The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-08-03
Article TX. Section 9.

! Editor Inc ATuIHOIeIIe'
| have read a number Of articles
| recently written by those who are op
posod to the amendment to article 3,
sec. ion 9, of the constitution. As
one of the authors of the resolution
authorizing referendum on TINS
qu, stion, have made a close study
OF the situation and am convinced
of the need OF this legislation.
have never found or heard a single
valid reason for opposing this amend
ment
one of the arguments offered is
that it will destroy competition
among the railroads. It is a well
known fact that there is no such
thing as competition in railroad rates.
They are regulated by the commits
sion. either interstate or state, AMI
are not fixed by the railroads them
selves.
The building OF additional rail
roads. which undoubtedly Will be
done if this amendment is adopted,
is neces ssary for the development OF
this state and will add to its taxable
wealth. II is a well known fact that
not one Of the domestic railroads in
Oklahoma has ever been able 10 pay
one cent on their bonded indebted /
ness. What incentive is there for
people to invest their money in
railroads when it has been demon |
strated they WI get no return from |
their Investment? The trunk lines /
of this state are opposed to this |
They are not builders. |
They are operators. What sense |
would there be. in a man buying Il |
far mand investing his money there /
IN if there was a restriction in his u
lie that he could not sell it? Section |
9 pract cally says to the railroad /
builder you can build all the railroads .
you want, but you can not sell them. |
tndcr the law in force in Oklah0 |
ma the domestic lines OF railroad |
are charging cents per mile for |
passenger service. They are in ad-
di;ion allowed a dfferential freight |
rate amounting to from $l2 to $l5 a
car and in addition to that where
The trunk line railroads are assessed !
on an average OF $37,5Oo per mile,
domestic railroads are only assessed
at $4,000 per mile. Does not the
reader think that the citizens of the
state living upon the line of a do
nestle railroad corporation are en-
ltled 20 the same service and the
same rates as the citizens living On
o trunk line of railroad?
The Wichita Falls & Northwestern
railroad is a domestic corporation, yet
he stock of that road is owned by
he Missouri, Kansas & Texas Rail
way company. The road is managed
and operated as a part of the Katy
system The corporation commission
Knows that fact for the Katy" re-
port shows that it owns 96 per cent
If the stock of the Wichita Falls &
Northwestern Althougl,-the katy
OWNS the stock Of that road and con.
rols its operation the patrons along
he line of the road must pay 3
cents per mile passenger fare, some
Sl5 per carload extra TO freight and
he state loses the taxation of the
difference between $4,000 per mile,
he assessed valuation of the domes-
ic road and $4,000 per mile, the
assessed valuation of the Katy
| ask if it is not wiser and better
'or the people to amend section 9
30 that trunk line can purchase
domestic line as a feeder" openly
md with the approval of the corpo-
ration commission than to have them
70 so by evasion? The amendment
If this section protects the people
rom any oyer-reaching by the rail-
'Oad corporations and at the same
inc opens the opportunity for the
development of our state and in
,reasing wealth | certainly hope
of the voters will vote for
his amendment.
(Signed) t. r. RENROAT.