The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-04-14
RATES
BY COMMISSION
ATTORNEY GENERAL WEST
REACHES AGREEMENT WITH
LUMBER DEALERS.

Cherokee, Okla, April Ito es-
tablish a uniform price for lumber
throughout the state, by order of the
corporation commission, and to de-
clare the lumber business to have the
same status as railroads and other
public service corporations may be
the outcome OF the antitrust suits
filed in the district court here last
month.
Attorney General West and ASSIST
ant Attorney General Reeves will ap-
pear in the district court before Judge
James b. Cullison here next Friday
and make motion before Judge Cul-
lison ;hat lumber companies be de-
clared to be engaged in business of
public consequence, and If the judg-
ment Is rendered the attorney gen
eral will bring proceeding before
the corporation commission to regu-
late the business as to practices,
prices, rates and charges" The pro
ceeding which will be under section
of the antitrust laws of the states
Is as follows:
Text of Proceedings.
Whenever any business by reason
Of its nature, extent or existence OF
virtual monopoly therein is such
hat ha
or its services, or the consideration
by 1t given or taken or offered, or the
commodities bought or sold herein,
are offered of taken by the purchase
or sale in such manner as to make
IT. of public consequence, as to affect
the community at large as to supply,
demand or price or rate thereof. or
said business is conducted in viola
tion OF section one of this act, said
business is n public business and is
subject to be controlled by the state,
by the corporation commission or by
on action in any district court, as
to all its practices, rates and charges
Dealers Favor Proposal.
Attorney General West has reached
an agreement with a number of Ok
lahoma lumber dealers. and It is stat
ed on good authority that they are
in favor of the proposition to have
the rates fixed by the corporation COM
mission.
The action comes as result of an
custer suit filed in the district court
BY the attorney general in which it
was sought to oust the Wioka Lumber
Company, the Metz Lumber Company
ard the Stewart Lumber Company.
three Kansas corporations from DO
ing any business in the state and TO
subject them to a fine of $4,000 per
day for each days alleged violation
Of the anti trust laws. The matter
could not be heard at the last term
OF the district court, and Judge Cul-
lison set April II as a date to hear
a pleading by the attorney general
to obtain a temporary injunction to
prohibit the three companies from
doing business during the pendency of
the custer suit. In the meantime /.
a conference was had with the lum-
ber dealers and an agreement reach.
ed. The plan to have them declared .
a public service corporation was ac-
cepted by a sufficient number OF the
dealers to insure Attorney General .
Vests support in his new PROPOSE
ton. The three companies named in
the custer suit operate nine yards in
Oklahoma and have over a dozen
places of business in the state.
Business Of Public Consequence.
The attorneys representing the
Metz, Stewart and Kiowa Lumber
companies have agreed to file an
swers In the district court agreeing
that the business in which they are
engaged is Of public consequence