The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-12
THEY DID IT RIGHT
Labor Commissioner Tells of
Missouri Pacific Tour.
Work of the State Board Has
Been Thorough.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Task Proved Too Much for the
Members.
Did Much Walking and Train
Was Run Slow.

| According to reports brought back to
Topeka today by w. L. a. Johnson,
state labor commissioner, the railroad
| commissioners expedition of investiga-
ton against the Missouri Pacific rail-
way has been temporarily wrecked by
the overexertions of the members.
Mr.. Kanavel is in bad shape as a
result of trying to do too much walk
ing" said Mr.. johnson. &C. A. Ryker
of Hutchinson, is also all in, and
couldn't eat anything yesterday, as a
result of too much work. Frank Ryan
of Leavenworth has a face badly bis
tered by the sun, and I understand that
all of the commissioners are at their
he mes trying to get in shape to continue
the work.
Mr.. Johnson himself came out in
pretty good condition. His face is de-
cidedly red and sunburned but other
wise he was in good physical condi-
ton.
There's no doubt but the commits
soners made most thorough examina
ton of the Missouri Pacific main lines"
erty to say in what condition things
were found, but / will say that the in
vestigation was thorough. Mr.. Shep-
pard and three other members of the
Trackmen's Union were along, and they
are all well satisfied with the work"
When asked concerning the kind of
accommodations furnished the board by
the railroad company, Mr.. johnson was
inclined to be somewhat reticent, and it
took some questioning to get at the sit
uatiOn. He said:
I'VE were given train consisting of
an engine. baggage car for the grub
and supplies a combination car for the
members of the commission and car
for the train crew. There was a cafe
in the commissioners car, at which
meals were served, and facilities were
also provided for sleeping in the car, if
desired. But there wasn't anything in
the nature of riotous living. Every
thing was strictly business. The MEM
bers of the party did not have to stay
on the car when we were in towns I'M
less they desired to do so. The train
was absolutely in the control of the
commissioners and they Travelled as fast
or as slow as they pleased.
The method of inspection was very
thorough. The inspection car was run
ahead of the engine so as to give an
opportunity for the inspection party to
view the track very carefully and the
speed ranged from four to ten miles per
hour, and in order to be as thorough
as possible, frequent stops were made
of the train for several miles; thus en-
abling them to get a very thorough
knowledge of the exact conditions of
the track and roadbed.- This was re-
peated over the entire line.
stops were made at night, the party
using all the daylight posi- ble-startiag
at seven O'clock in the, morning and
running until dusk. In one instance at
Hoisington, the party came into Hois-
ington for the night after dusk and then
ran back the next morning, so as to
cover the track in daylight.
THE company placed, every facility
at the disposal OF the board, giving the
board absolute charge of the train and
having it run under their direction"
Asked as to how he came to go with
the inspection party, Mr. Johnson said:
The law governing the work of state
factory inspection gives the commits
sioner a certain Jurisdiction over the en-
forcement of certain laws enacted for
the safety of employees of railroads and
factories, and as there had been certain
complaints touching these matters, not
only myself, but the board of railroad
commissioners were anxious that a very
thorough inspection should be made,
and as a representative of the bureau
of labor and various railway organiza-
lions affiliated with the state society of
labor, it seemed only right and proper
for me to accept the invitation of the
board to accompany Them
When asked as to the condition of the
road, Mr.. Johnson declined to discuss
this feature of the trip, saying that it
would he improper to do so in advance
of anV orders that the board might is