The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-02-04

4
matical accuracy the reasonableness
of many claims and contentious COM
ing before the commission"
Recently the commission issued a
final order requiring public service
corporations to establish general Of
fees in the state in compliance with
Sec. 6 of Art. TX of the constitution,
and from this order the companies ap-
pealed to the supreme court, request
ing an order from the commission
that would suspend pending adjudica-
ton of the matter on appeal
In going more fully into the reasons
why the order to suspend is not grant
ed, the commission recites that it only
ordered verified copies of the primary,
or original accounts. books, records,
etc, of railroad companies relating to
business done within the state of Ok
lahoma.
"The pending litigation in the fed
eral court" says the commission, re-
ferring to the commodity freight rate
orders and 2 cent passenger fare, has
clearly indicated the necessity of hav-
ing the records and accounts of pub
lie service companies within the jur-
is diction of the commission, and leg
ally available for rigid, painstaking
and honest analysis. A periodical ex-
animation by state officials is essen
tial to safeguard against possible con-
fiscation of property or against un-
reasonable profits.
1T has been confessed by expert
railroad auditors and statisticians, :"
the opinion continues. before the
commission in oral testimony that the
apportionment of a part Of the rev.
enues end all of the expenses of the
railroads, as between state lines, and
as between interstate and intrastate
| is a matter of conjecture, that is,
guesswork pure and simple. Verified
copies of primary accounts, If kept
within the state, will enable the au-
/ thorities to examine and consider the
vast number of essential factors and
at least make q respectable analysis
A number of public service com.
panies, the commission says, have
been cited to appear for disobeying the
commissions accounting order, and
evidence has disclosed the prime and
urgent necessity for the establish.
ment of general accounting offices of
the state. After showing that the Ok
lahoma order is justified by opinions
in the Texas, Nebraska, South Dakota
Missouri and Nevada rate cases, the
Iopinion continu s:
"The commissions order does not
require foreign corporation to VIC
Hate any charter issued by foreign
state, does not contemplate or intend
the establishment by foreign corpora
tions of executive or principal officers
in the state of Oklahoma, and does
not conflict in any way with the re
quirements of the interstate commerce
commission. 1t merely requires the
keeping of verified copies Of all rec
ords and accounts pertaining to busi
ness transacted in Oklahoma such re
quirements being relatively inexpens
live as compared with the maintenance
of general accounting offices for al
business.
"The order does not require any
public service corporation to main
tain additional facilities, convenience
or public service in the state for tht
transportation of persons or propert!
or for the transmission of intelligence
That section of the constitution up
on which the commissions order i
based reads:
every railroad or other public serv
ice corporation organized or doinl
, business in this state under the law
! thereof shall have and maintain pub
lie Office or place in this state for th'
! transaction of its business, wher'
; transfers of stock shall be made ant
where shall be kept for inspection b,
; the stockholders of such corporation
; books in which shall be recorded th
, amount of capital stock subscribed
/, | the names of the owners of stock, tn
. amounts owned by them respectfully
the amount of stock paid, and B.
, whom; the transfer of said stock, wit
, the date of transfer; the amount o
, it's assets and liabilities and tn
: names and places of residence of it
> officers, and such other matters re
, quired by law or by order of the col
poration commission.
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