The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-31
His Grain Rate Attitude Re-
garded as "Grand Stand"
WHAT robson SAYS.
All Agreed That Taylor Failed
TO Make Case.
Board Formally Refuses AttOr-
ney's Demand for Reports.

That George ". Wheatiey, member
of the state board OF railroad commits
sioners, was making a "grandstand
play" for political purposes when ne
advocated the so per cent reduction in
grain rates at the recent grain rate
hearing is the charge made BY some
Of the people who are familiar with
the situation.
It is said that WheatIey. Robson
and Walker held a meeting the even
ing before the grain rate case was de-
cided. At this meeting It was agreed
that the board should order A reduc-
ton Of per cent This was apparent
iy entirely satisfactory to Wheatley.
However. the next morning. when
the time came TO formally issue the or
der, Wheatley announced that he was
in favor of a 80 per cent reduction.
This announcement rather astonlshed
the other members of the board. after
they had supposed that an agreement
was reached. After talking il over.
Wheatley agreed to accept is Der cent
bers of the board stood pat for per
cent, and consequently their opinion
prevailed. Then the announcement
was made with a flourish OF trunpets
that WheatIey was the man who had
stood by Carr Taylor in his effort 50
secure better grain rate.
As Wheatley is the only member oE
the board who is trying for reelection
his action Is easily diagnosed
When J. W. Robson was asked
concerning the truth OF this story. ne
did not hesitate to confirm its essential
features. He said.
when we talked the matter over.
all of the members OF the board agreed
/ that Carr Taylor had not a case when
warranted any reduction whatse-sr-
i We took the tarfffs on file with the
board as evidence, however, and con
/ cluded that a reduction should be
made. But we knew that the railroads
were certain to make a fight on the
order. and consequently decided that
a small reduction would better serve
/ as a test of the boards authority
Il am not going 10 criticise the ac-
/ He came out in favor of 2 larger re-
duction. I think that SIR. TVheaziev e
a very valuable member Of the board.
and I hope he win be reelected. HIS
! legal ability is Of great value to the
+ board.
It is regarded as unlikely that Afr
/ Wheadey viii be able 10 get the uoui-
nation for another term in spite OF
I Mr.. Robison's endorsement There is
a superhuity OF candidates in the Third
district, and this will hurt his chances
+ The candidacy of Phil Campbell for
/ the United Skates senate may also
influence of the newly organized Civic
/ league would probably be exsrted
against Mr.. Wheatley-
Slap at Taylor Again.
At the meeting of the board o. rail-
road commissioners Tuesday after
noon, the board voted to reject Mr.
/ Taylor's application for a telephone in
/ his office, and also refused to pay his
stenographer bills. which amounted 70
about $3.50.
In reply to TayIor's request that the
/ board call upon the railroad com
I panies for their annual reports, tI1a
board has informed Mr.. Taylor that he
was party to the deal by which the
/ reports were omitted, and that they
/ will not comply with his request
The attitude of the board IN these
/ matters seems almost childish. There
was no Office for Carr Taylor in the
railroad boards suite in the east wing
/ of the state house. so the executive
/ council assigned Taylor room IN the
west wing. He asked that a telerhons
be put in his new Office. an5 the at
/ torney general ruled that the board
/ had the right to use its contingent
fund for this purpose But the board
refused. He asked that he be allowed
a stenogra apher, as Z. c. Sinner the
/ boards stenographer, seemed too busy
/ to attend to the attorneys work AZ
the board did not give him a steuoE-
/ rapher. he hired one. Now the board
I refuses IN nav the bill