The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-02-25
LOVE SAYS 2-CEET
FARES WILL STAY
II is Believed Oklahoma VIII Get An
Early Decision In Rate Case BY
Supreme Court.

lahoma will get decision from the
United States supreme court as to
the constitutionallty OF the two.cent
passenger rate law before the Ar.
kansas or Missouri two.cent rate
cases are settled, and that the three.
cent passenger rate may not 20 back
into effect In Oklahoma temporarily
or otherwise unless the supreme court
hands down n decision at Washing.
ton deciding the question adversely
to the state Is the opinion Of Chair.
man Jack Love, Of the corporation
commission.
Despite the fact" said Mr.. Love.
that the Oklahoma case is the lat
est we expect to get 1t into TIE SUI
nreme court Of the United States long
before Missouri or Arkansas gets
there. We have appealed to the cir
cult court OF appeals for a stay OF
execution of Judge Hooks temporary
injunction against the two-cens pas.
senger rate and the twelve freight
rate orders, and should the circuit
court OF appeals refuse us this stay
of execution, we will appeal at once
from their order OF refusal to the
United States supreme court We
will not wait the final termination of
the cases In the lower courts. We
will have a hearing March |, In st.
Ianif. before the circui. court of ap-
peals, and should get a decision from
that tribunal on the application for
n stay Of the temporary injunction,
within short time.
I'm the meantime, | do not believe
the railroads which have obtained the
temporary injunction will put the old
and higher rates back into effect
There the three principal reasons why
IL might be best for them TO wait until
the final termination of the case. In
the first place. the evidence gathered
by the attorney-general and corpora
tion commission within tho last three
or four months. and perfected within
the last month, showing a remarkable
increase in business and profits for
the railroads within the last year over
the preceding years, gives the case an
entirely differeut aspect from that
presented TO Judge Hook and on
which he based his decision granting
the temporary injunction. II makes
the position of the railroads contest
ing our rates very uncertain on ap-
peal.
Their chances of winning nnally
are SO much reduced By our evidence
Of increased profits during 1909, over
1908 on which they based their case,
that they are now hesitating whether
to go 60 the expense Of putting the
old rates back into effect. for this
season alone, even though they have
a temporary injunction allowing them
to do so
"rhis item of expense In resuminR
the old rates IL the second reason why
ihay may continue the lower two-cent
rate and freight rate orders They
must prepare coupon tickets and re.
eAms for every passenger purchasiag
a ticket. In order to preserve the
record OF the transaction so that II
the case finally goes against them
they can comply with the terms of
heir indemnity bonds and refund The
excess fare charges 20 all passengers,
The same applies to all freight ship.
nents. This additional work viii cali
or increased clerical and accounting
'orees. and entail an immense add.
ional work The preparation of new
schedules Of rates Is also an item 10
,e considered The expense Of this
work alone might more than over.
.ome the difference between the state
md court rates
"A third and most potent argument
which the railroads are considering
Who have sought and obtained the
temporary injunction. Is that if they
'ut back into effect the higher rdtes.
he other lines, that are not IN court
md who must keep our low rates iuto
'ffect until they should have obtained
he same temporary injunction. which
would take months. viii monopolize
ho railroad business OF the state. Tie
frisco and Rock Island railroads.
which combined have within a few
niles OK one.half OF the entire track.
ge Of Oklahoma. are not ia the con.
est. and must eontlala the two cent
passenger rates and lower freight
ates imposed by the corporation com.
mission. These two systems. as any
ne can see from looking over a map
4 the state, ramlfy into every nook
nd corner Of Oklahoma and practl i
ally every point that could be reach
d by the NJ. X & T. and Santa re.
he systems that have obtained the
injunction, could be reach