The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-25
USE AK ON BOARD
Senate Slaughters State Indus
trial Welfare Commission.
Upper House AbOlishes State
Labor Office.
AMENDMENT URGED BY FINLEY
Lower House Must Approve
Action by Senate.
Favorable Action on Child Re-
search Bureau.

The Kansas state senate Thursday
afternoon slaughtered the state indus
trial welfare commission, and turned
the mangled and lifeless remains
thereof oyer to the industrial court for
disposition. There weren't enough re-
mains to justify funeral.
While the chamber still reeked with
gore, the senate turned its ensanguined
| ak on the state labor commissioner
office. and abolished that.
The amendments which were pro-
posed to the bill placing the indus
trial welfare commission under the
charge of the industrial court were
introduced by Senator Finley, of Ne
osho county, and stripped every vest
lge of the law which created the COM
mission, from the statute books. The
industrial court was declared to be the
only industrial welfare commission
that there is now and the friends of
the measure are doubtful as to just
how much power along that line the
industrial court has.
May Hire Clerical Force.
1t is certain, however, that it still
possesses the power to hire such a
staff of assistants and experts and
clerical workers as it deems neces-
sary to prosecute the work. and Sena-
tor Price, of Clark county, in speak
ing on the amendments, declared that
that was the real life of the measure
anyhow.
Reformers and uplifters, cranks and
fanatics were vehemently denounced
during the discussion by Senator
thompson, of Marion county. who
would have all the child labor laws
of the state swept away, and believes
that the child idleness problem, and
not the child labor problem" is the
source of most of the trouble today.
The amendments carried by a rising
vote on which twenty-seven senators
tfarNT1T v-,av-
asked to rise Senator Price, who has
consistently fought the entire measure
since its Introduction. and three other
members, voted against the passage of
the bill, which was on third reading,
after the amendments, which Price
favored, had been secured.
Carried Without Argument.
There was no argument on the aboli-
ton OF the office of the state labor
commissioner. The vote was the same
as on the industrial welfare commits
sion bill, and no amendments were Of
fefed to the bill. = 4 &
There is a possible chance for the
two departments yet. The amendments
of the senate must be concurred in by
the house, and. the senate has shown
itself exceedingly. 5comp1aisant in con-
ference with the house. The real fate
of the two departments then rests with
the lower body, and the veteran poll
liCldnS can tell what the 1871 mouse
is going to do at any time about any
thing.
Voted for Child Bill.
The senate Thursday voted for the
child research bureau which is to be
installed at Kansas university and
gave it barely enough votes to pass.
1t was with reluctance that some of
the members who were supposed to be
supporters of the measure, voted at
all. They sat silent in their seats
until it was seen that the bill was lost
unless something was done, and then
they rose and announced their votes
late.
The senate labor committee Thurs
day reported the demise of the Vim
cent labor bill on compensation, hav-
ing previously stated that they would
recommend the administration bill
The Badger bill, providing for state
insurance for workingmen, was also
killed in the senate labor committee,
the same treatment having been
| awarded a bill by Senator Docking,
which provided that employees should
not reduce wages they are paying to
| labor unless there is a corresponding
decrease in the price of the commodity
which they are manufacturing.