The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-05-13

say tnat the restrictions ought TO be
removed and that it will encourage
railroad building. There is no more
reason in. turning railroads loose in
this state to do as they please. than
there would be to remove the restraint
from the citizen and allow them to do
as they please without restraint, and
the reasoning would not be as sound
Ior justifable, because the Individual
has some feeling for his fellow man.
land the corporation has none what.
lever.
| Section Is. Supersede this section
by adding 40 and you destroy the
lpower of the corporation commission.
This section says that the corporation
commission shall have the power and
makes it their duty to regulate and
control all railroads, transmission, tel
ephone, telegraph, express and oil
pipe lines doing business in this state.
That they shall have the power to
fix such charges or rates as may be
reasonable and just, and may from
time to time alter or amend. And any
other rates or charges inconsistent
with those of the commission, within
the scope of its authority, are illegal
and void. They shall have the right
at all times to inspect the books and
to require of such corporations re-
port under oath and to keep them
selves informed of the physical value
before any order shall be heard. But
their findings are subject to appeal
to the supreme court of the state, The
commissions orders are not final. So
you see they would not have very
many duties to perform if this section
was repealed In fact they would not
be worth anything to the state. and if
we would vote to amend the constitu-
tion by adding section 49 to article 8,
we ought to repeal all of the article
but the added section, and have just
one section of said article. And then
we would be paying three commits
rioners $4,000 per annum without any
duties. but drawing their salaries. for
they might overlook that also
Section 81. Repeal this section,
says section 49. No railroad. oil pipe
line, telephone, telegraph, express or
car corporation organized under the
laws of any other state or of the Unit
ed States, and doing business or pro-
posing to do business in this state,
shall be entitled to the right of emin-
ent domain in this state, until 1t shall
have become body corporate. pursu-
ant to or in accordance with the laws
of this state. Now you see that no
railroad, or any other foreign corpora
ticn who holds charter under the
laws of any other state, can extend its
lines or build branches, until it takes
out charter or domesticates in this
state. But as soon as it is willing
to do this, that is, take out charter
and comply with our laws it can ex-
ercise the right of eminent domain
the same as a domestic railway and
has the benefit of our laws and future
legislation the same as the domestic
railway Now when you give the right
of eminent domain to either foreign
or domestic company, we have right
to expect something in return for that
privilege. Eminent domain means,
that you can run where you please, in
any direction you please. over any
farm you come to and he cannot help
himself, take as much out of it as
the need, at price fixed by board
of appraisers. and IL he don't like
what they give him, he can take that
and appeal his case to the cousts and
take whatever is awarded to him,
whether he wants to dispose of his
property or not Eminent domain |
means that you could run riast down |
main street here in KingfisLer ard !
you could not help yourself. Is that
not about privilege enough?
On their side of the case: What do
we ask in return for this great priv
ilege? Certainly the bargain is all
one sided SO far. We ask in behalf
of the state and its citizens. that these |
companies shall give in return to the
state fair and reasonable Nervice, at
a fair and reasonable rate Do you
think that is asking anything more
than we are entitled to ask? We ask
them to abide by the same laws and
the same courts that you and are
compelled to obey Is that just, fair
and equitable? Do you know that
they are asking you to place them out
side the control of the state and the
state courts? Do you know that If I
you should add Section 49 that every
time you had SUIT that amounted
to $4,000 they would take it out Of
the state courts and some Judge. like
Hook WonId try that for you? That