The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-02
WORK NOT HEAVY
Judge Higgins Says Politics Is
Trouble With Court.
Singing Rebuke in Talk to
Forty House Members.
TOO MUCH Time IN SPEECHES
Higgins Admits He Spent 30
Days on Propaganda.
Discusses Reason for Split Up
Among Members.

Too much politics-not too much
works the affliction of the court of
industrial relations. That was the
singing rebuke to Governor Aliens
divorce plan Tuesday night when Pre-
siding Judge w. L. Higgins told forty
house members why the new court
fails to function. Judge Higgins
lifted the trouble lid and showed the
farmer members of the house inside
workings OF the court.
From early disturbances to present
troubles Judge Higgins talked
straight from the shoulder. He invit-
ed the legislators to inspect records
and to determine for themselves ex-
listing conditions. Following Judge
Hugginss talk J. II. Engh, chief ac-
countant, told house members that
Governor Aliens plan to restore the
public utilities commission and con-
tinue the present industrial court
would cost from $57 900 to $4,000
year.
THE trouble with the court of in
dustrial relations" Judge Higgins de-
clared, lis not too much work but too
much politics. 1 don't know how the
governor got the idea that we are be-
hind with our work or that it is nee
essary TO divide the work between
two tribunals"
ing industrial court speeches as well
as in playing politics, the presiding
judge said. He did not seek to clear
himself OF blame for entering the
speech making game.
Sent to Make Speeches.
Il have spent a great deal of time
out of the state myself he said, and
have spoken frequently on the indus
trial court. | can count up tweEty-one
lays aud | expect / have spent thirty
uays IN propaganda work. On many
OF these trips / went at the governors
direction. Inc governor certainly did
not tnInk we were oEerworked then
or he would not have sent me. And L
" oLld not have gone if the work had
demanded tbs time" -
Judge Huggins told of activities of
Governor AIIen and Judge Clyde M.
Reed in the political game. He said
the telephone expenses of Judge Reed
became so great that he Joined with
Judge Wark in issuing order that
no expenses should be incurred by any
member or employe of the court with
out court approval. The expense items
which aroused criticism of Judges
Huggins and Wark were for Judge
Reeds telephone conversations with II.
il. Motter, Republican state chairman:
William Allen White. Fred Trigg and
other persons active in state politics.
Accuses a Newspaper.
Enmity of a Kansas City newspaper |
was won, the Judge said, when the |
court refused to appoint Charles HoI-
brook, former member of the legls- |
lature, to a position as investigator. |
Since that time, he declared. the Mis-
souri, paper has deliberately printed
faisehoods'' in an effort to discredit
hfysself and Judge Wark.
~ had never seen this man and did
no, know him." Judge Higgins said in
speaking of Holbrook. Il insisted we
did not need him and could not afford
to pay him because our contingent
fund was getting low. But Judge Reed
insisted that he be appointed. We
spent the greater part of a day argu-
ing the matter without reaching an
agreement.
Then a few days later Holbrook
came down and said he was ready to
go to work. | asked him if we had
hired him and he said the court had
md that the governor told him to
come down. l got the court together
and Judge Wark agreed that we did
not need him. Then Judge Reed
shook his finger at Judge Wark and
said: George, 1t is the governors
wish that this man be given a job be-
cause the governor is obligated to him
and is depending upon you to hire him
and you'll be making a mistake if you
do not do it
Political Graft" He Charged.
Then ! got mad and lost my dig
nifty" said the presiding judge. II
said this was political graft and I
wouldn't stand for it, Judge Wark
was more diplomatic. He said the
court must stay above politics and
that we should treat our contingent
fund as a trust fund and try to pro-
tect and conserve it"
1t was following this stormy session
and refusal to put Holbrook on the
payroll that the Missouri newspaper
launched its fight on himself and
Judge Wark. the presiding Judge said
He made clear that Holbrook had
been the Missouri papers candidate
Z Or the Legislature in Wyandotte and
Vas defeated for nomination.
OF the 2S5 opinions handed down
by the court. there have been but
three dissenting opiuions-an unusual
record--he said. Two of these dis
senting opinions-the Kansas City
and Topeka telephone cases-were
written by Judge Reed. Judge Hug
gins said he himself wrote one dis
sent. But 1 never gave it to the
newspapers and you haven't been
reading about it," he said.
Many of the legislators took notes
during the Higgins speech. When
Judge Higgins observed the use of
pencils. he said he would be glad to
provide any records of the court for
use of the law makers
J. II. Engh. who talked after the
Higgins speech, said he would pro-
vide an estimate as to the cost of the
new court