The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-20
Frank ]. Ryan, Utilities Com
missioner, Is Peeved.
Doesn't Understand Why Ex-
pense Voucher Is Held Up.
EXPLAINS HIS MISSION.
Went to st. Louis to See Missouri
Pacific Officials.
Details Matters That Were Con.
sidered at Time.

The argument between Frank Ryan
and the other members of the board Of
public utilities has reached the point
where Mr. Ryan threatens to go to
court and mandamus the other mem
bers to compel them to Q. K. his ex-
pense bill for his t. Louis trip in July.
The other members of the board have
| repeatedly refused to allow Ryan's ex-
| pense bill for his St Louis trip in July
| though he has an opinion from the at
/ tOrney general that the bill is a just
| one, and that the trip was made on
| official business. Ryan feels that he
must use the courts to force an issue
and show the true situation to the
public, which has been told in inter-
/ views from the other members of the
board that his St. Louis trip was d
| personal junket, and unofficial. Re-
| Gently Commissioners Plumb and
White said they would O. K. the bill
/ If the attorney general gave FAVOR
able opinion. They went before Attor-
ney General Dawson, and Dawson sug-
| gested that Ryan write letter to the
other commissioners, covering the de-
| tails of the trip. Ryan did TINS, put
White and Plumb still refuse to o. X
| the bill and Ryan is headed for the
| courts 1t appears that White 0. K. 5
Plumb's bills, Plumb o. ks White s.
and everything is lovely for all con-
cerned except Ryan. who IS in the role
Of minority member This is the letter
upon which Ryan got a favorable de-
cision from the attorney general but
third or fourth rebuff at the hands or
his fellow board members:
Topeka, Sept. 49,
George Plumb, Chairman Public Utili-
ties Commission:
Dear Mr.. Chairman-Pursuant to our
conference with the attorney general
this forenoon and as per his suggestion
I now make report to the board con-
cerning my journey to St Louis. FIRST
let me say that had no personal bust
ness in St. Louis and transacted no
private business of any kind. I went
to st. Louis just as / have frequently
gone to other places outside or the
state on public business. You must be
aware that the individual members or
the board take up with the various
railroads a multitude of matters Whlcn
are never the subject of any formal
hearing before the board. Doubtless
YOU and Mr.. White have done this
yourselves.
I went to st. Louis to see the man
agement of the Missouri Pacific on the
Altoona matter, which needs no ex-
pIanation. other than it was pending
before the board at the time; and also
for the purpose of doing what | could
to hurry up the rebuilding of the depot
at Holton.
1 had been advised of its destruction
nv fire and was anxious to aid the
people of that community to secure
ADEQUATE facilities and a new depot at
the earliest possible time
7 talked with Assistant General Man
ager Mcpherson on this subject and
n11+ If in the strongest possible light
that the people of HOlton would De
greatly Inconvenience until new de-
not was furnished, and secured from
Mr. Mcpherson promise that the
plans and specifications would receive
Immediate consideration and that the
work would be pushed with all con-
venient speed
Another matter which was the pur-
pose of my visit to St. Louis was one
that has been the subject of frequent
complaint to me by travelling men OF
kansas. It has been frequently called
to nv attention that the road in ques-
ton evades the law which requires
that messengers be carried on all regu-
lar freight trains; in some instances
nv running special and extra freights.
7 had promised various comm ercial
bodies which had called my attention
to this practice, that on my first Visit
to st. Louis / would take that up.
This matter, as we'll as the complaint
originating at Salina regarding this
same subject, also took up with Mr.
Mcpherson and he promised that the
matter would be investigated without
delay. with a view to correcting the
abuse, and if at all practicable
change would be made to satisfy the
travelling men regarding this service.
There was another matter about which
was especially anxious and that was
the improvements on the Central
Branch. 1t had been rumored about
that time that the work on the Cen
trail Branch of the Missouri Pacific
ordered in August, 1909, by the board,
and which had been proceeded with
with more or less diligence since that
time, was to be suspended. I have
always taken a deep interest in that
subject I do not know if the other
members of the board have been So
Ucited and importuned by the people
served by the Central Branch as much
as I have but this is a matter that is
never permitted to go to sleep by the
patrons of the Missouri Pacific in the
northern part of this state, and when
this report came out that the work was
to be suspended, thought it of suffi-
cinet Importance to take the matter up
with the management right away In
that interview President Bush assured
me that it was his intention to push
the work of improvement as rapidly as
possible I there concluded from the
conversation had with President Bush
that the recent change in the manage
ment did not indicate that the former
orders of the board would not be
obeyed; but that everything possible
was being done by the management
along the lines of improvement. Trust
ing that my activities as above outlined
will meet the approval of the board
and that the board will o. K. the ex-
pense voucher of $19.40 incurred
therein, remain.
a0f