The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-03
government Limits DRAFT
Clerks to $50 in Topeka.
Governor Sends Protest to the
Provost Marshal.
CAN'T GET HELP At THIS PRICE
Furthermore, More StenOgra-
pliers Would Be Necessary.
UncIe Sam Is Paying Higher
for Labor in the East.

Ender recent order from Pro-
vost Marshal Crowder. the headquar-
ties office in Topeka and the district
artbeal boards in Topeka and Wichita
mfy be unable to secure competent
clerks and stenographers for draft
w6fk Governor Capper appealed to
TIA war department for relief today
following protests from men in charge
orsthe draft work in this state
A. the revised rules recently sent
from washington and made effective
November 20, practically all clerks
and stenographers are limited to $50
a month. Since competent stenog-
raaohers are in demand at salaries
ranging from $50 to 500 and even
SIs5 a month. the appeal boards and
the headquarters offices in the state
honse are confronted with a serious
labor problem. Alfred Docking OF
Manhattan, a member of the second
district board at Wichita, today urged
Governor Capper to seek relief from
ths ruling. He said only inexperienced
ard incompetent assistance could be
secured at salaries offered by the gov
ernment.
Booking declared that the second
district board must handle its work
with inexperienced girls right from
the. business colleges unless the gov
"
competent clerical organization of the
board is now shattered, the Manhat-
tau. man said, because of the new or
der Commercial positions, he said,
offer the young women salaries far in
excess of that provided for the boards.
Hes cited the instance of one girl with
lirrited experience who had received
a $f5 salary under the old ruling, who
intin ediately resigned when the $50
order was made effective. She went
n 81 tp
a month";
Would Need More Persons.
Not only did Docking point to the
fact that only incompetent and ineti1-
Gent help could be secured at the sal
aries provided, but that the number
of persons needed to handle the work
would of necessity be greatly IN
creased. This fact, he urged, would
result in the government paying more
to handle the work with inexperienced
help than tho salaries were offered
which would attract experienced
workers. He further urged that the
present situation would retard the
work of the boards.
NTembers of both the first and sec
ond district boards have protested
seaInst TIE salary schedule to persons
below the chief clerk classification.
In-the office of Charles S. Huffman,
adfQtant general, a number of girls
confusion in Interpretation of the
rules. the girls have not received sal
arg checks since the new rules be-
came effective.
TT seems apparent that the new
salary schedule is not sufficient to at
tract experienced and competent
clerks and stenographers, said Gov
ernOr Ca per. and l have asked the
department to make changes in the
rules as affecting the appeal boards
and. headquarters office. In order to
handle the work promptly and eff
cieHtly. it will undoubtedly be neces-
sary to pay wages consistent with
these paid in commercial service and
it adoes not seem that $50 month is
an=adequate wage"
Docking told the governor the
board had tried volunteer service. He
intimated the service was worth the
price paid.
Recently the government has made
nation-wide appeals for stenographers
for department work in Washington.
Stenographers who go to Washington
receive $1,000 to $1,000 a year. AS
a result of the abnormal demand and
the necessity of filling thousands of
positions with female labor the stem
togrHphers are now having an inning
of-their own. And the wage scale
has gone far above the salaries Of
fered by the government in connec-
ton with the draft