The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-16
In Order to Secure Money For
. the Purpose
Of SpOtting Employees Who
Shirked Their Work.
HE USES ABOUT $1,000
Although 1t Was For the Bone
fit of His Department
His Methods Gould Scarcely Be
COndOned by Mgr. Frey.

J. z. Rora back who was recently re-
quested to resign as superintendent of
terminals by General Manager ]. J.
Frey, has made good the amount of
money, about S11, 600, which he obtained
from the company through padded pay
rolls or by carrying straw men on the
time books and win not be prosecuted.
Nor will any other emplOye of the COM
pany be involved.
The matter has been settled up in
every way Mr. Frey demanded ROra-
backs resigna ton and it was inmedi-
ateIy rendered, although before the
change was made the retiring superin-
tendent of terminals had made good the
money which the company officers al
legged he had obtained by improper
methods.
The department of which Mr. Rora-
back had charge was, due entirely to
his own efforts, too, the pride of the
Santa F'e company. The superintendent
of terminals was successful officer in
every particular and not the slightest
suspicion had attached to him at any
time. Through some one whom Rora-
back had offended the general Offices
receive information that the accounts
Of the department at Kansas City were
not they should be and a check was
made. Everything turned out to be
correct and the matter bid fair to quiet
down until an examination of the pay
roll was made and some inexplica bic
things discovered
General Manager Frey ordered the
time books brought to Topeka and set
Kansas City. The result was the dis
covery of padded pay rolls, or the car
rying of srtaw men, by which in not
quite three years the company has lost
81, 900.
Mr. Roraback was interviewed in
Kansas City today and disclaimed any
improper methods in his official trans
actions but attempted to place the re-
sponsibility on men occupying subordi-
nate positions.
of course I was expected to see that
the lists CORRECTLY made ont - he
said, but my subordinates made out
the pay roll and I signed it,
Mr.. Roraback stated also that the
cause of his resignation was differences
between himself and the general man
aSer. This difference is due TO the fact
that Mr.. Frey refused to accept the
explanation of the transactions made
by ROraback to him.
Mr.. Roraback, so one of his friends
says, did not "stea1' any money from
the company, but simply, through the.
padded pay rolls, repaid himself for
money expended in maintaining a Sc
cret service department to aid him in
the transaction of his own business as
superintendent. He explained to the
management of the company that with
the large force of men under his con-
troll it was impossible to secure profit
able returns to the company at all
times, by reason of their neglect of duty,
and in order to keep thoroughly in
formed as to their actions he employed,
without authority from the company,
rom SlA 10 d uOZSu SpOIIeFs whose
business it was to watch the men and
report any neglect of duty or departure
from the path of rectitude, paying well
for such service.
In this manner Mr.. Rora back ac-
counted for the fictitious names on the
time book from which the pay roll is
made up. Investigation failed to
prove this to be true.
The spoilers were paid, so it is said,
by Mr.. Roraback himself but he work
ed the pay rolls to reimburse himself.
The explanation was not credited by
the general manager or general super
intendent and ROraback was discharg-
ed and the matter has been dropped.
None of the subOrdinates will be in
volved and Mr.. ROraback will not be
prosecuted