The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-03-31
3O-HOUR WEEK,
HALT TO PAY
CUTS URGED
Clothing Workers Chief
Outlines Program for
Job Security.
WANTS BUYING POWER
Sidney HiIIman Presents
Comprehensive Plan
for Recovery.
BY MAX STERN
Times Special Writer


WASHINGTON, March 31-A
plan for restoring buying power to
Americas 100000 wage carriers
comparable to the governments ef-
forts in behalf of its 100000
farmers was preached here today by
Sidney Hillman. head of the Anal
gamated Clothing Workers and one
Of the nations leading labor states
men:
Hillman, sitting in today at the
labor departments conference with
threescore other labor leaders and
economists. proposed that the Prcsi-
dent call upon congress to pass
legislation establishing labor boards
in various industries.
These boards. consisting of repre-
sentativeS of labor. employers, and
public, would have power to fix and
alter wages and hours and provide
worker security.
3O-Hour Week Urged
Under the plan these boards
could:
l. Establish minimum wages in
each industry to raise the purchas-
ing power of the workers.
2. Create the 3O-hour week as
near universally as possible, to abb
sorb some g. million jobless into
industry
3. Arrange for security through
unemployment insurance or re-
serves.
Under the plan, such groups as
the railway, building trades, print
ers, and other workers that have
union-employer relationships would
be exempted from the jurisdiction
Of labor boards.
experimenting such system. Hill
man urges big public works pro-
grams, such as slum rebuilding and
other projects.
Farm Move Pleasing
Hillman expressed qualification
/ over the Roosevelt farm relief ef-
forts. The same sort of effort, he
says, must be applied to the great
/ body of Wage-earners. While the
deflationary steps so far taken
were necessary to restore national
credit and clear the way, the time
has come, he says, to halt the
creeping paralysis brought on by
Wage-cutting.
I'VE must start the procession
back to the shops" he said IF
this downward trend Of living STAN
dardS is not checked, we will face
economic disaster and chaos"
The two big organized bodies of
uniOniStS, the railroad and American
Federation of Labor, today joined
with Hillman in denouncing wage
cuts and urging a great public works
program.
Demands Are Outlined
Following an all-day pre- confer
ence meeting Thursday at A. F. of
L. headquarters, the federation lead
ers decided to press today for the
following immediate demands: An
end to wage cuts; a great public
works program to restore buying
power; the thirty-hour week bill;
elimination Of child labor from all
industries; and unemployment in
surance.
Chairman A. F. Whitney Of the
railway labor executives issued a
ringing challenge to the government
and private industry, demanding an
end to the destruction of buying
power, either through economy or
wage cuts.
limiting at government ownership
Of railroads. Whitney declared that
when the owners Of private prop
erty are incapable of providing
workers with work or consumers
with necessary goods and services,
there is no choice left to a govern
ment for the people except to take
over property and operate 1t for the
benefit Of all
Advance 30-Hcur Bill
Whitney said the government
should not hesitate to borbw all
the money necessary to put millions
of men to work now.
While brotherhood and fedora
ton leaders held parley to frame
: their program for today's confer
ence, an unexpected victory for one
Of their measures was recorded at
the capitol.
The senate judiciary committee,
=. II to 3, reported favorably the
t Black thirty hour week bill Only
Y Senator'S Herbert Of Rhode Island
i Hastings Of Delaware and Austin OF
S Vermont. Hoover Republicans, voted
e against it.
Senator Black Dem, Ala). said
= today that he Will push for an earlv
vote as an emergency move The
bill closes to interstate commerce
goods produced under hours Of more