Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-02-14
Be Calm, but Firm, Is Ad-
vice; Drill On, and Go
to Court.
AS MUCH A LAW NOW
AS IT WILL EVER BE
Corporation Commission So
Far Has Ignored Laws
Existence.

NKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 1S,-At-
~ torneys for crude oil producers
have advised their clients to continue
operations under existing contracts.
notwithstanding the new oil con-
servation law, now effective will If
enforced, it Is claimed, be in disas-
trous conflict with present contracts,
The oil men are also advised to be
courteous in any contact with the
corporation commission, but to firm
ly stand their ground and go to court
Immediately in case action Is taken,
and test the constitutionality Of the
new oil law to the limit.
Impairment OF existing contracts
was the most important thing COM
planned OF In the protest against the
executive approval Of the bill sew
eral days. 1t was stated that the
operation of the new law would
drive many Of the smaller producers
out Of business, and impair contracts
In any case which had already been
made. These contracts are those
upon which advice is now given not
10 disturb but 10 continue serving,
and IL any action Is taken against
them to go to the courts on writ
of prohibition, or to the federal
courts for injunction.
Commission Inactive.
when any steps may be taken for
the final test Is uncertain. 1t was
stated at the offices OF the corpora
tIon commission that nothing would
be done by the commission unth
some complaint was made that pro-
visions Of the new law were BEING
violated Then the particular conn
plaint would be taken up, evidences
taken and an order or rule, made
covering the matter would be pro-
mulgated by the commission, when
is given power to enforce the new
law
But IL the advice to the oil pro-
ducers Is followed, and 1t Is believed
It will be- then any order the COM
mission might make II II gets that
far. may be tied up in court pending
final determination OF the consti-
tutionality OF the law.
It has been suggested that few con-
tracts would in reality be affected TO
any serious extent Many or them
it is said, are made in the first place
on a sliding scale, and might be sub
iect 10 change at any time. 1t has
been argued that such contracts
could be changed to suit the new con-
ditIons possible under the new law
and not feel any detrimental effects.
This. however. has been disputed just
as firmly.
VIII Affect Some Contracts.
II is understood there are some
big contracts that might be seriously
affected in case an attempt Is made
TO enforce the law, some OF them
made within the last few days. one
of these involves the delivery of
10000 barrels Of OIL and II Is un-
derstood there are others OF equal
volume and bigger That 1t Is de-
termined to test the validity OF the
new law II any action Is taken which
would be detrimental to these con-
tracts has been assured, and that the
action would be expeditions.
II the knowledge that the new law
is I'M effect has made any changes In
the oil field II has not come to the
attention of the corporation commls-
sion. All oil men know by this time
that the measure has been signed by
the governor. and that IL IS Just as
effective now as It will ever be. 1t
is possible that some conditions Will
be changed.
An oil umpire. A. Il. Watt. has
been employed in the oil field since
the order made by the commission
some months ago.
The umpire was simply employed
for the benefit OF the oil producers
10 see that pro-rating OF oil was done
on an equitable basis as between the
producers