The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-20
TEST WAGE ORDER
Kansas Employers of Women
Plan Friendly Suit.
New Order Provides for 16 Per
Cent Increase.

friendly suit in the court to test
the validity of the new minimum wage
order established for women employees
in Kansas will probably be instituted
in a short time by the Kansas en-
ployers of women.
This was the statement made today
by Harry Sharp, secretary of the As
sociated Industries of Kansas. follow
ing the announcement of the new or
der which provides for an average in
crease in wages of approximately 16
per cent.
I'VE have taken the position from
the first that before the industrial
court could make an order it must
find a considerable number of en-
pIoyes living under unwholesome con-
ditfons under the old wage and work
ing arrangements, Sharp said. And
we contend that there was no evil
dence brought before the court at its
hearings to show that any employees
were being forced to live under un-
wholesome conditions In All prooa-
bilities we will file a friendly suit to
test the jurisdiction of the industrial
court in making this new order"
New Order Issued.
The new order which is practically
the same as that announced in the
courts tentative order several weeks
ago. was signed by all the members of
the industrial court late Friday.
This order places the minimum for
workers in laundries and factories at
$11 per week and establishes mini
mum of $1O.5O for women employed
in mercantile establishments.
The working hours for factory en-
ployes are fixed at 9 hours per day
with a maximum of 40 n hours per
week. The hourly regulations for mer-
camille esta blishments is so arranged
that Saturday night business can be
taken care of without putting the busi-
ness houses to the expense of en-
ploying additional help.
T Laundry workers are given nine
hour day with a 40 II week; employees
of restaurants. hotels, soda fountains,
lunch stands and boarding houses are
given an eight-hour day with a forty
eight hour week.
The order provides that employers
of girls in factories must arrange for
convenient washing facilities, dressing
rooms and clean cool water and pro-
vide ample lighting, heating and ven
tilating in their work rooms.
The general order does not fix the
minimum for apprentices, but fixes
the length of time apprentices may be
so classified. and separate schedules
are given for apprentices in different
kinds of work.
Victory for Employers.
The order of the Kansas industrial
court on minimum wages is COM
plete victory for the employers, Miss
Alice K. Mcfarland. director of
women's work of the court, declared
today. THE order was accepted by a
majority of the court over the protest
of the director of women's work and
the wOmen's organizations of the
state" Miss Mcfarland said.
Miss Mcfarland said the women of
Kansas cannot expect "a broad and
liberal policy in women's work with
the present system of control"
The court of industrial relations
is not the proper place for this work,
as the court is now restricted both by
the attitude of strict adherence to
legal procedure in deciding a legisla-
tive matter and to political consider
she stated. The order is a
defeat for principles of the minimum
wage"
Director Mcfarland had recon-
mended that the minimum wage be no
less than $12 in any occupation and
stated a minimum of $3.50 would be
more advisab BILE, or from 81 to 81 more
than the court fixed