Detroit tribune. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1933, 1933-09-16
MINIMUM SALARY NOT
PAID BY EMPLOYERS
Protest Forwarded
To Executive And
Secretary
$482, 900 Yearly
Lost In Alabama

ers In the steel industry faced the
loss OF cool million dollars a
year In wages as result OF the ac-
ton OF the National Recovery Ad-
mInistration and President Roose-
welt In establishing minimum rates
OF pay OF rs and ~ cents an hour
In the Southern and Birmingham
districts OF the industry, when en-
ployers in this industry had pub
iicly offered TO pay a minimum
rate OF 30 cents an hour.
The Joint Committee on National
Recovery composed OF officially
designated representatives OF Ma
tional organizations and church
bodies, registered strong protest
against such action on the part OF
the MIRA. through John p. Davis,
executive secretary OF the COM
mittee.
Davis Sends Letter
Mr.. Davis under date OF Septem-
\ Der 9, sent on behalf OF the COM
mittee letters to President Roose-
welt, Secretary IT Labor Perkins
General 8. Jol n. NRA Admins
traitor, and DIR. leo Wolman, chair
nran 90 ths T.ni.ow Advisory noard
af the MIRA. His letter TO President
Roosevelt was in part as follows:
I'VE are deeply concerned over
your approval of the code OF fair
competition for the iron and steel
Industry by your executive order
of August 10. 1888. We wish to
call your attention to the fact that
the wage scales for the Southern
and Birmingham districts approx
ed by you are actually lower than
those agreed to by the employers
in those areas as representing what
would be fairly able to pay.
I'VE call your attention specific
ally TO the statement of Mr.. Robert
II. Lamont. representing the en-
ployers in THOSE districts. which
we quote in full from page 20 OF
the Transcript OF proceedings,
First Day, Afternoon Session.
Statement OF Mr.. f-oSert Lamont
Mr.. lamont Mr.. Administrator
this morning l stated southern
minimum for consideration, and
that 10 would be possible to make
another announcement and more
definite announcement this after
noon,
IL am able to state that the re-
personalities OF the various inter
ests have met and have agreed Ia
the minimum rate OF 80 cents in
the Birmingham and Southern
district"
ut Is the sense OF our commit
tee that the failure To raise the
wage scale at least to the limit ac-
ceptable TO the employers in that
field represents grave injustice
10 Negro labor which predominates
In those areas. In support OF our
contention we wish TO call your at
tention TO the speech made by
your secretary OF Labor and by
Negro Industrial League to be
found in the transcript Of proceed
ings.
I'VE feel very certain that II Is
not your intention TO allow the
low minimum already suggested
by the employers interests In those
areas TO be further depressed by
administrative fiat. Certainly a
lower minimum than one which
the employer groups readily adj
init that they can pay. cannot he
said TO be in keeping with the pur-
poses OF the National Industrial
Recovery Act as expressed by
your public utterances.
because OF this condition. we
respectfully urge that In keeping
with your authority under Section
1000 of the National Industrial
Recovery Act. you Issue an appro-
pirate executive order which VIII
bring up the minimum wage scales
of workers In those areas at least
TO a 80 cents an hour minimum,
already announced by Mr.. Lamont
a. acceptable 10 the industry"
Estimates of the research de-
partment OF the Joint Committee,
headed by Dr. Robert c. Weaver
Harvard economist. Indicate that in