The Advocate and news., 1897-12-22
NEGLECT OFF LABOR's INTEREST.

NEGLECT OF LABOR's INTEREST.
What should be one Of the most i'm
portant departments Of the State gov
ernment Is in practically the same In
significant position that 1t held at the
time of It's creation, nearly thirteen
years ago. The State Bureau of Labor
and Industrial Statistics was established
in 1887, and the duty Of the bureau was
stated in the act to be ito collect, assort,
systematize and present in annual re-
ports to the Governor, to be by him BIZ
Pnnially transmitted to the Legislature,
statistical details relating to all depart
ments of labor and industrial pursuits
in the State, especially in their relation
to the commercial, industrial, social,
educational and sanitary condition OF
the laboring classes, and to the perma-
nent prosperity Of the productive IN
dustries Of the State" Since that time
there has been no change in the law;
the Commissioners duties are the same,
except that present conditions have
greatly enlarged their scope; he receives
the same 'meager salary, and 1t Is still
paid quarterly, although the Commits
slOner Is not usually man who steps
into the Office from position that has
given him the salary of bank presi-
dent; he is still required to visit and
inspect the principal factories, work
shops and mines In the State, although
that work in itself is more than enough
to keep two men busy all the time.
The law originally provided that the
Commissioner should have an ofice
with the Secretary of the State Board
OF Agriculture. He now has an otfice
in the south wing Of the State house, but
that Is the only additional notice that
has been taken OF his work
The work of the labor bureaus Is
really of vast importance. It Is soclo-
logical in its nature and it's results
are intended to be Of immeaswable
benefit to the people. The labor bureau
has been factor In advancing the well
fare OF the labOrlng classes ever since
It's inception, and 1t Is high time that
It should be rescued from the ignOmy
Of being Obliged to pose as a beggar
for assistance necessary to carry out
it's work. Labor Commissioner Johnson
Is constantaly hampered because he Is
supposed to do first-class work with
flfth-class facilities. The total amount
Of money which the State expends
yearly through the Labor Commissioner,
salaries and everything else, is a small
amount over $4,000, and on that sum he
is expected to do $4,000 worth Of work.
The Labor Commissioner Is not over
whelmed with favOrs from corporations
his railroad transportation is paid for
In cash, but that does not in any way
lessen the Importance of the work he Is
doing. His department comes nearer
to the people than any other, and he Is
closer in touch with their real condi-
ton and more in sympathy with their
needs
The increased interest in sociology is
arousing increased interest in bureaus
of this nature This Is instanced in the
almost daily inquiries received by Com
missioner Johnson for the reports of the
Kansas bureau. Other States are en-
larging the work and equipment of their
labor bureaus. Kansas, Of all States,
should not be behind in this matter.
The Labor Commissioner should have
a better and more cOmmodious Office,
a larger salary, paid monthly, more as
sistance and more funds with which to
carry on the work. He should not be
stinted. The workingmen of the State
should agitate this matter. Their most
direct representative at the capitol does
not occupy the position that the impor-
tance Of his Office demands, and they