The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-06
Would Compel Railroad Agents
to Tell Truth About Trains.
Commissioner Aroused by an
Act of Gross DiscOurtesy.
ENTITLED TO FACTS.
Travelling Public Rebuffed in
Effort to Secure Information.
Asks Attorney for Board About
the Authority.

Frank J. Ryan, member of the state
| hoard of railroad commissioners, has
taken up the campaign started at the
| last session of the legislature to make
railroads bulletin the correct time for
arrival of trains, and tell the truth
\ about the trains which are overdue.
Mr.. Ryan will endeavor to have the
| board take up this matter of such
great importance to the travellers of
the state, and issue an order which
Will in substance require railroads to
do the things which were required In
the Stone bill which the senate lodge,
at the order of the railroad companies,
killed on the floor of the senate after
it had been passed by the house.
There is nothing so aggravating to
the public" said Mr.. Ryan today, "as
the attitude of the railroad companies
in the matter of giving information
about delayed trains. Every one has
had his experience with the bumptious
station official who curtly refused in
formation about the time of arrival of
late trains. and will not even conde
scend to give a civil answer to hold
ers of railway tickets. Commercial
travellers are constantly complaining
about being obliged to wait for hours
at the depot for a delayed train, be-
cause they can not get any reliable in
formation about when the train is
coming. Just a few days ago 1 was
witness of one of those affairs which
makes the average American citizen
boil with rage at the railroad COM
panies. It was on the depot platform
at Newton. An old farmer who was
probably unaccustomed to travelling.
stepped up courteously to the big,
well-fed station agent. and said:
lean you tell me when train No.
will be in?'
mo said the railroad official gruf-
"'well, can you tell me where can
inquire to find out?' asked the farmer
timidly.
mo shot back the man in the
brass buttons, and without word of
explanation. turned on his heel and
II thought right then that if there
Is snythins that car be done 10 pro-
tect the public from groucfy station
agents, this board should do 1T. L be-
lieve that the board has the necessary
authority, but in order to be sure,
shall refer the matter to the attorney.
If he says we can make an order of
this kind, 1 will be in favor of making
it, I believe that the railroad COM
pany should be required to write on
a bulletin board the time when trains
are due the number of minutes or
hours late, and the cause of the delay
This information should be 1nforma-
ton which the passengers can de-
pend upon.
Il don't know whether it is by or
der of the railroad companies that
the correct information is withheld
from the public, but 1 suspect that 1t
is There would be a good reason for
information at points
where two or more roads compete for
business, because If a person knew
how late a train was, he might find he
could get better service by taking the
line"
The Stone bill. which was passed |
by the house at the last session of the |
legislature, and killed by the railroad |
attorneys in the senate, was as fol- |
lows:
Every railroad corporation, COM
pany or person operating a railroad /
within this state shall Immediately af- I
ter the taking effect of this act. cause
20 be placed in a conspicuous place in
each passenger depot of such COM
oany located at any station in this /
state at which there is telegraph or
telephone office, a blackboard of suit
able size upon which such company
,r person shall cause to be written at
east 80 minutes before the schedule +
irne for the arrival of each passenger
rain stopping upon such route at
such station, the fact whether such /,
rain is on schedule time or not, and
f late, how much; provided also that
my passenger trains not more than
i've minutes late shall be deemed to
)e on time as to the operation of this
Lct''
The penalty provided for neglect
ng or refusing to comply with the act
vas a fine Of $25 and costs.