that 1t still desires only to act fairly
and deal justly with the corporations
as well as with the people.
After the commission gets further
along with its present reforms, it will
take up the street railways, gas, cleo
trio lighting and other public service
corporations.
Appeal from the commissions find
ings is had only to the state supreme
court It is given 1.-The duty of SUI
pervising, regulating and controlling
all transportation and Transmission
companies doing business in the
state"
And so far the people of Okla
homa are quite satisfied that the
commission is making good.
TO REACH MUSKOGEE.
St. Louis Southwestern Makes PROPOSE