The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-02-29
RATE CASE
PREPARING
FOR TRIAL
EXPERT EMPLOYED TO PREPARE
EXHIBITS - ISSUES ARE COM.
PLlcATEO - COMMISSION WILL
INFLUENCE CASE.


Oklahoma City, Feb 2S.-Prepara-
tions are going forward for trial Of
the rate cases in the federal court
under the new alignment of issues
that follow the filling of an amended
bill by the railroads. Attorney Gen
eral Freezing has engaged as an ac-
countant expert for the state for
preparation of evidence and exhibits
Henry Wilmering, who has resigned
position in the local gas and cleo
trio company, to undertake the work.
The rumor that Wilmering is plan
ming to merge this employment into
a candidacy for the democratic nomi-
nation for corporation commissioner
this summer is thought to be well
founded
j. r. Love, chairman of the cor
poration commission, the one member
remaining who began service on the
commission at the time of its organi-
zation. is understood to be interested
in the personnel of the commission
to the extent of seeking to secure the
candidacy of persons who would be
expected to adopt his views as to the
issues that are to come before that
body.
A. P. Watson is Candidate.
The candidacy of A. p Watson of
this city, who was removed from the
office by the state senate, sitting as
an impeachment court, began at once
upon the occurrence of that event. Mr..
Love at that time announced his in
tention to see to it that Watson was
returned to the commission as re-
buke to the Legislators who impeach-
ed and removed him This position of
the chairman of the commission is
assumed to be still maintained The
fact that there is some ground for
the belief that Watson would be held
by the courts as disqualified for hold
ing the short term, as that Is the
uneXpired portion of the term for
which he was elected, may lead the
former commissioner to announce for
the long term that is to take the place
of the incumbency of Commissioner
Henshaw, who has declared that he
will not be a candidate.
The legislature that made the re-
cent appropriation of 100000 for the
states conduct of the rate cases
awarded custody of that fund solely
to the attorney general. The former
funds were given to the joint chs
tody of the corporation commission,
the attorney general and the COVER
nor. BY eliminating all but the at
torney general from the handling of
funds were given to the Joint Gus
participation by the corporation com
mission in the case is to be less than
in the past This will undoubtedly be
true if the case shall still be pending
when the connection of Commissioner
Henshaw with that body shall termi-
nate, as he is the member who has
given time and attention to the study
of railroad rate problems above other
things that have come before the
commission.
The theory of Chairman Love of the
corporation commission that the state
is justified in delaying the case just
as long as possible because the saving
TO persons who ride under the present
&c passenger fare tariff is many times
more than the expense to the tax
payers in litigating 1t, has not met
popular approval in many parts OF
the state This theory was ampliiied
by Mr.. Love in an address to the
legislature last month. This address
was commented upon adversely in
several quarters. A comment by a
newspaper at Durant condemning the
attitude of the commissioner has
led to a controversy between that
paper and the chairman of the com
mission.
One view of the fight that Is OF
interest is that taken by the Tisho-
mingo Capital-Democrat. 1t is as fol-
lowc.