Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-28

AtlleTlCd, Tic Sdlu. uidhc lAc oIAtc
ment unhesitatingly, knowing that
those who sit beyond the aisle are Of
a different political party, but that
they are human and as interested IN
the workers as we are.
MY substitute meets every argu-
ment which has been advanced by
the McCarran prevailing wage agree
ment. I voted for the McCarran
amendment and I make no apology
for doing so. 1t has been charged
against the prevailing wage amend
ment that it would injure private in
dustry, putting the Government in
competition with private employers.
I, like other members Of the Senate,
am DESTROYS of aiding industry. Good
times will not return in this country
until opportunity to place the toilers
at work in industry has been found.
Labor is as dependent on indus
try as industry is dependent on labor.
Industry Unhampered.
"In my opinion the McCarran
amendment will not in any way ham
per industry. 1t has been said. how
ever, that such will be the case. The
amendment I propose meets that
argument. 1t has been predicted that
if the prevailing wage is paid by the
Government on relief projects, the
workers will flock to the Government
pay roll and will not go to private in
duStry. do not believe that that will
be the case. However, under my pro-
poSal, If it should be found at any
time that the payment Of the prevail
ing wage was injuring industry and
retarding recovery, all that our great
leader has to do Is to give notice to
that effect and to take action in the
matter. -
Labor Is unreasonable, it Is charg-
ed in some quarters. There are some
who say that the laborer Is overpaid.
do not believe that the workers of
this country have ever been over
paid"
Senator Reynolds referred to the
fact organized labor was insisting
upon the prevailing wage amendment
to the work relief bill. He asked to
have his substitute for the McCarran
amendment referred to the Appropri-
atoms Committee, which has that
measure before it.
Mcclellan Predicts Passage.
When Reynolds had finished speak
ing, Senator Mcclellan, Democrat. Of
Tennessee, predicted the work relief
bill will pass and become law in
substantially the form in which 1t
was reported to the Senate, and said
it should be enacted without the Nc
Carran amendment. Mcclellan said
that in his "a years in Congress he
has supported legislation to improve
the conditions of labor.
"In my State. and believe In other
States, the McCarran amendment
would cause thousands Of persons to
leave private employment and 80 into
Government work, and that would not
be good for labor or for the country"
Mcclellan declared.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press
reported, Henry l. Hartman, presi-
dent of the Chamber of Commerce
Of the United States, came to the
support Of Mr.. Roosevelt for his stand
for security wages, while Henry H.
Curran, director of the National Econ
omy League, urged that Congress ap-
propriate $1,000, 100000 for relief in
the next FISCAL year and Insist that
the cities do their full part" He said
most cities are Lying down" on the
Federal Government
Hartman said in New York that
IF work relief cannot be given in
the way which the President desires it
should not be given at all, and resort
should be had to the DOLE"
AS the Appropriations Committee
chairman, Senator Glass, Democrat,
Of Virginia, awaited word from the
White House before calling the group
together. his colleague, Senator Byrd,
Democrat, Of Virginia, announced
more than half dozen Senators had
promised to vote for a proposal ad-
vanced by himself and Senator Adams,
Democrat, of Colorado, to cut the ap-
preparation to $3.50, 000, 900 to con.
tinue the present relief system an
other year and scrap the public works
plan.
II am opposed to mortgaging the
future welfare Of our children, grand
children and even generations to
come" Byrd said.
1.-THE time has come to reduce the
spending orgy at Washington and TO
install economy, efficiency and sim
plicity in our public affairs.
National prosperity can never be
restored by a public works program
on borrowed money"