The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-15

the state, but this provision shall not
be construed as limiting the power OF
the state to require by law the filing
Of such reports and the furnishing OF
such information as may be neces.
saly to prope ~ regulate its business
in the state, and shall not relieve
such foreign or domestic corporation
from an proper supervision and con
troll OF the corporation cmmisslon un-
der The constitution and laws Of this
state
1t will be observed that the pro
posed new section in addition to Civ
ing the right to consolidate railroads
that are foreign and domestic It
grants to foreign corporations author
ity to exercise the right OF eminent
domain, which would automatically
result from repeal of Section ., or
the adoption OF the proposed Section
40, even though the grant was not
expressly set out The proposed
sec ion also repeals the general Of
fee clause of the constitution, that
requires the maintaining of head
quarters in the statv, inc holding or
annual meetings here and the keep
ing in the state Of records, books,
etc. l. provides in the final clause,
however, chat the powers OF the cor
porati0n commission shall not there
by be restricted. and shall not be
construed as limiting the states au-
thority to require production OF such
papers as are necessary to proper
regulation of railroad in the state
According to Attorney General
West who prepared the ballot title,
the proposed new Section 10 has a
much greater effect than disclosed
by casual reading. He insists that
it would repeal Sections 2 6, 8, 8, II,
2S and 81, and pa of Section Is OF
the constitution.
The only railroads operating in OK
lahoma that would be affected by the
change are the Oklahoma Central and
the Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
has made a tentative agreement TO
purchase the first, if it is made legal
y possible, and it is understood that
the Hous on and Texas Central
would absorb the latter. The change
would also affect railroads being pro-
jected within the state, by permitting
theis sale to the large systems when
completed.
There is to be submitted to a vote
Of the people a the general election
in November, substitute for Sec
ton 8. by reason of which the pub
lie might be confused The substi-
tute was passed during the Second
legislatures regular session, and is
literally copied from the Louisiana
constitution. 1t would permit CON
solidation or purchase Of domestic by
foreign corpo aiions. but provides
chat such portion of the property re-
mainng in the state shall be subject
o jurisdiction OF the state courts as
though no consolidation or purchase
had taken place. There is some
doubt among attorneys whether such
a clause would be effective for, it is
pointed out to have half of con-
ce II of one corporate character, and
half of another, Is. probably mpos-
sible The substitute was urged be-
fore the legislature by Representa-
tives of Oklahoma commercial clubs
whe stated that such provision
worked all right in Louisiana. =
Eeing submitted al different elec-
tions, It is possible, however, for
both the so-called Carter proposition
proposed Section 4a) and the legis-
latige substitute being adopted In
such event members OF the legisla-
ture think both propositions would 90
to The courts, and there be rewritten
into one The court would have to
determine what the people intended
by having voted up both questions.
The Oklahoma Federation of Labor
will lead the opposition to the adop-
ton Of the proposed Section 40 and
the legislative substitute. They will
be assisted by the organization OF
Anti-Saloon league which, having in
mind the proposed resubmisslon Of
state wide prohibition, has adopted
the slogan: Stand pat and vote No. =
The corporation commission is OPP
posing adoption Of Section 40.