The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-22
KANSAS COMMENT


MAKE Personal INVESTIGATION
mere IS so much contradiction in
the gas testimony coming before the
state utilities commission, SO great diff
| Ierence OF opinion as to whether the
Kansas Natural Gas company can get
sunLlclent gas to supply the cities it
serves, that it would appear wise for
the commissioners to take a trim to
the gas field and investigate the mat
ter Tor themselves. At present there
y widespread belief that the gas
company can, at no unreasonable ex-
& pense, secure plenty of gas. there is
good ground for this belief and the
people will never be satisfied to pay
an advanced rate unless the commits
sloHers DO make thorough investi-
saion before ordering the advance.
And while investigating this matter
IL might be we'll to look into the per-
sonnet of the different local gas COM
Pahies. Why is it that the attorneys
ing the raise and the attorneys of
others are asking the privilege of alb
rosatlng their contracts with the peo-
PIE OF their cities and raising the
rates why does the Leavenworth
company ask to raise the rates and
the Iopeka company ask that they
remain the same? Why does the at
torney for the Olathe company ask
tnat the rates be raised and the at
torney for the Atchison COMPANY ask
tnat the request of the Kansas Nat
urai Gas company be refused. why
does the Wyandotte company demand
the right to pay an increased amount
TO the Kansas Natural? There is
something queer about this. something
tnat needs investigation.-Leave
worth Times.
THE WAGE BILL.
The legislature failed to pass the
minimum wage bill and perhaps il is
as Wen that 1T did. Such a law would
probably make more hardship than it
would remedy. The probability is that
Where one woman would get her
wages raised by it two would lose their
jobs.
1t appears to be a hard matter to
regulate but every lover of his kind
must heartily wish that something
might be done to compel the employ
ers of women whose incomes warrant
it to pay them more liber ally.
Just now an investigation is being
conducted by a committee of the ILL
nois legislature looking toward the
betterment of women workers and
they are getting some interesting tes-
timony. One man, for instance whose
house earned $1,000, 900 profit in 1911,
testified that IS a week was enough
for girl who lives at home and So
week for girl who is entirely de-
pendent upon herself.
1t is hard to understand why these
women should have such beggarly
pay and their employers such princely
incomes. 1t arouses the indignation
of those who believe in a square deal.
But how to apply the remedy THAT
is the question.-Leavenwo Times
o.
THE HIGH SCHOOL DAY.
There are still few high schools in
smaller cities that cling to the utterly
discredited single session organization.
Glasses assemble at s O'Clock or a half
hour later and all the pupils are dis
missed at half past IL or 1. There
never was a greater mistake made by
our school authorities. The single
SCI sion high school day is scheme
that not only wastes half the pupils
opportunities for learning things
that are useful, but doubles all his
opportunities for acquiring knowl-
edge and skill that are detrimental
High school boys and girls are dis
missed shortly after noon on the the
DRY that they will prepare their lessons
at home. Not 5 per cent of such stu
dents ever do any really serious study
outside of the school room. The aver
age home is not a very good place for
a student to prepare the next days
work. There is always something for
the girls to do in assisting with the
work. The boys spend on the streets
or in worse places the time that should
be given up to study.
The new school administration
.he high school stay or The job until
a O'clock each school day and the new
city administration should close up
every pool room that allows any school
boy to use a cue before 4:3O or 5
osoI< Il fol mi