Montana labor news., 1934-06-07
Happenings in Congress

six-Hour Day 3O-Hour Week

Six-Hour Day - 30-Hour Week
The Crosser Bill for the 6-hour day
for railroad employees vas voted up
on in the Interstate and Foreign Com
merce Committee Thursday. While
the session wa an executive one it is
not unethical to state my own position,
unalterable opposition to reporting out
the bill, such tactics, under the present
parliamentary situation which was ex-
planned last week, being designed to
defeat a direct vote by the House. I
stated to the committee, 81 did not
sign the petition because / have to
date Witnessed no bad faith, and l hope
this committee will not show bad faith
by blocking immediate consideration
OF this Measure in the House. Report
ing this measure at the present could
serve no other purpose"
A new petition has been filed on the
Connery 30-hour Week Bill. This new
petition demands discharge of the Rules
Committee on the Senate 30-hour Week
Bill. Permit me to quote my speech
on the floor (page 9435 of the Con-
gressional Record rs it not a ques-
ton Of either regulating u machine
system or letting the machine destroy
US? In other words, let us not be ma
chine breakers, but let us make the
machine serve mar by enacting the 30
hour Week and 6-hour Day into law.
Amendments to Railway Labor Act
Coersion of American citizens, either
by economic necessity or by intimida-
ton and threat should be eliminated
in the interests Of the boosted freedom
which all American citizens are sup
posed and ought of right to enjoy"
Hearings are presently being conduct
ed before Our committee on the Amen
dments to the Railway Labor Act
which would have the effect of accom-
plishing this very noble end, What its
final form will take is doubtful, but if
it accomplishes a greater freedom of
choice to Railroad employees in res
pect to the Labor organizations to
which they desire to belong its enact
ment into law is most praiseworthy
and therefore should be speeded.
Non-Ferrous Metals Committee
OF great potential benefit to the
mining districts Of Motnana was the
meeting held Thursday by various CON
gressmen interested in the n%on-ferrous
metals. At this meeting a protest was
directed to the President against the
elimination of all copper and bronze
wherever used on Government build
ings. An order for such elimination
had been issued b.. John Dresser, chair
man Of the Buildings Commute, of the
Department Of Interior. The purpose
Of this meeting was indirectly to work
out a program whereby part of the
money to be spent for relief purposes
shall be devoted to such public ac-
t%ivities as will create a demand for
copper and other non-ferrous metals,
with a stringent provision compelling
unemployment Of the unemployed.
Silver
Suggesting that a bill be enacted in
to a law which will ultimately establish
a rs per cent silver and a Is per cent
gold base for United States Currency,
and will result in Naturalization of all
silver stocks, President Roosevelt took
another step in his votal monetary
policy. The silver certificates issued
would be based on the actual price paid
for the silver, and the measure would
limit the authority to purchase the
metal at not more than Soc an ounce.
While the proposal does not go as far
as we should like, it certainly is a CON