The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-26
TAYLOR is OUT.
Railroad Attorney Displaced by
Governor Hoch.
s. s. Ashbaugh Named to Sue
coed Him.
END OF A LONG FIGHT.
Railroads Were Bitterly OPP
posed to the Old Attorney.
AppOintee an Able and Elk.
perienced Lawyer.

The railroads have won their fight
on Carr Taylor. S. S. Ashbaugh of
Wichita has been appointed by Cover
nor Hoch to succeed carr w. Taylor
of Hutchinson as attorney for the
state board of railroad commissioners.
The change becomes effective March
23rd.
For some weeks it has been known
that a hard fight was being made on
Taylor. and that Ashbaugh was the
man to land the place in case the fight
on Taylor should succeed. On Thurs
day the State Journal announced that
Ashbaugh was to get the place, but
the appointment was not formally Civ
en- out by Governor Hoch until Fri
day evening.
S. S. Ashbaugh is an attorney of
ability, and has done the heavy end
of the work In the Arkansas river law
suit between Kansas and Colorado He
has spent most of his time on that
case for the past four years, and he al
so has had good deal of experience
in practice before the Interstate Com
merce commission.
Carr Taylor has served two years as
attorney for the board and has in that
time secured the hearty dislike of
most of the politicians, and has also
won the confidence of the common
plug citizen. The people of the state
believe That Taylor is absolutely hon
est and untraInmelled by railroad in
fuence. He has not been afraid to say
what he thinks about railroads and
railroad attorneys, and the railroad
attorneys hate him. He was fought
bitterly by all of the old members of
the state board of railroad commits
stoners, because of the friction which
existed between him and the old
board Taylor publicly accused the
old board of being unfair to him and
to the shippers of the state, and de-
nounced the methods employed by the
old board for hampering his work
One of the old members of the board
has been especially energetic in lobby
ing against Taylor's appointment for a
second term, and the fact that Cover
nor Hoch has failed to reappoint him
will no doubt be claimed by the old
| board as a great victory and vindica-
tion
The fight on Taylor was based on
the ground that he was not able to
handle the cases of the state satisfac-
torily: and that he failed to present
the shippers side of the rate contro-
versies satisfa ctorily. Taylor claims
that he was unable to get together
much evidence because the railroad
board refused to allow him any money
to work with, and because there was
no freight rate expert employed by the
state to whom he could turn for in
formation and assistance.
New Board Also Opposed to Taylor.
Two of the members of the new
board of railroad commissioners were
also opposed to the reappointment OF
Taylor. because they believed that bet
tor work could be done by some at
torney who was not quite so hostile to
the railroads and so cordially -disliked
by the railroad attorneys. For some
time a strong effort has been made TO
line up the board solidly against Tay-
lor and for Ashbaugh, but one mem
ber-Ryan of Leavenworth-stood out
for Taylor. Ryker was opposed to
-
ton. It was expected that Ryker would
oppose Taylor, because of the long
standing political feud in Reno coun-
ty. in which Taylor fought Ryker Wig
orously.
Governor Wanted Harmony.
II have appointed Mr. AshbauRh."
said Governor Hoch last night, upon
the earnest solicitation of a great
many shippers of the state. particular
ly from that part of the state in which
an authority in rate matters and has
the confidence of the shippers and
wholesale men in his and other parts
of the state.
81 want this new railroad board to
make good. I want to give them every
chance possible. To do this they must
have an attorney who is in harmony
with them. Mr.. Ashbaugh is in per
feet harmony with the members of
the new board and / anticipate that
with his assistance the board can ac-
complish many things that the old
board was not able or did not do.
"T have no criticism to make of Mr..
Taylor. / have the utmost confidence
handled the matters in connection with
in his honesty and integrity. He
his office in good shape. But there
was considerable friction between him
and the old board and am afraid that
there would be trouble between Tay-
lor and the now board. We don't want
this condition to exist. There should
he perfect harmony. otherwise little
ca, he accomplished for the people.
1T have received dozens of letters
NJ Ashbaugh Every letter have
had is from shipper or wholesaler.
Not one has come from any source
that might make it smack of railroad
influence. 1 have great confidence IN
M Ashbaueh and believe he will give
the state good service.