Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1921-01-06
INDUSTRIAL COURT WORKINGS

Citing the fact that there has beer
but one appeal from decisions Of tn,
Kansas court Of industrial relations
in Industrial disputes, the first an.
nual report Of the court presented tc
NovernOr Allen asserts:
Labor has appeared to be fairly
well satisfied with its treatment by
the court. In fairness, however, 1t
must be stated that only low paid
labor has applied to this court. La
borers receiving the higher wages
have not felt It necessary to come to
the court Of industrial relations. and
unfortunately, have seemed to be
rather hostile than friendly to the
law"
Although only twenty eight cases
have actually been filed in the indus
trial division of the court as com
pared to 1919 public utility rate
eases in the biennium ended Dec
ember /, 1920, this does not indicate
the scope of the courts work In pre-
venting disturbances and in investi-
eating the essential industries, the re-
port declares.
"The Industrial court has been In
existence only since February .,
1920. We had no chart nor COM
pass. We had no precedent to guide
us. Every question that was brought
before the court was brand new
question, right out Of the shop. We
were operating under law which
had never been tested by the courts.
1t is doubtful whether the general
public will ever appreciate the work
which was placed upon the judges
Of this court in shaping its course
during these early months, in deter
mining the principles Of law upon
these cases must depend, and In
general laying the foundation Of a
new phase Of our system of juris-
prudence"
Out Of the twenty eight cases,
twenty five were filed by labor, two
were original investigations by the
court. and one was filed by the en-
ployers. Out Of the twenty Ave
cases filed by labor, twenty have
been heard by the court In a formal
way and decisions rendered.
I'm thirteen Of these cases a wage
Increase was granted, and in some
eases additional matters were deter
Mined" continues the report which
Is a resume of the courts work since
ts creation. an two Of the cases,
working conditions only were in
Tolved. In three cases wage in
crease applied for by labor was re-
fused by the court on the ground
hat the wage already being paid
was fair wage under the Kansas
'tatute. In one case the relief ap-
slied for by the laborers was grant {
ID by the employers during or before
he trial Of the case. and the court
imply approved Of the settlement
made. $
THE wage increases allowed on
he Industrial side have. no doubt,
n some instances made it necessary .
o grant increased rates to the utli- o
les required to pay a higher wage
ut such wage increases have been y
lowed only in cases where the pub
C interests required that 1t should p
e done. In the telephone industry q
he low wages paid prior to two u
ears ago had resulted in driving ii
ut Of the telephone offices very G
lrge percentage Of the trained oper-
tors. The companies were oper-
ting with unframed help, hired at p
ztremely low wages. The service Is
'nderded was correspondingly poor u
here was general complaint from !,
| over the state against the service. q
hat condition has not altogether =
en- remedied yet, but the court ~ ~
'nvinced that the service has been
improved and is being OF
adually improved through the I'm w
eased wages"
IN
Rent that spare rOon-an I'd IN on