The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-09-14
STIMULATE
RAILROAD
BUILDING
BALLOT TITLE PREPARED
FOR AMENDMENT TO
CONSTITUTION
TO PERMIT SALE Of ROADS
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Proposed Measure includes
None Of Bad Features Of
Railroads Amendment

Another campaign Is soon TO be
ftarted for the amendment Of the Ok
iahoma constitution so as TO allow OF
some real progress In the building oi
new railroads in the state, which is
now practically at standstil. Some
little work Is now being done on new
roads. In most cases just enough TO
satisfy the contributors 10 bonuses of
the good faltn OF the railroad builders
hilt the promoters OF the new lines
privately admit that there VIII be no
new railroad construction finished un-
der the constitution until II Is amend.
ed
The particularlar provision which,
vs. found objectionable by railroad
builders Is section 3 OF article .. which
reads.
Neither shall an, railroad com
pany, transportation company or trans
mission company, organized under the
laws OF this state. consolidate by pri-
vate or judicial sale. or otherwise,
with any railroad company. transpor-
tition company or transmission com
pany organized under the laws Of any
oeAtl ftaAtt vi VI Vic tlIit0 1tdit1s
Practically all OF The railroads in
Oklahoma with the exception OF
few OF the main trunk lines, were
built originally by local promoters
and later taken over by some of the
big trunk lines. That practice was ef-
fectualy stopped by this section OF
the constitution, which was intended
TO compel all OF the big roads to take
out Oklahoma charters before they
extended their lines. The effect, has
been. however, to stop construction
Work altogether, as the big lines would
forego the extra income which might
be derived from increased mileage
rather than subject themselves TO the
laws OF Oklahoma and the control of
the state in ali matters
Another section which denies the
right OF eminent domain to foreign
corporations makes it equally impos-
sible for the big trunk lines like the
Santa Fe and Rock Islam dto construct
their own extensions, as they could
not sondemn right-of-way, but
would have to buy every foot of it at
whatever price the owner might fix
anu tHt Onitlo VI ltdi tSttlt dluH6
the lines OF prposed extensions have
not been slow to recognize the advant-
age which is given them by this pro
vision.
Lines like the Oklahoma Central
which were in progress of construc-
ton at statehood, aud which are being
built as speculative propositions, just
for the purpose OF selling to some
other road. were left high and dry.
The Oklahoma Central was thrown
into Il receiyefship and Is still in the
hands OF the Federal court, with very
slight prospects OF tho epromoters ever
getting back anything like the money
which they put into it.
It was this condition OF affairs
which started the first agitation for
the amendment OF the constitution
aud resulted in the submission by the
1909 legislature OF constitutional
amendment 10 be voted upon al the
general election this fall, repeating
section OF article D. but making no
further changes.
The new roads were generally sat
isfied with this proposition, and felt
tndl u Nouiu uiiolu tutli u NdN vi If-
lief, but the old roads thought that
they saw chance TO get In some ad-
ditional changes which would be TO
their own advantage by reason of the
popular desire for the amendment OF
that one section. An amendment was
therefore initiated proposing new sec
tlon. TO be known as section i9. which
did not repeal specifically nulified sec
ton 3. the provision In regard TO EN-
inent domain that requiring railroads
to maintain offices in The state and
reveral others which contained the
essence OF the corporation commits
STEMS control over the railroads.
The labor organizations of the state
at once started an organized fight on
the proposed amendment and were
soon joined by the corporation com
mission, which devoted all vi its re-
sources for weeks TO the fight against
the amendment. The result was that
although submitted at a special elec-