The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-10
Gathering Statistics on Labor
Question in Topeka.
VIII Show That $1.25 Day
Is UnskilIed Schedule.
KEEP UP CHARITY WORK
To Provide Labor Despite In
dustriaI Council Efforts.
Hundreds Anxious to Accept
City's Scale of Wages.

From the information received up
to date it is doubtful. according to
statements from the city officials, if the
current scale of unskilled labor in To-
peka is more than $1.25 day rms
preliminary investigation eNplOdeS che
theories OF Labor Commissioner Doyle
and the Topeka Industrial council that
the city is paying too low scale TO
the men who are working below the
AIeian bridge and in cutting trees.
The CITY officials have been collect
ing labor scales from contractors, rail-
roads and Industries over the city ana
it is found that very little labor IS
worth more than $1.25 a day at TINS
time The state labor commissioner
and the Industrial council have been
making attempts to close down the
city charity work at $l-25 day cam
ing that it will be hard on the labor
ing men. The city is paying $l-25
day and furnishing work that the poor
and needy may have food and tuei
Labor Commissioner Doyle viii send
a written statement to the city com
1nissioners soon and explain his SIDE
of the question. Personally, Doyle
has EXPRESSED himself in favor OF Civ
ing work TO the poor but he IS pelhg
pushed by the Industrial council anu
is threatening to demand that the city
STOP the work or pay more than Sl-2o
a day.
The city organized the entire work
for the beneflt of the idle men in tie
city. The work is really not necessary
and the city has very little money -
throw away but it was deemed neces-
saTy that the hundreds o. Ialnllles ~
the city be maintained by some NUM-
cipal action At S1.25 cay the CITY
IS swamped with requests for work.
If the labor commissioner and tls
industrial council have their way ire
city will close down the work and nun
dreds of men will be LEFT to StaTNe. Ilie
labor commissioner and the council
have made no attempts to ma WorN
for the men and the city officials clam
they are unable to pay more IMAM Ill
n day ana work many men,
Commissioner Tandy stated this al
ternoon that it was really costing the
CITY s. a day for the work under tn,
Melan bridge. The sand is frozen ana
has to be taken out in chunks If tire
work was postponed until spring or
summer il could be done much faster
and at less expense. But the city is
trying to keep the poor in food ana
Mayor Billiard said the city was ready
10 listen and consider the demands OF
the state labor eomnisslonerMiit ne
would only submit a proposition ~
some kind He has told the commls-
sioners that they must pay q current
scale-but the commissioners have Deei
unable to obtain the scale from the
state official.
The Resolutions Adopted.
The resolutions adopted by the To
peka Industrial council condemn'ng the
city work read;
whereas. Every labor skinner IN
Topeka. and even some officials who
are the supposed friends of labor, de
fend the reduction of wages OF certain
city employees to one dollar and
quarter per day under the pretense
that the city cannot afford to pay
whereas. Every friend of labor
knows tnat if the city can pay Sl-2o
for two dollars worth of work, 1t
rIflT Il Ter.
for five dollars worth of work; and
Whereas. This reduction of wages
has already caused other employers OF
labor to begin to talk of reducing the
nav of those who work for them, below
The living standard; therefore. be it
Resolved We ask every friend Of
Justice. and those who were elevated
10 high offices, by the votes Of the
working class, to use their influence
to the end that the unfOrtunates of
the working class who are employed
by the city. may no longer be COM
PEELED to accept low wages, but re-
ceive full pay for the work they do;
and be it further
Resolved. That we now. and at the
coming election, will impress upon all
union men, and lovers of fair play and
Justice to work. and vote for those /
who are the true friends of labor, af-
ter election. as we'll as before and I'M
der no circumstances to vote for any
man who favOrs a dollar and a quarter
or a QOIdI anu d lAo44, VI ally dAlACul4t
less than the standard of wages for
that class of work; and be it further
Resolved. That we heartily indOrse
the action of Labor Commissioner !
owen Doyle for his action in bringing
the attention of the city officers to
this matter, and the decided stand he
has taken for the general Improvement
OF labor conditions.
Resolved. That copies Of this reso- 4
luton be sent to the mayor and city
commissioners and to the press"