Evening star., 1932-06-27
SHORTER WORKDAY
DUE FOR ADOPTION
Plank Favoring Representa-.
ton for District Not Men,
toned So Far.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY,
STAFF Correspondent OF The Star.

Democratic platform to improve the
condition f Government employees, in
cluding a declaration in favor of the
rnainter re of high, decent wage
stand I'd In the Federal service, with
and satisfactory classification,
are being considered this afternoon by
the subcommittee of nine which is max
ing the tentative draft of the platform.
Liberalization of the retirement law
is also being considered.
The proposal for a flve-day week and
a shorter workday in the Government
service, as proposed in legislation in
troduced two years ago by Representa-
tive John Mccormack of Massachusetts,
and favorably acted upon by the House
Civil Service Committee, will probably
be included in the platform as direct
relief to unemployment.
The plank declaring in favor OF
congressional representation for resi-
dents of the District of Columbia" has
not yet been mentioned in the secret
sessions of the subcomittee, although A.
Mitchell Palmer, representing the Dis
trict on the Resolutions Committee, is
member of the subcommittee, and has
pledged that he will work for that
plank. A majority Of the membership
of the full Resolutions Committee have
promised to support the District resolu-
ton.
The subcommittee is composed Of
former Senator Gilbert N. Hitchcock,
Nebraska; Senators David I. Walsh,
Massachusetts; Carter Glass, Virginia;
Burton K. Wheeler, Montana, and Cor
dell Hull, Tennessee; William A. Com
stock, Michigan; William G. McAdoo,
California; Palmer and Joseph G.
O'Mahoney, Wyoming.
Liquor Plank Put Last.
1t has been decided to write the
rest of the platform before deciding
on the wording of the liquor plank, in
order to avoid interminable discussion;
but it is generally agreed this plank
will not be as dripping wet as was
promised. 1t will not recommend re-
peal, but agree to submission OF that
question to conventions elected for that
purpose in the States. The rumorS
from the subcommittee are that the
proposal by organized labor and other
organizations for immediate modif1ca-
tion of the Volstead law will be ignored.
A minority report is expected, bring
ing the matter onto the moor OF the
convention. Other especially important
subjects left for consideration by the
subcommittee today are unemployment,
farm relief and labor recommendations
as presented by William Green, presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor tt is the desire of those draft
ing the platform to keep it as close e.s
possible to 1900 words.
The platform will contain declara-
ton for competitive tariff. 1t is under
stood there is an agreement upon a
plank to revise the antitrust law to
help small industries.
The Roosevelt forces are in control
of the Platform Building Committee
and the toning down Of the repeal
proposal on the liquor question is due
to this.
The extreme vets, it is said, repre-
sented on the committee by the mem
bers from New York, Illinois, New Jer-
sey, Maryland and possibly Massachu-
sets, want an out-and-out party decla
ration for repeal. The minority, it is
said, will also favor an immediate mod
if1cation of the Volstead act to permit
the manufacture Of 2.75 beer as an en-
ployment and revenue raising measure.
Debt Cancellation Rejected.
The subcommittee definitely favored
real independence for the Philippines,
rejected the proposition for cancella-
ton of foreign debts, leaving the way
open, however, for adjustments, and op-
posed any declaration on the World
Court.
The subcommittee expects TO conclude
its labors today and to report the ten
tative platform to the full committee
tomorrow.
What shall be done to relieve unem-
ployment, to what extent the Federal
Government shall contribute in the
matter of appropriations for permanent
public improvements and to what eX-
tent the Federal Government may make
loans to States and municipalities 1or
nublc works Is being threshed out.
To many members of the committee
4he policv to be enunciated in regard TO
economic questions and the depression
oyershadows in importance any otheI
subject, not excluding prohibitlon.
Father Coughlin, the radio priest, and
the mayor of Detroit are to have near
ing late today when the officials Reso-
lutions Committee is appointed on the
question of unemployment.
The tariff plank, 1t is understood, will
voice an attack on the Hawley-Smoot
tariff bill and declare for a competitive
tariff with efforts to remove obstructive
trade relations between this and other
countries. This plank is fathered par
tic1larly by Senator Cordeu Hull, for
mer ranking member ci the HOUSE
Wavs and Means Committee, VINO Is
internationally known as tarlh spe-
cialist
Senator Hull is a Roosevelt leader il
the Resolutions COMMITTEE.