The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-08-05

cent referred to amounts to ten per
cent week, or FIVE hundred and
twenty per cent per annum. This
evil practice had been going on in the
mining district for good many years,
and the miners own officials had
never asked for its correction. The
court corrected it upon its own mo-
ton.
On complaint of the linemen of the
Joplin & Pittsburg Railway Co., in
volving wage controversy, the
court ordered wage increase as fol-
lows: Ground men from AZ cents to
45 cents per hour; second-class line
men from 46A cents to so cents per
hour; 1rst-class linemen 49A cents
to 81 Il cents per hour.
The complaint of the train dis
patchers of an interurban railway
company in similar case was con-
sidered by the court. These men re-
ceived $3.50 per month. The court
found that the work was done by tele-
PAAOAAO anu nv ny ICACSIdpu1 LLdL AO
considerable length of time was re-
quired TO learn the business; that the
work In no sense has the responsible
ity of regular train dispatchers on
the steam railroad. Under all circum-
stances the court decided $3.50 is
fair wage and no increase was allow
ed.
The section foremen brought COM
plant in a similar case. They were
receiving 500 per month, which the
court increased to $115 per month.
The substation operators on an in
terurban road made complaint, ask
ing for an increase in salary. These
men were receiving S1O2.45 per
month. From the evidence in the
case it appeared that the work was of
such nature that often the wife or
one of the children of a substation
operator performed the duties, which
were light in their character and re-
quired on great skill. 1t was also
shown that these substation operators
nc~0 COAASAOCAdO4C LA1tAC 1O1 OIliC1 nO1h5
and under these circumstances their
wage was fair and no increase was
granted.
The track men, or maintenance of
way men, in a similar case, brought
action. The court found that these
men are all Americans; that they are
men of good intelligence and capable
in their line of work and that their
wage should be increasd from AZ
cents to 45 cents per hour.
The Topeka local union of the
Amalgamated Association of Electric
and Street Railway Companies
brought an action through their local
officers assisted by one of the interna-
tional vice presidents of that organ
ization. The court granted an in
crease in wages per hour as follows:
Car men (two-men cars), from 80 to
81 cents; car men (one-man cars), Al
to 55 cents; armature winders, As to
60 cents; comptroller men, from AZ II
to 55 cents; blacksmiths' helpers,
from az to 45 cents; carpenters, from
so to 55 cents; painters, As to 55
cents; painters helpers from 35 to
As cents; sweepers, 35 to As cents;
oilers, from 371z to As cents; pitmen,
from As to 55 cents; pitmen helpers,
from 40 to 45 cents; shop Iaborers, 40
to 45 cents; welders, SO to 55 cents
The supreme court of the state on
July 10, 1920, rendered decision
which holds the Kansas Industrial
Court constitutional
There are several wage petitions
before the Industrial Court now
brought by union laboring men. They
were heard and settled in July.
Wouldn't it be well, before con-
demning the Court of Industrial Rela-
tons, to give it an opportunity for a
fair try-out?
Yours fraternally,
A. L. Flemming,
n Y