The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-05-11

Intense interest is manifested in
the hearing conducted today before
Corporation Commissioner Campbell
Russell wherein the citizens Of Ard
more and towns tributary to this
point are asking that the commits
sion to compel the Santa Fe railway
officials to set out a Pullman sleep.
ing car at this point, and also at
Oklahoma City for the accommoda-
ton of the people who travel to and
from Ardmore and adjacent terri
tory.
The railway Is represented by Cot.
tingham and Hayes of Oklahoma City
while the cause Of the people Is
prosecuted by J. +. Champion, who
filed the complaint with the corpora
ton commission in behalf of the
people, assisted by Hugh Ledbetter
and Guy II. Sigler.
a number Of witnesses were ex.
amined at the morning session and
more We're heard when the COM
mission reconvened in the afternoon.
All the witnesses, so far examin-
ed, were emphatic in their state.
ments that the railroad company
should be compelled to grant the re.
quest of the people and set out the
car as asked for in the petition.
Those whose testimony was heard
this morning were Roy NJ. Johnson,
Hugh Ledbetter, Dick Hignight, j
NJ. Baird, Writ Franklin, +. Z. Heck
ethorn. Erret Dunlap, Judge Cham
pion, Don Co-->ln. Arthur Woods
and Col L. l.. Gregory of Ardmore
Judge A. A. Mcdonald, of Hugo
s. w. Stone. G. G. Shane, Green
Thompson and A> b. Davis of Du
rant, and Il. A. Cargill of Oklahoma
City.
Roy NJ. Johnson the first witness
testified that the present service
was very unsatisfactory to the pub
lie who would prefer to travel or
the night trains inc and out o:
Ardmore if they We're assured Of
accommodations.
He recited several instances wherein
he was unable TO get such accommo
dation until he as well as many ol
his associates in the oil business hat
practically given up travel on the
night trains thereby compelled tl
loose valuable time in day travel.
Hugh Ledbetter stated on the stant
that he had failed upon q number o,
occasions to get a berth either from
Ardmore or at Oklahoma City return
ing and stated that even when pos
sible, a person was compelled to aris,
at three o'clock in the morning wher
the train arrived here whereas If tn,
pullman was set out a passenger
could enjoy a full nights rest ant
be ready for business the mex
day. the same testimony of his ap
piled to the car being set out a
Oklahoma City.
Dick Highnight stated that upor
more than one occasion he had fail
ed to secure accommodation eithe
going from or coming to Ardmore
and cited a specific instance tina
occurred within the past ten day
in which he failed to get service
In his opening remarks before tn,
Commissioner, Mr.. Cottlngham stat
ed that the cost of setting out a ca
at this point would be excessive an,
recounted the various expense nc
counts that would be attached t,
such plan should 1t be adopted.
He included a switch crew at night
house and steam equipment and al
extra crew OF men to keep the ca
in condition for the comforts o
passengers.
J. NJ. Baird one of the witnesse
speaking from the standpoint of
railroad man Of many years expert
ence testified that such cost n
enumerated by the attorney was en-
tlrely unnecessary, that the car coul
be set out here kept comfortable a
all seasons of the year Mt nom
nal cost, and that the regular nigh
train could do the switching in hv
minutes time without any unneces
say cost or danger which the attornc
said might also enter into nigh
switching.
In setting out this car Mr.. Balr
said that patrons of the road woul
be able to get nights rest an
woIll In his opn'cl draw hes