Evening star., 1934-06-24
Effect of Suspension of Pre-
vaiIing-Wage Law OBJ
ieCt of Inquiry.
KCK-BACK HEARINGS
RESUME IN 3 WEEKS
Testimony Before Committee In
dicates P. W. A. Requirements
Remain on Emergency Jobs.

With indications that Senate hear
ings into labor conditions on public
building projects will be resumed in
about three weeks, Chairman Walsh
of the Investigating Committee mean
while will seek to find out from regu-
lar Government departments what
effect suspension of the Bacon-Davis
prevailing-wage law will have on wage
requirements on their Government
construction projects
Before recessing the hearings tenn
porarily yesterday afternoon, Senator
Walsh asked Herbert Baruch, of the
Veterans Administration, one of the
last witnesses, to prepare an opinion
on the question Of how suspension of
the Bacon-DaviS prevailing-wa law
will affect wage requirements on con-
struction projects carried on by per-
manent governmental agencies.
Requirements Remain.
Testimony before the committee in
dlcates there is no doubt that on
emergency projects, the strict P. w. A.
requirements as to wages and working
conditions remain. but doubt has been
expressed before the committee as to
whether regular executive depart
mentS, doing work under specific
appropriations from Congress, have
any substitute for the Bacon-Dayis
law, which requires that workmen on
public projects be paid the prevailing
wage in each community
The presidential proclamation sus-
pending the Bacon-Davis law for the
time being, explained that the Secre-
tary Of Labor and the administrator
Of public works had pointed out that
the concurrent operation of both the
Bacon-Davis law and the wage re-
quirements of the industrial recovery
act cause administrative confusion
and delay which could be avoided by
suspension Of the provisions of the
Bacon-Davis act"
District officials have expressed the
view that suspension of the Bacon
Davis law leaves the construction
code as guide, and this provides for
payment of the rates agreed between
employers and employees as Of April
80. 1888.
Senator Walsh said at the close
of the hearings yesterday that II the
opinions obtained from the executive
departments indicate they are not
clear as to what they can require in
future with regard to wages and
working conditions on public prof.
ects, he will confer with the Presi-
dent on the subject.
Flexible Contract Law.
The Massachusetts, Senator also has
asked Government officials who ap-
peared at the hearings last week to
consider the advisability of a flexible
contract law, under which the pre-
vailing wage would be required in
the contract, with a provision that
the contractor would be paid more
or less than the contract price in
proportion to any change which
might occur in prevailing wages dur
ing the period of construction.
Mr.. Baruch explained to the COM
mittee yesterday what steps have
been taken to investigate and ad-
just labor complaints on the 300
building projects that agency has had
since the prevailing wage law was
passed in 1881.
Baruch said the controller general
ruled about two years ago that money
due contractor could not be with
held pending adjustment of COM
plants that the prevailing wage was
not paid. He added that the Vet
erans' Administration is now consider
ing the possibility of declining to GER
tify that the specifications of a con-
tract have been carried out if claims
regarding payment of prevailing wages
are pending. A final decision on this
course Of action has not been reached.
Jobs as Laborers.
Mr.. Baruch said one of the prob
lens of the depression has been that
skilled mechanics are willing to take
jobs as laborerS in order to get work,
and that the inspectors must then de-
termine what kind of work they are
doing.
Bradley B. Smith, assistant director
of the Investigation Division of the
Interior Department, outlined to the
committee yesterday the procedure fol-
lowed by that agency in checking up
on LABOR complaints on T. w. A.
projects. He has furnished the COM
| mittee a written statement of specific
| cases investigated throughout the
| country.
Herbert S. Woods OF the Board Of
Labor Review explained to the COM
mittee how that board operates in
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