The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-25
Has Been Offered Place on In
terstate Commission.
Roosevelt Said to Be Anxious
for Him to Accept.
LOGICAL APPOINTEE.
Views Are in Accord With New
Rate Regulation Law.
Is Independently Rich-SaIary
of $4,000 No Object.

Washington, July 25.-It is learned
here fror sources unquestionably re-
liable that the president has asked A.
B. Stickney, president of the Chicago
Great Western railway, with head
quarters at st. Paul, to accept posi-
ton upon the interstate commerce
commission. Mr. Stickney, who is now
in the east came here in response to
letter from the president
Mr.. Sdckney has not yet decided if
he will accept the Office. He is inde-
pendently wealthy his fortune being
largely invested in the railroad of
which he has been the president from
the time of its organization. The $10.-
600 a year salary attached to the Office
of an interstate commerce commission
er is no special attraction to Mr.. Stick
ney, and he would be forced in the
event of acceptance. to relinquish his
Office with the road ne helped to build,
and has manged throughout its exist
ence
on the other hand, the exceptional
interest Mr.. Stickney has taken in the
matter Of the new rate law and its
Interpretation. is such as to indicate he
might have a strong personal inelina-
ton to become a member of the COM
E-4~~---eo
law into practical operation. Only last
week, in Chicago, Mr.. Stckney told
railway officials they ought to compile
their tariffs in such a way that anyone
could understand them at a glance.
The present railway tariffs are such
that not railway executive in Amer
lea would trust himself to do a rate
clerks work, while the latter went to
a funeral. The average general freight
agent might hunt an hour for rate
his rate clerk has at his finger tips
Under these conditions the require
ments that tariffs be posted in all sta
tions imposes a needless expense upon
the roads without comforting any prac-
teal benefit upon shippers, few OF
whom could understand them.
simplify Tariffs.
It is President Stickney's contention
that the tariffs should be SO simplified
anyone can tell at a glance what the
rates are He was told by railroad
men that this is an impossibility and
replied that Noah Webster was given
the same advice when engaged in
compiling his dictionary. But he
was fairly successful, said Mr..
Stickney.
some of the railway interests have
been urging upon the president the
wisdom of appointing on the inter-
state commission man who is ia
miliar with all the workings of rail-
road. Mr.. Stickney probably answers
TO this description as fully as most
anyone who could be named. He IS
also a pubHcist, an original thinker.
and possesses a forceful personality.
He has generally been In more or
less of a quarrel with the heads of the
roads competitive with his own, due
to the fact that the Chicago Great
Western has always been what is
termed a weak line. especially be-
tween Chicago and Kansas City and
St Joseph. on this account. traffic
has naturally tended TO seek the
stronger roads when other things have
been equal. and it has always been
necessary for the Great Western Off
ciaIs to resort to various means to
overcome this tendency. These con-
ditions have frequently put the Stick
ne. road in the attitude of a rate dis
tTrber. and It has often been club
which shippers were able to use by
punching their freight and routing it
over that line.
Recollection is still fresh on the Mis-
souri, river of the attempt of the KAN
sas City and st. Joseph shippers last
winter to break the dry goods rates by
giving a large percentage Of the bust
ness to the Chicago Great western MI
Stickney entered into the arrangement
but sought to have the Omaha jObbers
included the Great Western having
line into that city as well as into Kan
sas City and St. Joseph. Some or the
tiations to rival line, with the result
that so much pressure was brought to
bear from financial quarters that Mr..
Stickneys receded from his position.
The Missouri river shippers are still
without their rate and are talking of
building a boat line to get relief The
Stfekney road has also done much for
the grain markets Of Kansas City and
Omaha and has been very useful ally
Of the shippers generally at the three
largest Missouri river centers.
The significance Of this is that the
roads course has so often been dictated
BY the president himself that he has
become thoroughly familiar with trait
f1c conditions in that territory, more so
than with any other section except the
Northwest. where he has his headquar-
fers. He has so often opposed the other
roads to the advantage of shippers that
there can be no question of his fearless
ness. He owns so much in the Great
Western and dictates 1t so completely
that he will always have his own road
to go back to when his services on the
commission ceases, should he accept the
presidents offer. He is thus. as much
perhaps. as any other important rail-
way president, likely to be representa-
tive of shippers as against the carriers.
SIS Years a Railroad Man.
Mr. Stickney was 66 years old last
month He was born at Wilton. Ne, and
cbristened Alpheus Beede. He became an
attorney but spent IS years in the rail-
way service, always with western roads
and always in an executive posl1lon- he
was vice president. general manager and
attorney for the ST Paul. Saltwater &
Taylor Falls railroad for several years.
Later he was superintendent Of construc-
ton of the ST. Paul. MINNEAPOLIS & Man
itoba. He was general superintendent of
the Canadian Pacific in 1880 and 1881; vice
ppresident of the Minneapolis & St Louis
in 1882; built the Minnesota Central rail-
way and in 1884 became president of the
Minneapolis & Northwestern, which forms
a part of the present Chicago Great West
ern.
the Immediate forerunner OF the Chicago
Great Western. was consolidated with the
MINNEAPOLIS & Northwestern and Mr..
Stickney became its president holding
that office until 1890. when he was made
chairman of the board Of directors. When
the road was reorganized under the name
of the Chicago Great Western in 1892 Mr..