The Topeka state journal., 1922-03-28
Kansas Employers Take Stand
in Minimum Wage Case.
Proposal of Welfare Division
May Go to Courts.
BIG ARRAY OF LEGAL TALENT
Wichita Lawyer Says Indus
trial Court Has No Jurisdiction.
No Improved Living Conditions
for Girls, Is Claim.

kansas employers are going in for
/ finish fight on the minimum wage
case Notice was served on the indus
trial court by an army of legal talent
| today to the effect that the welfare
divisions proposal will find its way to
the courts If an effort is made to en-
force new award. Earl Evans, we'll
known Wichita lawyer. gave the in
dustrial court notice that 1t had no
jurisdiction to proceed and that no
situation had been presented which
would permit the state to invade
private contracts.
New and Startling Angle.
1t was a rather new and startling
angle which the wage case took today
| when the industrial court began final
hearing of arguments preceding is
suance of a tentative wage award
Without prior notice Evans as repre-
sentative of the Wichita employers,
led with a declaration that the labor
court had no right or power to pro-
ceed at this time His line of argu-
ment was Immediately taken up by
counsel for employers in other cities.
The lawyers made clear that they
would resist any new wage scale for
women which the court might try to
establish at this time.
Il contend that the Industrial court
has no Jurisdiction in this case,''
Evans asserted. There must be a
specific showing that a condition exists
iA4NA 10 against BOOQ puDAlC policy or
public morals or that health condi-
tlens warrant action. Under no other
conditions can this court claim the
right to invade private contracts"
Court Is without Power
Presiding Judge Higgins. who has
attended only a portion of the wage
hearings, agreed from the bench that
unless this situation was shown the
court was without power.
1t was urged that no showing of i'm
Drnnar living 20 i-gn
women had been shown to exist in
Kansas Lawyers also pointed out
that morals of women workers had
not been lowered because of a wage
living conditions
Much TO the contrary II was urged
that most women wage 'earners in
Kansas have savings accounts. This
situation was declared to be particu-
larly true as applied to women and
girls earning the more nominal wages.
Women Have Savings Accounts.
B. 1. Litowitch. of Salina. quoted
from records of the hearing in that
town. He said that one-third of the
savings accounts in Salina banks be-
longed to women and girls who earned
a wage. These people. he asserted
maintained so per cent of the Christ
mas savings accounts and he declared
that last year one Salina building and
loan association opened seventy-fiv
accounts with working girls who are
Systematically saving money.
Fred Harris, of Ottawa. declared
merchants in his town had given no
heed to the old minimum wage scale
without exception, he argued. testi-
mony in the Ottawa case showed girls
VINO worked for wages were living
wen, dressed even better than wives
OF their employers and saved money.
One large store, the testimony
shows, recently made a survey and
found that every girl in the store with
but one exception, had a savings or
checking account at the bank" said
Harris. THE one exception was a girl
who earned $35 a week.
Those were some of the arguments
for girls and women in Kansas storos
and industries. This afternoon reure-
sentatives Of the welfare division and
attorneys for the industrial court viii .
appeaI lot new wage award. The
welfare division recently found that
me working girl needed not less than
Slb-s5 a week to provide proper llv
ing conditions. Reductions since that
time tii IN all living costs is expected to
JUSTIFY an estimate of $40 TO SIf Al
week, according to reports from the
court
Pay More Than Minimum.
In his argument before the court
): II. Blum assistant secretary of the
Kansas city, Kan. Chamber of Com
merce, said merchants in that town
paid beginners more than the present
minimum wage requirement only
the truly shiftless persons. he said
could not live comfortably on wages
now paid
There has never been an infima-
tion of unwholesome living condition
due to low wages in our city" he as
serted A minimum wage neaufre-
ment for our city or for this state is
a travesfy."
Arguments in the wage hearing viii
probably be concluded late today
Representatives Of labor interests az
well as the employers and welfare df-
vision will be heard. Itais probablo
that second general hea ring may
follow a tentative award by the court.
4 second hearing, tho. may bo
largely formal. 1t was clear from
tone of arguments today that the em-
ployers would fight any wage increase
demanded q this time and would test
the right of the court 20 make such
an award except where public morals
or health conditions were involved.
EIGHT nroxxued frY Gt,f,x.rpr.lr