The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-29
First Order in Wage Contro-
versy by Industrial Court.
Linemen for Edison Company
Get 715 Cents an Hour More.
POINT OUT COST OF LIVING
Judge Higgins Tells of Prob
lens Laboring Men Face.
Company Offered to Grant
Raise of 219 Cents an Hour.

The Kansas court of industrial re-
lations today issued an order granting
linemen for the Topeka Edison COM
pany an increase in wages from SO
cents an hour to 671s cents an hour.
This was the first order in a wage con-
troversy handed down by the court
since it's establishment
The men asked for an increase of 10
cents an hour. The company offered
them an increase of IA cents an hour
The order affects only three linemen
but the action of the court in taking
cognizance of testimony relative to q
1875 per cent increase in the cost OF
living since 1913 when the men were
receiving $2.75 a day and the general
tenor of the courts action in granting
the increase was looked upon as be-
ing of statewide Importance. The
linemen were members of Local Union
No. S41, International Brotherhood OF
Electrical Workers.
When the complaint was first filed.
the linemen demanded a settlement
relative to basic eight-hour day This
was settled during the hearing which
continued for two days. to the salts
faction of the company and the en-
| ployes.
Higher Cost of Living.
Judge w. L. Higgins, chairman of
the court. in writing his opinion grant
| ing the wage increase. points to the
ever increasing cost of living that
workmen must face. He said:
"One of the workers testified that
! clothes for the past four years: that
pair of working shoes he formerly paid
| $3.50 for last year he paid $6 for and
that this year they cost SO.
THE evidence shows that the cost of
| the coal used by these employees in
! H.
during the past winter the price of the
same coal was S10.50 ton. The evil
dence also shows that decently habita-
BILE houses in the city OF Topeka rent
for from so per cent to so per cent
more than they did a few years ago
1t is only fair, however, to state that
the evidence shows a slight decrease
in the price of some food products
within the last month or six weeks
and 1t is hoped that there will be fur
ther decline in these unprecedented
and exorbitant prices"
Judge Higgins points out that
while the wages for such work in
Leavenworth. Atchison, Manhattan,
junction City and Pittsburg are less in
most instances. that in Kansas City.
Kan, and in Wichita linemen get IS
per day.
These towns" writes Judge Hug
gins in his opinion, ARE smaller towns
where fewer men are employed and
peka as are Wichita and Kansas City.
Employment Continuous.
During the hearing it was pointed
out that inside workmen doing similar r
work in wiring houses were receiving
81 per day.
THE evidence" writes Judge Hug
gins. shows that while the employ
ment of these outside linemen is prac-
tically continuous, the inside or build
ing trades men are engaged in work
which is more or less seasonal in its
character and not continuous"
Judge Huggins also points TO the
danger of this employment, mentions
casualties which have befallen line
men here and brought out the fact
that the men involved in the appIica-
ton are all experienced inemen. Re-
ferring again to the high cost OF liy-
ing he writes:
Speaking approximately. the prizes
OF food has increased by November
1919 over November. 1913. 100 pei
cent; clothing 155 per cent and fuTni-
ture and furnishings. 1856 per cent"