The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-04-14
MINIMUM PAY
LAW FAVORED
BY ROOSEVELT
Plan, With Shorter Work
Week, Likely as Major
Part of Program.
LABOR PRESENTS VIEWS
Huge Public Works Pro-
gram Is Proposed in Par
ley With President.
BY RUTH FINNEY
Times Special Writer

WASHINGTON, April 14.-Legis-
lation establishing minimum wage
for workers, together with short
work week, probably will be recon-
mended to congress as a major part
of President Roosevelt's emergency
program.
Representative of American labor
urged such course, coupled with
public works on a large scale, in
conference with the President
Thursday.
They were accompanied by Labor
Secretary Perkins, who said later
that she believes minimum wage
provisions feasibly can be incorpo-
rated in the short work week bill
now pending in congress.
Business and congressional support
Of the plan also is increasing.
Urge Public Works Program
A great public works program.
launched Immediately, was urged
upon the President, Ito save Amer
lean industry from further destruc-
ton by the uncontrolled forces of
the depression, and to put in motion
powerful forces of recovery along
two lines of legislative action"
Secretary Perkins, for President
Roosevelt, is suggesting amendments
to make the short work week bill
more elastic and more enforceable.
The minimum wage plan is
thought to be included in these
amendments, although formal an
nouncement waits action by the
house labor committee, probably
next week.
Members of the committee who
favor minimum wages as part of the
plan for increasing worker purchas-
ing-power have expressed enthu-
siasm for the Perkins plan.
Present Plan to President
At the White House Thursday, in
addition to Secretary Perkins, were
Sidney Hillman, representing the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers; G.
D. Robertson of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers and Firemen;
Rose Schneiderman, of the Ma
tional Women's Trade Union
League; Donald Richberg, counsel
for the Railway Labor Executives
Association; William Green and
Frank Morrison, president and Sec
rotary of the American Federation
of Labor, and M. j. McDonough,
representing the building trades.
This group, representing con-
ference held at the labor depart
ment last week, was called together
by Secretary Perkins
A plan for establishment of labor
boards in various industries to regu-
late minimum wages and hours of
labor was proposed to the Presi-
dent.
The American Federation of La
Dor, Mr.. Green said later, thinks
that minimum wage boards should
be established for the textile indus
tries and needle trades and other
industries where labor is not organ
lied to protect ITSELF" but wants to
be free to use collective bargaining
to obtain increased wages when
business improves, in organized in
duStrieS.
Gets Powerful Support
Additional powerful support for
minimum wage legislation came to-
day from Governor Ely of MasSa-
chusetts, who, with Henry P. Ken
dali, owner Of large textile facto-
ries in New England, and William
G. Batty, representing the United
Textile Workers, called on President
Roosevelt and Secretary Perkins,
urging federal action to establish
minimum wages and the short work
week and to ban night work
A statement issued jointly by
Robertson, Richberg, Hillman and
Miss Schneiderman set forth the
two parts Of the plan presented to
the President.
The first called for an immediate
six billion dollar public works pro-
gram; the second for the short work
week and minimum wage, both as
applied to public works and to pri-