Evening star., 1933-06-28
LABOR IS FIGHTING
LONG MILL HOURS
Higher Wages Also Sought in
Cotton Textile Code
at Hearing.
Continued From First Page.)

Che proposed minimum wages to $l4
and SIS per week, which will consti-
tute a living wage and permit respect
able living and by eliminating so much
thereof as limits the operation Of pro-
ductive machinery in the cotton textile
industry and substituting therefor a
provision that productive machinery
Shall not be operated in the cotton
textile industry more than five days
per week"
Give Cross Examination.
Johnson and Allen gave Watson the
first real cross-examination of the
hearing
Slouching back in his chair, with one
hand in his pocket and kicking the
table at times for emphasis, Johnson
shot question after question on the wit
ness proposal against limitation of
machinery operation.
Henry B. Kendall of Boston. presi-
dent of the Kendall Co. with mills in
South Carolina, insisted cleaners and
outside hands" should not be excluded
from the minimum wage limitation.
"As regards the night shift" he con-
tinued. for number of years I have
been fighting for the elimination OF
women and minors from the night shift.
It seems to me that we should do this
now.
Some years ago operators of 30 per
cent of the spindles were willing to
eliminate women and minors from the
evening shift. but the incorrigible ~
per cent blocked 1t.
80 Per Cent Still Willing.
"I believe the 80 per cent still are
willing to do this and 1t seems to me
we are not settling this matter rightly
until we face this situation courageously
and frankly and end 1t for all time"
The administrator indicated no ex-
emptions would be made for specific
plants If by so doing the plan for more
employment would be defeated.
Asked about the practice of some mill
owners operating their own villages at
their own expense instead of paying
higher wages and charging for the
services, Watson contended long expert
ence had shown 1t was more advan-
tageous for mill operators to own the
homes themselves.
Another significant tack was taken by
Allen when he asked whether the pro-
posed differential between Southern and
Northern mills would not permit the
"huggling" of business by the operators
and perhaps closing down their North
ern plants to operate in the South.
Watson replied that in the case of
johnson & johnson both their Georgia
and Massachusetts plants have been
operating at capacity for years and
that it would make no difference to
them.
Unlimited Machinery Use.
Urging unlimited use of machinery.
he said there was nothing to prevent a
mill from purchasing additional equip
ment to increase capacity and added
he could not see where the restriction
Of two 40-hour production shifts would
limit capacity.
Mcmahon then read his prepared
statement in which he said
If we were free to assume that the
national industrial recovery act is in
tended merely as the commencement of
what we may term an inching along
process toward somewhat more de-
sirable condition, then We might as
sumo the code as offered by the cot
ton textile industry is acceptable.
I'VE are not free to assume that
"On the contrary, it must be accepted
as fact that the national industrial re-
covery act is intended to create a pros
porous nation Of prosperous people, who
lldfC WOIk NlllClt lllCy may Cdi IL
at least a sustaining wage and from
which they may derive q purchasing
power suf1icient to continue all Amer
lean industry in full and prosperous
operation.
Working Hours for Women.
One of his objections to the code as
1t stands was because 1t contains no
limitation upon working hours for
women. He also protested exemptions
of certain classes of labor from the code.
OF the proposed Southern minimum
wage, Mcmahon said, Surely common
sense cannot accept or condone a wage
of $40 a week, and 1t must find abhor-
rent a learning period at no wage
He condemned the theory that
Southern workers should not be paid. as
highly as Northern.
Southern workers in the textile in
dustry have lived more cheaply. We con-
cede than have Northern workers" he
said. However so have Mexican work
ers and so have Chinese workers. We
are not here to determine how cheaply
life can be maintained, nor to fix mini
mum wages upon that basis.
Can't Buy Other Goods.
I'VE call attention to one more point |
aHiCItd iido . fdSt INlIkC Ol
the products OF which will be entirely
shut away from these workers at the
proposed minimum. These other indus
tries presently will present codes of fair
practice. Their codes Will be y. edicated
upon the ability Of other workers to pur-
chase their output"
Mcmahon contended the 40-holr
week would not bring about re-empioy-
n1ent of all those normally engaged in
the industry. and that such a schedule
was inconsistent with the Governments
public works program wherein 80 hours
was fixed as a maximum.
The United Textile Workers do not
accept the s14 minimum wage as
permanent minimum and their leader
served notice of our intention to ap-
pear and plead for establishment of
new and higher figure as soon as we
believe conditions in the industry war
rant us in making such a plea"
Challenges Statistics.
McMahon challenged statistics given
by manufacturers yesterday TO show
100 900 workers would be re-employed
under the 40-hour clause.
Figures of the Department Of Labor
indicate. contrary to the figures here
tofore submitted, that the number of
WuIheis at plcSShI tiupiOytu III Iie III
dustry is approximately 347000," he
said.
Proponents of the suggested code
state that the adoption of 40hour
weekly schedule will permit the absorp-
ton of all those normally engaged in
the industry.
This We contend 10 be inaccurate
for the reason that the United States
census figures show that during the
period from 1923 to 1923 inclusive. ap-
proximately $50 900 persons were en-
gagged IN the industry.
Shorter Week Urged.
This being true, then We contend
that the adoption OF 35-hour sched-
ule will more nearly permit the re-
emplovment of the approximately l00-