The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-27

should deem visit to California and
a study of California methods desir-
able is striking circumstance. That
he should reserve to himself the
pleasure and profit of the trip is log
ical development of the first idea.
John S. McMillin is not charged with
any particular duty for the present
Mr.. McMillin has not been assigned tc
any investigation and in the absence
of Mr.. Fairchild and Mr.. Lawrence
has the privilege of attending to his
own business affairs. If any state. in
terest is taken in the commission Mr.
McMillin may learn Of it while the two
others are out searching for knowledge
garnered in other states.
The commission has explicitly stated
that J. Will Yysons mas been made
temporary secretary only. He is to
last, says the commissioners, for 60
days, while the commission is endeav-
oring to learn what it's duties and
powers may be. Then the commission
proposes to pick up a practical rail-
road man who can explain to them
what a railroad tariff means
A lawyer, manufacturer and banker
were grouped on the railroad commits
sion. The names of George w. Dick
inson, w. L. Benham, Alex. Tinling,
and Francis Green, practical railroad
men, were urged upon Governor Mead.
The first two were active candidates;
the other two might have been induc-
ed to accept appointments as commits
sioners.
includes No Railroad Man
That Harry Fairchild mad much in
f1uence in forming the commission has
not been doubted by politicians. All
the members know when they accept
ed appointments that there was no
practical railroad man on the commits
sion. It was known soon after Fred
Graham would not take the secretary's
place. Now the search begins for some
one who knows what the commission
is to do.
1t is probable that a pretty long
search will be necessary to locate the
secretary the commission wants. A
$4,000 salary does not bear an enticing
appearance to a practical railroad man
in line of promotion. 1t is inferred
the commission does not want a Sec
rotary who could not merit promotion
in railroad employ.
Harry Fairchild is inclined to be-
lieve the railroads will cooperate to
Mr.. Fairchild says in several of the in
terviews he has given out that he has
assurances that the roads will lend
the commission such assistance as it
needs He expects the roads to furnish
promptly all tariff schedules and cop
les of blanks upon which business is
done. Then if Mr.. Fairchild's search
for a secretary is successful he will
have some one who can tell him what
the tariffs and blanks near.
Some Complaints Filed.
Several complaints of a minor ma
ture nave reached the railroad COM
mission from shippers in Eastern
Washington and J. c. Lawrence has
been delegated to investigate them be-
fore proceeding on mis- trip to Iowa and
Minnesota. The complaints, according
to ]. S. McMillin of the commission,
have principally to do with the supply
ing of cars, with switching privileges
and matters plainly not in dispute be-
tween the shippers and the companies,
but between the shippers and local
agents. He believes that they do not
call for the semi judicial hearings and
decisions of the board.
The most strongly worded complaint
of the few received is probably too old
for action by the board. A shipper as
serts that a car ordered by the rail-
road commission has NOT baap ,1a1jv-