The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-02-28
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS IN u. S.
SENATE WANT COMPROMISE
$4,000, OOO,0 900 Relief Bin Still Bone
of Contention in Congress
at Washington

Senate Democratic leaders in the
the U. S. Senate were searching this
week for wage formula that would
appease organized labor, and at the
same time be acceptable to President
Roosevelt and save the $4,000, 000, 900
legislation from defeat.
Appearing before conference of
between 20 and Is labor leaders SEN
ator McCarran, of Nevada, sponsor of
the so-called prevailing" wage
amendment, the adoption of which by
the senate brought about the recon-
hitting of the measure to the appro-
priations committee, was assured that
there would be no retreat from la
boris demands.
At the capitol, senate Democratic
Leader Robinson, surrounded by a
group of active participants in the
pending dispute, including Senators
Wagner, of New York, O'Mahoney, of
Wyoming, Buckley, Of Ohio, Mcclellan
of Tennessee, and Byrnes, of South
Carolina, tried to arrive at some
means of settling the wage-rate dis
pute. 1t is understood that Senator
Wagner was deputized by the meet
ing to approach President Green, of
the American Federation of Labor,
and Assistant Secretary of Labor
Edward McGrady to enlist their sup
port for a compromise.
The names of the senators attend
ing the meeting formed most i'm
pressive list. Senators Byrnes is look
ed upon as the liaison between the
senate and the White House in regard
to this particular legislation as a
member of the appropriations COM
mittee. Senator O'Mahoney is FORM
er assistant postmaster general, and
was effective in assisting the admins
tration in the handling Of the can
collation. of the air mail contracts.
Senator Byrd made a spirited at
tack in the senate last week upon the
pending legislation, and this is under
stood to have had great weight
throughout the country, since Sena-
tor Carter Glass, his colleague from
Virginia, has been the most outstand-
ing opponent of this kind of legisla-
ton.
President Green, of the American
Federation of Labor, has insisted that
the prevailing" wage be provided for
as measure of compensation to be
paid on all government aid work, al
though willing to have a maximum
monthly wage to be arrived at on that
basis. For instance, while demanding
the retention of the hourly wage
rates that prevail in the various parts
of the country, he would not, on be-
half of organized labor, be disposed
to object to a requirement that no
employe be allowed to earn more
than, say, $40 or $50 in any one
month.
He is unalterably opposed to the
"secuc;ty' wage proposed by the
President, maintaing that with the
cost of living constantly advancing,
it would be dangerous precedent to
permit of the payment of less than
the going rates of wage. If the exist
ing scales are broken down, he has
contended, it might be very long
time before they could be restored.
All this means that there will be
another fight in the committee on the
question Of separating direct relief
from work relief. The wage question
of course, must be disposed Of in
some way or another, or perhaps q
satisfactory compromise can be arriv.
ed at.
Secretary Ickes has said that il
might be found difficult to go ahead
with the work of building the scenic
highway connecting the Great Smoky
and the Shenandoah national parks
unless Congress passes the Presi
dents works-relief bill.