The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-28
Industrial Court Takes Action
in Miss Bresette'S Case.
Everyone Seemed to Know of
Resignation Except Herself.
She ASKED TO SEE ORDER
Three Judges Make General
Survey and Issue Statement.
Will Be Duly Posted to Make
Record Clear.

Occasionally criticism is directed to-
ward the industrial court, but it
showed clearly today that it is trying
to please. Nor is its effort restricted
entirely to the general taxpaying pub
lie. The spirit of service extends also
to employees.
When Miss Lima E. Bresette, head
of the courts welfare department,
came home this week after a MONTH S
vacation, she marched to the court
offices to investigate reports that she
had resigned. Information had reached
her thru the public prints and the
town gossip as conveyed by personal
correspondence that beginning Octo-
Der 1, Miss Bresette would not be at
tached to the pay roll. 'She has re-
signed" was the courteous stereotyped
explanation in the newspapers.
Removed From Pay Roll.
Almost everyone-except Miss Bre-
settle, it seems-had understood the
expression to mean that the pay roll
had been slipped from under Miss
Bresette's Job during her absence. But
Miss Bresette took the news stories
| literally. She went to the court judges
and told them all about it. She Clear
ly and emphatically removed all doubt
that she had even considered resign
ing. There wasn't much for the court
( judges to do but blink their eyes and
| try to think of excuses and explain
with all the courtesy which gallant
bosses extend to discharged ladies.
! One report which had reached Miss
Bresette, it seems, was to the effect
that notice had been posted that Miss
/ Mary Mcfarland had been named as
| her successor. Miss Bresetts wanted
, to see this notice. also. 1t was gra-
| ciously explained that the court
hadn't just exactly made a formal
| order. Nor was there anything in the
books and records showing just what
/ had been done. It was merely deemed
sufficient by the court that Miss Bre-
settle wasn't to receive any state cash
on and after Friday. September 80
1921, A. D. In consideration of the
! Howat and Wolff cases it hadn't oc-
! CURED to the court that perhaps
someone might want to see the
printed page and the pen with which
| it was writ So Miss Bresette was
lconpelled to leave the court in dis
appointment.
1t seems today that a Kansas City
newspaper had anticipated Miss Bre-
sette's course long before it was
! taken. In fact, a detailed story of the
entire incident seems to have beer
wired before Miss Bresette really
! day-when anticipated details had
come true-Miss .Bresette herself gave
| out newspaper Interviews.
Court Makes Survey.
This morning the court took a gen
eral survey of the situation. Ever
Judge John H. Crawford, who hadn't
sat with the court in the removing o1
Miss Bresette from the salary list, par
ticipated in today's proceedings.
The court judges went into Miss
Bresette's case thoroly. 1t was agreed
that she had been with the welfare
department since its creation. She
had served under three administra
tions which at one time and another
had represented Democrats, Republi
cans and Progressives. Surely an!
little favor which might now be asked
and should not be unreasonable Of
extreme should be granted. Mis-
Bresette had asked for the copy of ;
formal order showing that she was nj
longer connected with state service
The Kansas City paper had indicated
the court was playing politics in no
granting this request.
Order Made by Judges.
1t really didn't look right. So tn
three judges signed the following state
ment which will probably reach Mis-
Bresette in due time:
1T is ordered by the court that the
services of Miss Lima E. Bresette az
director of women's work be termi
mated October l, 1921. Miss Alice K
McFarla I'D is employed to continue th'
direction of such work and, in add
tion, shall direct the admin .stratioT
of the child labor laws, both under th'
provision of the court"
The order will be duly posted II
making the record clear. 1t wa
signed by al judges. Had Mis-
Bresette been less insistent, tho, th'
books and records Of the court NIGH
never have been exactly straight. anC
- r.. +. 10
the department when her pay stopped