Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-06
100 MUCH SECRECY
The Iowa Railroad Commission
Takes Companies to Task
For Concealment.
PUBLIC HAS RIGHT TO NEWS
The Habit of Station Agents to Avoid
Giving Patrons Any Information
Severely Scored and Suggestion That
a Different Policy be Pursued Is
Made.

Des Moines, Dec. 6.-In its forthcom-
Governor Cummins. the state railroad
commission will rap the railroads for
their growing policy Of concealment OF
information to which the public is en-
titled, and the slack accommodation for
the travelling public for which some
Of them are responsible. OF these sub
iects the commission will say some
very caustic things.
AS to information with reference to
movement of passenger trains. the
board will say:
"There seems to be an apparent dis
position Of many of the railways oper-
ating within the state to conceal as
far as possible any and all information
with reference to accidents or delays
occasioned to their passenger trains.
1t Is the judgment Of the board that the
tendency Of the railways with reference
to this subject has been rather to en-
courage this disposition to secrecy and
this many times causes hardship ana
annoyance to the travelling public as
well as to those interested otherwise
in the arrival and departure of trains
1--WE believe that passengers as well
as those who may be interested IN
their safety and welfare. are entitled
to know along reasonable lines about
the movement of trains IN which they
NAV be Interested. The tendency
among many station agents Is to keep
as far as possible all information
which they may have or are able to OBJ
tain. within themselves, and treat those
who may be interested as tho they
were entitled to absolutely no informa-
ton.
.This can be obviated and remedied
by the proper officials Of the railway
companies, and the board would sug-
gest that this matter should be taken
up with their agents to the END that
the public who may be interested can
and will obtain proper and reasonable
information on this subject.
.Train dispatchers as we'll as some
other officials of the railways should
be made to understand that their duty
does not lie in concealing and Keeping
from the public such reasonable infor-
nation Of this character as 1t may We'll
be entitled to-" 3
Accommodations for Passengers.
Another matter which has been
brought forcibly to the attention OF
the railroad commissioners IS tnaI
there are many occasions when suit
able train service in the way Of fur
nishing suitable and additional coacf-
es. has not been provided. The board
report continues:
"There are certain times Of the year
due to holidays excursions and meet
ings OF state character, which from
past experience it must have been
known to the railway companies that
no reasonable or ample provisions nad
been made or were being made to pro-
vide for the extra and additional trans
portation 1t will not do to say that
the furnishing Of one extra coach mas
been made and that is all that the ad-
ditional transportation would probably
make necessary, when it is known by
experience and by the sale OF tickets
at the different points along the line
OF railway that the company has NOT
done all that is required Of 1t.
Some Of the rules Yand regulations
made by certain of the carriers IN the
state with reference to procuring add
tional coaches are so closely guarded
and the authority Is given In such
wav and to such an official that it may
he well said that the rules are an OBJ