The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-08
SHEPPARD COMPLAINS.
Secretary of Railway Trackmen Points
Out Inconsistencies of Board.

| J. 1. Sheppard of Fort Scott the
national secretary of the Trackmen's
union. which has filed complaint
against the Missouri Pacific railway on
account of the condition of the track,
does not approve of the star cham
! ber'' methods of the state board of
railroad commissioners in dealing
with the case.
He also thinks that the board is
! making a serious mistake in accepting
| the offer of a private car in which to
travel over the company lines looking
for bad railroad ties. In a communi-
cation to George W. Kanavel. chair
man of the board, Mr.. Sheppard says:
ION Tuesday June 25th at a meet
ing of your board in Topeka it was
agreed that the board would investi-
gate our complaint against the Mis-
souri, Pacific Railway company begin
ming Monday, July s, by making an in
spection of this company's tracks.
You agreed to advise me at what point
the board would start on the inspec-
ton trip, so 1 could be present with
our expert trackmen to point out the
things of which we complain. 1 had
no word from you and today I en-
deavored to communicate with you by
telephone, but could not reach you. /
then learned by telephone from Mr..
Sinner, secretary of your board, that
you intend starting on this inspection
trip Tuesday, the 9th inst, and that
you Will not permit our representatives
to accompany you.
''If the Missouri Pacific is not guilty
of criminal negligence in the main
tenance of its tracks. as we charge, the
company would insist that we be pres
ent at the investigation. If the board
of railroad commissioners intends
making an honest investigations 1t
should insist that we be present to sus-
tain the serious charges. we MAKE
Newspapers report that you will
ms L O inc
in the private car of one of the railway
officials. Incidental to such a trip
would be the furnishing of your meals
by the railroad company on the car.
We submit that you have no right to
embarrass this state by the acceptance
of such gratuities from the company
which you are investigating and that it
would be manifestly unfair to US and
the travelling public to base an official
report upon such an exparte hearing
of our complaint as such a procedure
would constitute. -
I'VE, the complainants, can not fur
nish you a special train, but as en-
phasizing our good faith in the COM
plant we make and as a means of
sparing this commonwealth the hui
mflity of accepting the hospitality of
an alleged offender of human rights
while its offense is under investigation,
we offer to pay all the expenses of the
investigation trip including railroad
and hotel fare. If you find there is no
expense
such an investigation.
1t is reported in the press that at
a secret meeting with j. H. Richards,
hired lobbyist of the Missouri Pacific,
you concluded that our representa-
tlVes, who stand ready and eager to
reveal to you truly dangerous track
conditions of which We complain,
should not be permitted to accompany
you on this inspection trip.
GU know personally that for years
RiRh9 tn any
means within his resources to prevent
the enactment or enforcement of laws
intended to prevent railroad oppression
and greed. He has become notorious
in this state as a professional lobbyist
and thwarter of the common rights of
the people whom you represent. You
can not afford to yield the great in
huence and power of your office to
sucn man by denying US the oppor-
tunity to prove to you the truth of the
charge made in our complaint. Please
communicate the contents of this tele-
gram to Messrs. Ryker and Ryan, |
wise at our expense your determina-
ton.
(Signed) 81. I. SHEPPARD, ]
Secretary National Union of Railway |
Trackmen.''
The board will probably not allow
MI. Sheppard'S communication to in |
terfere with its plans to start out to- |
morrow on its inspection trip on the |
special train provided by the Missouri |
Pacific Mr.. Sheppard will not go |
along, but E. A. Gould, the general !
superintendent of the Missouri Pacific, |
and NJ. L. Byers, engineer of MAIN |
tenance of way. in charge of track /
work, will be with the commissioners |
to assist" them in the work of inspec-
ton.
1t is understood that the Missouri |
Pacific general attorney, J. H. Rich
ards of Fort Scott, objected seriously /
to any arrangement by which Shop |
pard should be allowed to accompany |
the commissioners on the trip