Evening star., 1933-01-11
SHORT WEEK HELD
CIVILIZATIONS HOPE
Counsel for Engineers and
Others Urge Passage of
Senate Bills.
Ry the Associated Press

By the Associated Press.
A Senate committee was told toda,
there is danger ahead for American
civilization unless the Government
shortens the hours of labor
The threat was pictured by Human
Aaron of New York, counsel for groul
of national engineering societies, II
testimony on the Black bill for a 80
hour work week, one of three proposar
under study by Senate committees t.
help the jobless and the wage Garner
Aaron, before the Judiciary Subconl'
mittee, said the Government mus
shorten working hours to solve th
problem.
Shall we let our civilization crasl
through failure to invoke the law?' n
asked.
Fears Final Outcome.
Calling attention to widespread un'
employment. he said, III it is not rem
edied, it does not take prophet to SCI
what will happen"
On the other hand, he contended, i
the hours of labor are shortened, there
will be a demand for labor. so that
speaking generally, every man ane
woman can get job"
amendment to give the Government au'
thority to regulate hours of all labor.
The Black bill also was Endorsed b,
Grover w Ayers, Washington advertis'
ing man.
Other committees heard testimony OF
bills to provide pensions for railroad
employees and on the La Follette-Costi-
gan $500, 600, 900 measure for direct Fed.
eral grants to the States for unemploy-
ment~relief.
Backs Wagner Measure.
Donald Richberg, Chicago, counsel
for the Railway Labor Executives Asso-
citation, testified in favor of a measure
by Senator Wagner, Democrat, of New
York, which provides for establishment
Of pension fund by fifty fifty" con-
tributions from employees and employers
Conditions among the unemployed
we're pictured at the hearing on the
La Toilette Costigan bill by Mrs. Helen
G. Tyson. Harrisburg, Pa, an assistant
commissioner Of welfare for Pennsyl-
vania, and Clarence e. Pickett, Phila-
delphia, secretary Of the American
Friends Service Committee
Mrs Tyson said the 'listlessness,
apathy and docility being driven into
people" constitutes a danger for the
future In its social effect
Pickett described efforts made 10
alleviate conditions among children in
the coal fields.
Attacks President Green.
A charge that President William
Green of the American Federation OF
Labor is playing into the hands of the
bankers and owners of industry" BY
supporting the Black bill was made
yesterday by a member Of his own
organization.
Louis Weirstock, secretary OF the
federation's Trade Union Committee
for Unemployment Insurance and Re
lief. asserted his committee will have
none Of the bill unless 1t provides
against the cutting of wages and in
cludes the establishment Of q minimum
wage scale.
The split within the ranks of the
American Federation of Labor devel-
oped as Senate committees heard re-
newed pleas for the bill to reduce
the working week to five days of six
hours each, by barring from interstate
movement all products not made under
this schedule and for q $500,00o, 900
program Of direct Federal grants to the
otaIeS IOI uiiciiiployHiSht iciicA.
Sees Bankers Support.
Without the points which he emu
merated, the witness said, the bill
would be nothing else but the legali-
zation of the Hoover stagger plan and
the w. c. Teagle 'share-the-work'
plan, commonly known as the share
the-poverty' plan"
His statement said Green and the
Executive Council Of the American
Federation of Labor have supported
every action of the bankers and owners
of industry in their schemes to put
the burden Of the crisis upon the
shoulders of the workers"
Another witness before the same COM
mittee, Arthur ]. Lowell of Cleveland,
vice president Of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Firemen and Engineers, in
dicated possibility that railroad
workers might strike to force shorter
working periods to spread employment
if Congress does not act.
A minimum wage provision also was
advocated by Charles B. Rockwell, jr.,
Bristol, r. l.. vice president of Collins
g. Aikman Corporation. and Austin T.
Levy, Harrisville. r. l., president of
the Saltwater Worsted Mills. Both
approved the bill in principle.