The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-05
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Eleventh Hour Revision in In
dustrial Court Bill.
Provide Tribunal to Fix Both
the Rates and Wages.

Governor Aliens industrial court
bill has had an eleventh hour over
hauling-the result of statements by
constitutional lawyers who pointed to
flaws in the original draft. Under a
plan worked out at a conference sun
day afternoon and made known today,
the public utilities commission may
be absorbed by the new court. The
court. tho, is likely to become COM
mission with administrative powers
instead of a tribunal with judicial
powers.
Under the plan announced today. the
governors big feature bill will be
completely redrafted. II will be modf-
fled in many respects and will meet
criticisms of men who pointed to
flaws in the former measure. The
new bill with many teeth extracted. is
to be offered as the compromise meas
ure which will meet much of the criti
cism of labor leaders and will hold
water when the acid test is applied in
the supreme court.
BaIk on Appropriations.
Obstinate stands by legislative mem
bers who baked on appropriations for
a new $4,000 a. year commission or
court. may have been responsible for
the consolidation plan. Many legisla-
tive members who asserted they were
friendly to the general plan and pur-
pose of the bill. simply braced their
feet and refused to move when ap-
preparations were mentioned. They
refused to cast a vote for measure
which gave each of three members of
the court a salary of $1,000 a year
and provided other expensive frills.
Added to this attitude was the hostil-
ity of several members to the public
utilities COMMISSIONS combination
which threatened trouble later in the
session.
1t is probable that the new bill
will ask the legislature to merge the
public utilities commission with the
new industrial court or commission.
The combined body will hear wage dis
putes and will also pass on rate prob
lens of public utilities.
Wages and Rates.
One objection to the governors bill
was raised by public vice repre-
sentatives. They pointed to the fact
that the industrial court might grant
wage increases to their employees, but
that the public utilities commission
might be deaf, dumb and blind when
an increased rate proposal was sub
mitted by the employing corporation.
! The new measure is expected to pro-
vide that the question of wages and
rates will be taken up at the same
| time. In the-case of corporations not
operating under the public utilities
commission. the combination body
would inquire as to selling prices of
commodities, operating expenses and
profits to the company.
Several of the drastic provisions in
! the original bill relative to wage fixing
Amay be modified or entirely removed.
The new bill is still under discussion.
but that extensive notifications are
planned Is quietly admitted.
Confers with Lawyers.
Governor Allen has conferred with
Col. John s Dean, Fred Dumont Smith
and other lawyers relating TO constitu-
: tionality Of his proposed new law 1t
was because of flaws in the bill as
pointed out by these lawyers that
, changes were agreed to and arrange
ments made to consolidate the public
utilities commiz5ion with the new la
| Dor court Colonel Deans position
was made public several days ago. He
| held that the new court could not
| compel persons to work at fixed wage,
nor could employers be compelled to
pay stipulated wage. He declared
+, tho, that relief to the state could come
readily thru exercise of police powers
I prohibiting strikes and iock-outs and
! that such enactments will prevent a
! repetition of the coal strike trouble.