The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-18
OPEN A new VEIN
Industrial Court Row Apparent
in Order Today.
Higgins and Wark to Look Over
Reeds Expenses.

Judges Higgins and Wark of the
court of industrial relations took steps
today to curtail Judge Reeds ex-
penses. The move gave new color to
the row which has broken out in in
dustrial court circles and is attracting
state wide attention.
In an order signed today by the two
judges, all expense items by members,
officers and employees of the court
must be- approved by the presiding
judge or someone authorized by writ
ing TO act for him. For some weeks
court judges are known to have been
in frequent disagreement regarding
the use of state funds for incidental
Gus clashes as to expense accounts
have been current in the state house
since early last spring.
Trouble over the use of state funds
for telephone and telegraph is said to
have started when Judge Reed regis
tered > long list of telephone calls. 1t
is reported that payment of these
items were protested by Judges Hug
gins and Wark. Subsequently these
items are Said to have been carefully
scrutinized and segregated.
Sending of lengthy kilograms and
piling up of heavy tolls for all man
ner of wire service, as well as gener-
Il
press clipping service and other items
of expense have at times brought forth
rather pointed discussions as to ex
pense matters Now the two judges
have taken the matter in their own
hands. They have issued and signed
the order which is now ready for
Judge Reeds approval
Goes to Higgins.
Under the new decree Judge Hug
~
pense before provision for such ex-
pense is made by any court member,
officer or employe- In event Judge
Higgins is unable to give this matter
his personal attention. the order au-
thorizes him to place the power in the
hands of another party.
The action of the two court judges
follows a series of industrial court
clashes. Trouble which has been
brewing for some weeks became a
matter of common public knowledge
recently when Judge Reed wrote 4
dissenting opinion in the Kansas City
telephone case and refused to sign the
Topeka street railway rate order. Nor
were conditions improved when n
Kansas City, Mo, newspaper heralded
Judge Reed as a trusted friend OF the
people and branded Judges Huggins
and Wark as corporation lawyers.
There was brand new flare-up when
Judge Reed urged appointment of
Charles S. Holbrook as "a special in
vestigator and the two lawyer judges
refused to approve his employment
Tho Court Order.
Following is the order issued today
by Judges Higgins and Wark:
IT Is HEREBY ORDERED BY THE
COURT: That in the future no expenses
be incurred by any member OF the cpurt,
or by any officer or empioye OF the court
penses, except upon the order of the pre-
Siding judge, or. in his absence of some
one authorized in writing by him to act
in his stead. This order is subject only
to vote of the court in conference or regular
session, and is also subject to actual nee
essary telegraph or telephone expenses by
any member of the court, or employe there
If, when away from Topeka
1t is to be regretted that the indus
trial court row has entered public
channels. The order issued by Judges
Higgins and warl1 today clearly in
dfcates internal trouble and the ap-
parent willingness to air views thru
the press
The dissenting opinions of Judge
Reed, when viewed originally by the
public did not indicate family SQUAD
BILE in the court. Supreme court jus
tices often render dissenting opinions
but none considers lack of coopera-
tive effort in their work.
The travelling expense order today
is too apparent to overlook.
The State Journal always has been
an ardent supporter of the Industrial
court. 1t will continue to be so. The
law is all right. And the selection OF
the three judges undoubtedly was
made wisely. The only feature the
public demands is little less friction.
Lack OF harmony weakens the influ-
ence. the prestige and the ability of
the court.