The people's voice., 1959-10-30

new member he would come in
and recommend dealing summarily
with a veteran employe. He said
the words used by Burns had been
bit harsh.
Secretary to the Commission, John
D. Wheeler, called to the stand by
Arnold Olsen, testified that there is
no record in the minutes of the Com
mission indicating there was board
meeting attended by the people
named by Burns where Parsons and
Williams were supposed to have been
in attendance.
Keller brought out that only Off
cial action was recorded in the min
utes.
Mr.. Parsons, who was right-of-way
engineer for 25 years, said he re-
membered appearing before the
Commission, but he couldn't recall
that Williams was at any of them.
He said he and Williams didn't always
"see eye to eye' on things.
Burns said he welcomed the chance
for employees to appear before the
legislative investigating committee,
but that he was disappointed that
Williams did not call this to our
we thought he should
have told US if he felt that way
we had no objection"
He was asked why Williams was
denoted to space engineer, and Burns
replied, 'for two reasons; we felt
his work as program engineer was
being duplicated 1000 and there
was no reason to continue him in
that position. His employment rec
ord and his own personal appearance
indicated he was not well man and
we had to find something within the
range of his physical being for him
to do so he might continue until
retirement"
NO REPRISAL, BURNS INSISTS
He insisted nothing in the way
Of reprisal for testimony Williams
gave the Legislature was ever dis
,ussed.
Burns said he was "hot under the
collar" when he read the first press
release issued by Williams and imme-
liately called Quinnell and had him
set up conference call'' by phone
20 all the other members of the Com
mission at which time they decided
Williams usefulness was ended.
There has been confusion over the
act that Quinnell sent a memoran-
lum to Williams superior on the
natter of press releases on June 9Th,
mentioning Williams and
Erecting no press releases that did |
lot go through either the public re-
atoms officer or Quinnell. Williams
lid not issue any press releases until
une 29 or 80.
The question was asked a number
# witnesses, as to why the memo
andum was issued on June 9Th.
burns said as he recalled there was
worry that information was going
ut not in actual press releases but
or by memorandum and
hey Thought that was where it was
oming from in specific instances
rior to June 81.
CITED ON HEARSAY
When Quinnell was asked about
his matter he said he ''was told" GER
ain material that was coming out
-as "probably' coming from Will
ans so he issued the memorandum.
Asked if he looked into the mat
ter to see where the information
might be coming from he said he
hadn't. What the information was
Quinnell simply couldn't recall, he
said it was "bothersome, but / do
not remember. He was questioned
On this matter several times, but
try as he would he couldn't recall.
He said though annoying the in
formation being published wasn't
exactly wrong" I
1880 SUGGESTION
About the demotion of Williams he
i'd the work he was doing was being !.
uplicated and it had been suggested 4,
Y EBASCO that the position be n
;ro;no+ad Ha cold ERASCO hoe