The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-10-08

SION 10 Accomplish More nan Any
Other State Board in the United
states.
(BY AUSTIN D. HuMBARcAR.)
or all the wise and helpful provis-
sions Incorporated by the democratic
party in the organic law of the state.
there probably is none which will re.
suit in a greater actual and material
benefit TO all the people than that
establishing corporation commits
sion.
In the nine months since the organ.
ization OF the corporation commission
It has worked steadily and faithfully
10 control the over-charges and abuses
which seventeen years of unmolested
license had caused the public service
corporations OF the two territories to
regard as their vested rights from
charging "all the tariff the traffic
would stand and turning an absolute
~ deaf ear 70 tho supplicatons OF the
shipping and travelling public for
adequate depot accommodations the
railroads OF Oklahoma are in a fair
way to have their freight rates ad.
justed on a basis Of equality and fair.
ness. yielding Justice alike TO the rail.
roads and the shipper and at the
same time the officials OF Oklahoma
railroads have been taught TO enter
tain wholesome respect Tor the com
fort and convenience of their patrons
Prior to the adoption OF our state
government. W. o. Cromwell, repuD-
lican attorney general for the Terri.
tory of Oklahoma. filed a report with
Governor Frank Frantz in which he
stated that at a conservative estimate
the railroads operating in Oklahoma
Territory had in the seventeen years
OF its existence defrauded the people
OF fifty-four million dollars in unjust
freight rates. An equal mileage and
an equally exorbitant rate in Indian
Territory during the same period,
makes 1t fair to assume that for the
present state OF Oklahoma. the over
charges on freight rates under repub-
lican territorial rule. approxtmated
over one hundred million dollars This
Is an average OF more than five mil
lion dollars per year, and the prompt
action OF the democratic corporation
commission in compelling the rail
roads to cease robblng the people. will
alone save more than ten times the
entire expense OF conducting the
state government in all OF its depart.
ments each year
In putting into effect new rates the
commission has chosen first such COM
modities as would encourage the de-
velopment OF the new state and in
yite manufacturing competition A
comparison of old rates of one line OF
railroad between local stations aud
the new rates. gives an idea OF what
the corporation commission has real.
ly done for the people OF Oklahoma:
Lumber rate per car load
Twenty miles, old rate, $3.50; new
rate, So. 30.
One hundred miles, old rate, sS9;
new rate. $3.50
Two hundred miles, old rate, s57;
new rate. s27 90.
Fence posts. ear load rate:
Twenty miles, old rate, s2s, new
rate, 50 s2.
One hundred miles, old rate. s52
new rate, S2O16.
Two hundred miles, old rate, sss:
new rate, 500 rs
Hsy Dcr car load
Twenty miles, old rate. st4; now
rate. 80 20
One hundred miles. old rate. sss
new rate, sie6O
Two hundred miles, old rate. s4i
new rate. s2e so,
Brick and dressed stone, per car
load:
Twenty miles, old rate, s2i; new
rate. s12.go. S~E
One hundred miles old rate, $3.50;
new rate. seS. go.
Two hundred miles, old rate. s52.5o.
new rate, sS4 20.
Fuel. or crude oil per car load:
AS this commodity Is used by stock
growers throughout the state 10 dip
cattle the freight charSes are of pc.
culiar interest TO every rural com.
munlty.
Twenty miles, old rate, SIS; new
rate. $50. 90.
One hundred miles. old rate, sloO;
new rate. s52.
Two hundred miles, old rate, sl4s;
new rate. SIS
Coal Rates.
Ia no single commodity have the
people been so consistently aud per
sistentiy robbed as they have been In
the rates on coal with an inexhaus-
tlsDle field within the borders Of the
Indian Territory, the people Of Okla
homa for seventeen years have been
forced 70 pay higher prices fos coal
than were paid by the residents OF
states three tines the distance from
,ne mines. A comparison OF the CID
retes With the rates put IN effect by
i.e eor -. ~ if.1sl tns