The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-04

state With the big howl that is now
| going Up over Kansas at this time it
is practically impossible for them to
obtain the confidence of any institu
ton.
1T has been stated from the head
| quarters of the Missouri Pacific in the
east that the present knocking and
growing that is going on in Kansas is
| hurting the Missouri Pacific. and is
| having a direct effect upon their stock
and credit. The Missouri Pacific has
promised Kansas and her attorneys
| faithfully that they will repair the
road in this state.
Presumably the above interview is
| in the exact language of the board
| which was handed in by them to the
Journal
"Now the above is certainly refresh
ing to the patrons along the line in
Kansas.
"This in effect says to the United
Commercial Travellers that the rail-
road board does not want to hear
them, and that they have all the in
gest.
land in other words they served
notice to the people along the line of
the road that they don't want to hear
any more complaints because it is dis
agreeable to them and not palatable.
Now suppose the board of railroad
commissioners will furnish the people of
Kansas who live along the line of the
Missouri Pacific some information as
IfollOws. i-z -
''First-What road are they Improving,
certainly not the Central Branch?
Are they improving the roa6 down
about Salina, where the people accord
ing to the public prints held an indig
nation meeting a few days ago and
petitioned the board to make them i'm
Lrove their track? Or was it on the
road running from Fort Scott to To-
peka, where they had a wreck a few
he
where the wreck took place asked the
board to make them improve their
tracks?
LAS a matter of fact it is like milk
sickness in Indiana. is it not? worst in
the next township
In other words there aren't any peo-
pie along the line of the Missouri Pa
cific in Kansas. who know of any i'm
provenents gCing on along the line OF
the road, AMI the board of railroad
hearsay. In other words they won't
know until the sworn report of the
n anagers' of the road is filed
before the board of commissioners at
he hearsay.
you say that the railroad is trying
to establish credit and obtain money
by which to repair the road. Are we
to infer that a road which is mort
gagged for SAT 900 per mile, more than
road cost in the first instance, twice
over, are they going to try and Dor
row money on too of the other indebt-
eGness, instead Of using the net earn
Iings of the road. to repair them, if
that is your position or the position OF
the board it will be a long time in the
future before they will be able to Dor
row any more money on Missouri Pa
cific securities, and no one knows it
be tier than the board, just simply an
other wad of hot air.
RI he reDort of the
Missouri Pacific officials under oath to
the board of railroad commissioners. IT
was shown amongst other things that
the Central Branch proper, made net,
a bout 100000 during the last year, why
doesn't the board make an order re-
quiring them to use this money in re-
pairs along the line of this road, in
stead. as the board claims, they are
doing they are repairing the main
Inc.
why has the board so many excuses
for the Missouri Pacific in Kansas, we
supposed the railroad commissioners
had authority to act and do something
irstead of apologizing all the time for
the railroads. the Missouri Pacific can
do this?
IF the board of railroad commission
ers will order them to use their surplus
earnings to repair the road, l. won't
make any difference if they do so and
use the money accordingly for that
purpose, then it won't make any diff
ference how much kicking or how many
resolutions are passed by an aged
constituency the repairs will go on just
the same, or it don't make any differ
eEce if the price of stock does 50 down.
do they expect that the price of stock
on their road is a going to remain up,
on account of Dragging and talking in
its favor by the people along its right
of way?
Now as a matter of fact the people
in this section of the country voted
for the present board of railroad COM
missioners under the belief that they
had some authority and power 10 make
examinations. and Investigations, and
re port thereon. and they must have
thought the same thing, because public
report says that they had a track walk
err what does the board use him for.
just to put in his time. and make re-
ports to the board. and then after the
reports are received go to sleep?' which
apparently you have done in the case of
the Missouri Pacific.
After you received these reports, as
you undoubtedly have, why doesn't the
hoard take some action to enforce your
mandate?