The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-09
Increase In Number of Street
Car Applications.
Patten Uses Argument Before
the Industrial Court.
HIGHER WAGES THAN IN K. C.
Local Unions Ask so to IS Cents
in X. C. From so to SIS.
Since 1914 an Increase of Sc Per
Cent Given Here.

The pendulum is swinging back and
job" and the LOB is no longer look
ing for the man." according to testi-
mony introduced today before the in
dustrial court in the application of
1SO Topeka Railway company en-
ployes for an increase in wages.
On the witness stand today Albert
NJ. Patten. general manager of the
Kansas lines of the Illinois Traction
company presented figures to the
court showing that from November l,
1919. to May 81, 1920, a total of 22e'
applications for positions had been
received at the Topeka office and out
of that number eighty-three men had
been employed.
Previous to testimony by Patte1I, w.
W. Stephens, superintendent OF en-
ployment of the Kansas City Railway
company, took the stand and testified
that the latest average wage of en-
ployes in Kansas City was from so to
55 cents an hour. The Topeka COM
pany points out that the local en-
ployes are demanding from so to rs
cents an hour, which is more than the
Kansas City employees receive in city
noted for its high rentals and other
living costs. The present Topeka wage
schedule is from S4 to Al cents an
hour.
Demand for Jobs.
Stephens also testified that the de-
mand for Jobs is rapidly increasing
and that large percentage of the en-
ployes have been in employment less
than two years. He told the court that
the present efficiency of the service
is higher than ever before in the COM
pany's history.
The local company points out in its
a erfS aiYz he nd
an hour demanded by the men that
so per cent of the employees have
worked for the company less than two
years. indicating that the probation or
apprenticeship period for trained en-
ployes is short and unlike the long
periods of apprenticeship demanded to
master many other trades which de-
mand no moro wages than the street
railway employees IN Topeka are re-
ceiving.
Increase Since 1914.
Patten on the witness stand present
ed figures to show that since 1914 the
Topeka Railway company has in
creased wages of its employees Sc per
cent.
Statistics presented to the court by
Patten showed that the highest SAL
aried men on the two-man cars can
earn $12S.S7 a month working full
time. while the highest salaried man
Lon the one-man cars can receive
$120.28 a month. With two days off
a month. the monthly salary on the
two-man run will be $120.32 and
$11229 on the one-man run, accord
ing to Patterns figures The two-man
run calls for a IL Il hour day. while
the one-man run commanding the top
salary demands a 9 q hour day.
Other Cities Pay Less.
Patten showed figures indicating
that the Topeka company is paying
more from it's gross earnings in wages
than other companies in the country.
He took figures from United States
census bureau report to show the per-
centage of wages paid by companies
in other cities and compared them
with figures paid by his own company.
In drawing this comparison, Patten
stated, that he used statistics of cities
similar in size to Topeka.
Patten stated that in cities similar
to Kansas City and St. Louis where
wages were higher the income per
mile was greater, the traffic conges-
ton greater and the nerve strain on
the car operators was far in excess of
that in Topeka, a city of wide streets
and little traffic congestion.
Public Not There.
o. 7. Cropper. an old line insurance
agent, took the stand and testified
CONTINUED on Page SIX