The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1909-12-10

Guthrie. Okla. Dec g. Owing to the
injunction cases of the katy, Santa
Re and Midland Valley roads against
the state of oklahoma in which they
attack the two cent passenger rate
as unconstitutional and ten freight
orders issued BY the commission as
confscatory coming up for hearing be.
fore Federal Judge W. C. Hook at st.
Louis on next Tuesday December Z.
the corporation commission took
recess in the hearing on the freight
orders complained OF until Tuesday.
December "A. when testimony viii be
resumed
The hearing, so far as it has gone.
has turned out satisfactorily to the
state and much valuable information
was obtained, an analysts OF which
viii be used by the commission ex.
perts az the ST. Louis hearing 10 show
that the complaint made by these
roads relative to the commissions
rate orders aud constitutional provis.
ion for two cent fare is absolutely I'M
warranted, especially as to che katy
road Auditor SeeHg's testimony
showing that the "Katys" surplus
earnings for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1909. amounting to 100000
We're earned in Oklahoma. as the road
had shown loss TO Judge Mcpherson
in Missouri for that year attempted
to show loss to the legislature of
Kansas, and did show loss Of ap
proximateiy half a million dollars be
fore the Texas railroad commission III
that state, Oklahoma being the only
other state operated in
Although only the "Katys' officials
have given testimony at the hearing
the state has been able to show SO
far that the katy" Santa Fe and
Rock Island systems. on bath pass
enger and freight traffic. made sub
stantial surplus earnings during the
fiscal year of 1909 and paid dividends.
but have been unabic to determine de-
initely just what portion was earned
In oklahoma The Katy" Rock Is.
land and Frisco showed losses IN Ar
kansas and Missouri during the year
and the Katy" a heavy deficit IN Tex
as Tho commission has also been
able 70 show that an the big trunk
line roads have greatly increased their
passener revenues during the year.
The roads Claim a greater expense,
which is denied by the state. aud ii
was shown by the Katy" auditor that
tho ratio of operating expenses 20 op.
Grating revenues was 7015 per cent
in 1909. as compared with 69.3s per
cent in 1909 on the entire system and
that the ratio in Oklahoma is even
less than on the entire system. being
.63.28 per cent for the year 1909. The
state believes It Will be able to show
on final hearing in the rate cases in
the Federal court, as It is anticipated
the temporary injunction will be
granted the railroads, that the same
conditions are true as to the other
roads.
II was also shown up by information
secured from Rock Island railroad Off.
cials that the road realized more per
train mile on passenger traffic In Ok
lahoma last year than in any other
state In which It operated. The density
OF traffic in Oklahoma and the cost Of
operation per train mile was shown
up 20 be greater IN Oklahoma than
in any other state.
Il was learned here this morning in /
roalroad circles that the head officials
Of the Rock Island, Santa Fe and /
Frisco roads are sore over admissions
made BY the Katy" witnesses to the !
state In yesterdays hearing and that /
they are scared up over the final out.
come Of their cases III the federal
court.
Auditor seelig testified late last
evening that bis road had for years
been using the surplus earnings for
additions and betterments to It's prop
erty and that during the fiscal year
ending June 30. 1909 the company ap.
propriated s3.00O.OO0 surplus for i'm.
proyements and charged of S433, 41190
for additions and betterments in Texas
He also admitted that the report 10
the Texas commission for operation in
Texas which covers A per cent Of
the railroads entire mileage. showed
q loss Of 42a.425.s9. lie testified that
he did not know whether the company
had a deficit III the states Of Kansas
and Missouri last year IN response