The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-05-13
WHY VOTERS SHOULD OPPOSE
AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION
Detailed Statement of What Repeal of Article Section
Means Would Deprive State of All Power Roads
Can Merge by Complying With Law.

You are the interested party You
will be called upon to render your
verdict June 18th. What will that
verdict be?
Effect of the charter amendment by
adding section 40 to article nine OF
the constitution.
If you will examine the ballot title
prepared by Attorney General West
and the amendment prepared by the
railroads and other foreign corpora
tions, who now reside outside the
state, and the domestic corporations
who live in the state and are charter
ed under our state laws, but would
like to sell out or merge their bust
ness to or with some foreign corpora
tion, who keeps beyond our state
courts or corporation commission, by
holding their charter under the laws
Of some other state and keep their
books, also their office beyond our
control-then you will sec the reason
why they offer this amendment, and
the effect it will have on Article nine
You will have to get your constitu-
tion and read it carefully, section by
section, until you come to section 40
proposed by all the foreign corpora
tions, gotten up by them at Chicago,
and not gotten up by the commercial
clubs, or commercial interests of this
state, as they would like for you to
understand.
| cannot believe that the commercial
interest of the state endorse it, or had
anything to do with it whatever. 1t
is an illegitimate child born outside
the state and named by them as,
"The Charter Amendment" to give it
the appearance Of having been born
legitimate, when in fact its parents
are known to be outlaws.
Now let us examine the constitu-
tion Section 2, which section 40 will
take the place of or supersede, for
remember, that it is the last section
and will take the place of all that is
in front of the section that conflicts
with it in any way. For every rail-
road. oil pipe, car express, telephone
or telegraph line authorized to do
business under the laws of this state,
shall have the right to construct and
operate its line in this state, to con-
meet at the state line with like lines;
and shall have the right with it, lines
to connect with, or cross any railroad
or such line. Now remember, this
privilege is given to all such com
panies, who are domesticated or 80
ing legal authorized business. But
such privilege is not given to foreign
corporations. and should not be for
the reason that they refuse to obey
the laws of the state and refuse to
be bound by any orders of the cor
poration commission, and pay their
taxes by Injunction, and hide behind
the federal court for protection.
Section 6, which section 49 takes
the place of, provides: That all rail.
roads are public highways; that all
railroads doing business under the
laws of this state, shall maintain an
Office in this state, for the transac-
ton of business where all stock shall
be transferred; where its books shall
be subject to inspection by the stock
holders; where shall be recorded the
capital stock and the amount owned
by each of them respectively. They
shall hold at least one meeting each
year in the state. and thirty days no
tice shall be given, and the president
or some officer of the board shall re-
port annually under oath to the cor
poration commission of their doing.
and such report shall be in accord
with the laws of the state.
The legislature shall pass all nee
essary laws for the enforcement of
these provisions, with the necessary
penalties provided for, to insure their
enforcement. Now repeal this Sec
tion. and where would the commits
sion commence to force the railroads
to obey its orders, or the state laws?
For you know, and the railroads to
for that matter, that to repeal the
power of the commission to place
fine or penalty on them, that they
would be helpless.
Section 5 provides. that no public
service corporation shall consolidate
the stock with. or purchase or control
any business on a parallel or com
peting lines, provided, that the legis-
lature shall never pass any law per
mitting any public corporation when
such corporation is organized under
the laws of any other state. to con.
solidate the stock of such corporation.
or lease or purchase, or In any way
control any other corporation organiz-
ed under the laws of any other state,
owning or having under its control in |