The Wrangell sentinel. (Wrangell, Alaska) 1909-current, 1933-05-19
THE MUKLUK TRAIL
From DELEGATE DMoNDs OFFICE, WASHINGTON D. c.
(By E. l. Bartlett)

WASHINGTON, May Son the
legislative firing line of Capitol Hill
the tempo of today compared with
that of yesteryear may be likened
to the difference between a single
shot musket and a machine gun.
Even the eldest of the veterans dare
not predict with any degree of GER
tainty what is going to happen
from one day to another.
Put if anything appears definite
at this time, it is that the five-day
week, sfx-hour day bill will not
pass. or if it does it will be 50
greatly altered as to be almost I'M
recognizable in its present form. So
great is the risk. however, of max
ing any kind of prediction that it
is altogether within the realms of
possibility that by the time this Is
read that the measure will have
been enacted into law.
The talk around the Capitol for
the last several days has been that
the bill is going to be shelved. 1t
is suggested that as a substitute
legislation will be offered whereby
trade associations would regulate
their own industries. with the fed
eral government keeping close watch
over the whole situation. 1t is prob
lematical whether anything of that
character will be offered during the
special session.
Recent developments have indi-
Gated a desire not to press the five
day week bill. Hearings, first sched
uled to last a full three weeks, We're
suddenly cut short and ended Fri
day after witnesses had been heard
over a period of eight days.
Alfred Sloan, Jr., president OF
General Motors Corporation was
the last of the important witnesses.
He voiced opposition to the legisla
ion in its present form.
Secretary of Labor Perkins was a
strong supporter and urged that d
minimum wage provision be added
The American Federation of Labor
could not go along with her on that.
AS passed by the Senate the bill
provided that foreign importations
would not have to be produced by
labor conforming to the five-day
week and siX-hour day. Represen-
tative William Connery Jr. of Mas
sachusetts introduced the House
bill and it would make necessary
compliance with the measure by
foreign nations shipping their goods
to the United States,
Delegate Dimond could not tes-
tff~ or account of his illness. He
i'd, however, file written state
ment urging that Alaska be ex-
empted from the bill on the ground
that its application there would be
ruinous. Every major industry in
the Territory, he pointed out, would
have to curtail operations, perhaps
almost to the vanishing point Those
dependent upon the fisheries and
gold mining for their livelihood.
comprising by. far the majority of
Alaskans gai1flllY employed would
have their incomes drastically cur
tailed or perhaps even cut off al
together The result would be that
the Territory would he denopulated
Isolated mining camps where there
often times is no surplus of labor
would have to let the precious wa
ter flow past them unused if they
were to comply strictly with the
provisions of the law. The Delegate
pointed out that if foreign products
were imported without labor re-
strictions similar to those in the
United States, Alaska coal mines
already handicapped by British
Columbia competition, might stand
in danger of losing the local mar
kets which they have now. He also