The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-24
TOOK HIS MIGHTY
State House Night Waterman
Carried SatcheI to Work.
Now He Complains Because of
Time Clocks in Capitol.
nnNrn IIVr A fflIkI V0I9Tv
LOOKED LIKE A "WALKOUT"
Executive Council Trying to
Avoid General Strike.
Strenuous Existence Would Be
Hard sson the Boys"

Twentieth century fire protection
methods at the state house and nine
teenth century ideas of watchman's
duties in the 6-milion dollar Kansas
state house don't jibe. AS result the
state executive council. comprising
Governor Capper, Attorney General
Brewster, Earl Akers and W. E. Davis,
spent two hours this morning endeav-
oring to arrange matters so as to avoid
a strike among the night watchmen
who object strenuously to the extra
work placed on their shoulders by the
installation of nine Western Union time
clocks.
w. c. Carswell, manager of the
Western Union in Topeka, was pres
ent at the meeting and told members
of the council of methods pursued in
real business concerns where the
watchmen begin ringing the clocks at
6 o'clock in the evening and continue
to do so unity 6 o'clock in the morn
ing. 1t seemed to be the consensus of
opinion that such a strenuous exist
ence would be hard on 1.-The boys" and
as a result It was decided, tentatively,
to begin ringing clocks at 10 o'clock
and continue the operations hourly I'M
til 6 o'clock in the morning.
Ran Him Out.
Before the executive council this
morning, Col. A. G. Hanback,, state
house custodian, unfolded his troubles
At considerable expense, nine time
clocks were placed in various parts of
the building and on Thursday night
the man in charge of Topeka time
clocks for the Western Union called at
the building and told the watchmen he
would teach them how to ring the
clocks. They chased him out
The next day, one of the watchmen
who had been on the states payroll
for nearly fifteen years called on the
colonel and rendered his resignation.
The colonel advised him not to be
hasty and the Waterman consented to
abide by the coloneFs advice. He
hasn't resigned but has been on the
sick list ever since.
Colonel Hanback, insists that a six
million dollar state house containing
the valuable records it does should be
guarded by time clocks twelve hours
during the night the same as business
concerns. But members of the council
didn't wish to be hard on the men.
Colonel Hanback, told of one of the
watchmen who carried a. satchel to
work each night. The colonel finally
asked him what the satchel contained.
Twas a Night Gown.
Its my night gown" was the reply.
stalled. the colonel told him that it
wouldn't be necessary to carry his
night gown to work any more.
Wen see," replied the Waterman.
The men complain that ringing nine
clocks on five floors once each hour
keeps them too busy. 1t is estimated
that a complete tour of all the clocks
will take from thirty to forty minutes
and with two watchmen ringing them,
as would be the case, it would take
about twenty minutes. From now I'M
til May /, nothing will be done and
then the 10 o'clock until 6 O'Clock in
the morning service will be come eff
fective. Whether the watchmen will
consent to this, or not is not known.
]. T. Botkin, another member of the
executive council, was not present at
the meeting this morning