The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-08
Railroad Board Says There Was
No Secret Meeting.
Nevertheless State Journal Re-
porter Was Refused Admission.
REPLY TO SHEPPARD.
Say They Intend to Pay for
Own Meals.
Have Invited Labor Commits
siOner Johnson on Trip.

E. C. Sinner, secretary of the state
board of railroad commissioners, this
morning made public the reply of the
etate board of railroad commissioners to
]. 1. Sheppard's telegram which is print
ed elsewhere in this paper.
The letter is as follows:
Topeka, Kan. July s. 1907.
Mr.. ]. l. Sheppard, Secretary National
Union Railway Trackmen, Fort Scott,
Kansas.
Dear Sir: The board is in receipt of
your message published in the morning
papers. As you have been advised, the
board will begin an inspection of the
tracks of the Missouri Pacific Railway
company at Horace, Tuesday, July 9.
The board has made no order that rep
Iesentatives of your organization will
not be permitted to accompany 1T, neith-
er has the board invited the represen-
tatives of the railroad company to ac-
company it. The investigation is open.
Owing to the plea in abatement which
has been filed by the attorneys for the
railroad company raising the question as
to your association being a proper party
complainant and the jurisdiction of the
board to make valid order based upon
such complaint, it would be impractical
BILE for the board under the law and its
rules of practice to further pursue in
vestigation under your complaint at
this time.
Appreciating the gravity of the
charges made by you and the necessity
that the travelling public be afforcc1
every protection the board has con-
cluded to make an immediate tnVestl-
CATION of the track conditions without
regard to your complaint in order that
1t may be possessed of reliable 1nfcr-
nation regarding such conditions II
the plea in abatement is oVerrllled,
hearing upon your complaint Will he
ordered. The board is not responsible
for newspaper reports that it will
make the inspection on special train
n nriVatp OF one OF the rail-
way officials" These newspaper re-
ports are untrue. Your inference that
company would be incidental to such
trip is both unfair and uncaIled sor.
The statutes provide that the railroad
companies shall furnish members anu
employees of the board with transpoI ta-
ton in the investigation contemplated.
No favors will be solicited or received
from the railroad company. The trans
pOrtation furnished Will be in cOmpl1-
ance with the law and there is ample
state appropriation to meet all leglu-
mate requirements and the state Will
not be embarrassed by acceptance OF
gratuitieS from either the Missouri IA
cific Railway company or the National
Union of Railway Trackmen. The
newspaper story alleging that the board
was in secret meeting with j. H. Rich
ards a representative of the Missouri
Pacific discussing this case, Is unQuan-
fiedly and wholly false. Mr.. Richards
appeared before the board in open ses-
tngs were open to any and all persons !
Your estimate of the character of rep
resentatives of the railroad companies |
has as little bearing on the questions |
at issue as the estimate of your charac- |
ter and motives which have been forced |
upon the board by other parties, to this |
litigation. The board desires to be inn |
partial and just in its investigation OF
track conditions. 1t does not wish to be |
hampered by either personal or political |
prejudice. 1t will proceed in its own /
way TO fairly determine the truth or |
falsity of the charges made by you. NO |
injustice will be done you, the organfza-
ton you represent, the railroads or the |
state and the board hopes and suggests |
that hereafter during the pendency OF
the investigation that you will refrain |
from unfair attacks based on deductions
drawn from false and malicious stories
printed in irresponsible newspapers I
Spectacular appeal to popular pre-
1udice is not calculated to serve the
end of justice. The board trusts that
YOU will therefore cooperate with 1t
in the investig CATION rather than at
tempt to embarrass it.
Mr.. w. L. A. Johnson, labor COM
missioner and factory inspector of the
state of Kansas, has been invited by |
the board to accompany it on this in
spection as a representative of the Ia
Dor interests of the state and the in
vitation has been accepted.
Respectfully, E. c. SINNER,
Secretary.