The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-12-02
suild the visduet.
coRpoRATE skIRMIsH LINE

CORPORATE sklRMisH LINE
The managers and experts of the
railway companies which enter this
state have been engaged in contest
with the State corporation commits
slon. IN some respects ii is the most
stupendous contest for the rights OF
corporations and those who must make
use OF corporate utilities the state
las known. Backed by years OF sue
cess and with men chosen because Of
their special fitness for each place,
the railways have endeavored 10 prove
the ofues OF the coil porate commits
sion. relative 10 intrastate freignta
and two cent passenger fare rates
are confiscatory and therefore impos
sible 10 maintain To back that pO-
siton the trained experts OF he lines
appeared before the corporation com
mission testifying from formulas
which mislead the average man.
Against this array OF talent are
the members OF the corporation com
mission. That body, however, has MOI
been idle. 1t has employed experts
on rates and almost an other branches
OF the transporting utilities, and pre-
sents the figures OF los experts into
the Tecotd to offset the railway con-
iention.
IL Inc railways win this battle II
puts back into their power the right
a
passenger II takes. from the cor
porntion commission the right 10 act
for the railroad or people, according
te which one Ii being oppressed o.
dealt slth unfairly. The supreme
court. of course win have TO pass on
these topics. fo4 each side Is de-
termined there shall be no cessation
of activities until the final decision
X rendered
Okiahomans have been proud Of her
corporate laws. They have given The
honest man In charge Of concern
faif. square deal but no advantage
oves the corporation; IL. too. getting
exact justice unde. the henefieent
provisions OF the organic las which
We now enjoy. II the railroad man
ayers have convinced their people the
way TO proceed Is TO defy the laws
then those railway managers have
been giving poor advice. NO state
offers 10 Il corporate concern greater
protection than Oklaloma. betolv
thee had scarcely been time fol
state officials to grt their chairs warm
came 4 great flood in JRl homa. wash
ing on railway bridges, inundatins
miles of track. causing mail service
10 DC worse than no attempt; pass
enger trains two days late. other pass
ehgers. far fom home. unlOaded a
Nayslde stations etc. Just when ths
llroads were losing hope Of bettes
INK bad conditions. Chairman Love O.
the corporation commission pui the
power OF his great institution behind
railroads With a body 50 well or
ganized as TO know the conditions y
every county. the commission actual
ls was more effective la rouiini
trains. taking cafe Of passengers an'
seeing they took the shortest rout'
around than the railway officials II
those days the railroads could no
possibly sound The commission praisel
high enough. But since the decision
from Missouri and Arkansas chang'
has come over railway dreams. They
dream cf a decision allowing them q
fix rates and based only on th'
amount of profit expected Noiwitn
standing q railroad which proves !
is not having sufficient business Z
maintain It's equipment can chm g
five cents per mile in this state
through the authority Of the corpora
ton commission. still these same pee
ple who are so ambitious for q thre'
cent rate never apply IN an attemp
to SHOW cause for the increase whicl
Is theirs by right once their condf
ti0n Is proven.
Is ii. therefore unreasonable g
state there must be some reason othe
than confiscation behind the presen
attack upon the state corporation con
mission Is Il not likely someon
wishes to obTiate the necessity 0
making straight line when import
ant Transactions wherein m8tters o
moment are TO be decided aie uppeI
most9 lxfA