The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-15
Suit to Compel Transfer of
Property in Supreme Court.
State Acts in Behalf of $4,000
Employees of System.
POLICY HAS BEEN DOMINATED
Charge That Railway Does Not
Solicit Employees Help.
Suit Today Involves Big Rail-
way Hospital in Topeka.

On behalf of employees OF the santa
Fe System. the attorney generals Of
flee todav filed suit in the supreme
court to compel the railroad to turn
over to its employees complete control
and management of hospital prop
critics, equipment and securities val
ued at more than a million dollars.
The suit was filed by Judge Egan,
assistant attorney general, following
a prolonged controversy between the
railroad and employees regarding hos
pital management.
Involved in the litigation begun to-
day is the big Santa Fe hospital in
Topeka The railroad also maintains
hopitals at Ottawa and Mulvane,
Kansas. Hospitals at other points
along the system are: Fort Madison,
Iowa; La Junta. Colo; Clovis, Las
Vegas and Albuquerque. New Mexico.
Associated with the attorney generals
office-in the capacity of private
counsel retained by railroad employees
are James A. Troutman and Ed
McKeever OF Topeka.
interests $1,000 Employees.
1t was stated by Judge Egan today
that 340UO Santa Fe employees are
interested in the action. hospital
properties and equipment are said 10
have a physical valuation of $SOO,OOp-
In addition to this property, it is re-
ported that 100000 worth of hos
pital securities are now i'll the hands
Of Z. L. Copeland. treasurer of the
Santa Fe, who acts as trustee for the
hospital interests.
The suit today seeks to divorce the
railroad company entirely from its
participation in management or con-
troll of policies of the various hos
p.tals.
In the petition the state--whieh
loaned its name for the filing of the
case-asserts that the hospitals are
maintained thru a monthly assess
ment of employees. This assessment
amounts to so cents a month for each
employe. In consideration of. this as
sessment the employees receive hos
pital benefits free.
Dominate the Control.
Statements by members of the at
torney generals staff today, based on
charges said TO have been filed by en-
ployes. are to the effect that the rail
road company has dominated the pol
icy of the hospitals and has been in
control of hospital staffs. The en-
ployes seek full and complete man
agemcnt and control of the hospitals.
bylaws of the hospital association
provide for management of the insti-
tutions by a board of trustees. This
general manager Of the system, super
intendent of mechanics and superin-
tendent of transportation and two
men appointed by the railroad from a
list of men recommended by the en-
ploye members of the association.
The petition. however, asserts that it
is not mandatory that the railroad
make it's selection of trustees from
names submitted by employees. It is
also urged that emplo. es have no di-
rect voice in administration of the
hospitals or in defining hospital poll
cies. The court is asked to divorce
the railroad entirely from any rela-
tionship with the hospitals and to
turn the property entirely over to the
employees.
Litigation begun today is the culmi-
nation of a long drawn out contro-
versy. Following a recent confer
ence with employees the attorney gem
erals office agreed to loan the name
of the state for the purpose of the ac-
ton and to provide counsel for pros
ecution of the case in the supreme
court. From a fund provided by the
employees Troutman and McKeever
were retained as special counsel to as
sist in trial OF the case.
No statement was forthcoming from
the Santa Fe this afternoon. as Off
cials said they had not yet seen
copy of the petition.