The Washington herald., 1920-04-26

Published 10 The Washington
Herald.
Kansas City. April 25.-There Is
nothing weak or vacillating In the
Kansas Industrial Court law. 1t is
a bold, aggressive move by the
government to assume complete con-
troll over labor and capital engaged
in the production and moving of ne
cessities- The law gives out no sop
to the unions or to the manufac-
turers- 1t tells men not to strike
and employers not to lay men OF
and close shop. 1t proposes abso-
lutely that the State has entire jur-
isdiction over men and property en-
gagged in the production of general
necessities of life, such as food, fuel
and clothing. and of public utilities
1t is the only court ever estab-
1ished where litigation may be con-
Quoted free. The provision that a
poor laborer, whether a member OF
a union or not may have equal
rights with the millionaire. was in
sisted upon by Governor Henry ]
Allen and Richard J. Hopkins, at
torney-general. 1t is admitted that
the law is drastic. but the best law
yers in Kansas have said that the
act will stand the test in courts and
is constitutional. The following is
summary of the law and its pro-
visions:
1. Establishes an industrial court
of three judges, appointed by the
Governor. with three-yeah terms.
.. Salaries of judges. $1,000.
;. Court given full power and
authority to supervise all public
utilities and all common carriers in
the State.
Food, Clothes, and Fuel.
4. The operation of the following
named employments, Industries and
common carriers determined and de.
clared to be affected with the pub
lie interest and subject to super
vision for the purpose of "preserv-
ing the peace, protecting the public
health, preventing industrial strife
disorder and waste, and securing
regular and orderly conduct of the
business directly affecting the liv-
ing conditions of the people of the
State and in the promotion of the
general welfare; manufacture and
preparation of food products, in any
stage of process from their natural
state to a condition to be used as
food for human beings; manufacture
OF clothing and all wearing apparel;
the mining or production of fuel
either for domestic or manufactur-
ing purposes; the transportation OF
any of the above products.
5. The court is given power to
supervise, direct and control the
operation of the industries and en-
ployment named in the act and all
public utilities and common car
riers" named in the act, and to do
all things needful for the proper
and expeditions enforcement of the
law"
s. Court is authorized to adopt
rules and regulations to govern its
proceedings and to enforce it's or
ders.
Z. Declared to be necessary for
the public peace. health and general
welfare that all industries and en-
ploynents named in the measure
continuity and efficiency in order
and security. and be supplied with
the necessaries of life.
Must Not Hinder Work.
s. No person, firm or corporation
or association of persons shall in
any manner or to any extent, will
fully hinder. delay or suspend such
continuous and efficient operation
for the purpose Of evading the pro-
visions of the act.
9. No person. firm, corporation or
association of persons shall do any
act or refuse or neglect to do or
perform any duty enjoined upon
them by the act with the intent to
delay or hinder the continuous and
efficient operation of the employ
ment and industries named in the
act except under the terms of the
act itself.
10. In case of any controversy
arising between employers and
workers in any of the employments
or industries named which threat
ems to endanger the continuity or
efficiency of the service named, full
authority and jurisdiction is given
the court to act upon its own initia-
tive to summon all necessary per-
sons and obtain books and papers
to investigate such controversy.
IL Court is empowered to make
such temporary findings and orders
as may be necessary to preserve the
public peace and welfare and to pre-
serve and protect the status OF the
parties. property and public interest
involved pending the Investigation.
IL. The court is authorized in
making such Investigations to take
evidence and examine all necessary
records. and to investigate condi-
tions surrounding the workers and
to consider the wages paid to labor
and the return accruing to capital,
and the rights and welfare of the
public and all other matters Affect
ing the conduct of the Industries.
IL. 1t is further made the duty
of the court to make investigation
as above described. upon the COM
plant of either party to he contro-
versy, or upon the petition of ten
citizens or the complaint of the at
torney- general.
May Order Changes.
IA. The court is authorized to
order such changes as may be nee
essary in the conduct of the indus
tries affected in the matter or work.
ing or living conditions. hours of
labor. rules and practices, and to
establish a reasonable minimum
wage for workers. or standard of
wages, such orders to stand for a
reasonable time pending the inves-
tigation Of controversies or until
such time as the Employers and work.
ers reach an agreement among
themselves affecting such condi-