Montana labor news., 1936-01-09
O'Byrne And Hart
Straighten Out
WPA Overtime
Continued from Page y

A&OhtliAIN4 AACAh as -
undoubtedly furnish some capable Of
flee help. I've had similar, but less
numerous complaints about the Helena
office.
Another cause for complaint is the
rule which provides for a flat rate OF
monthly earnings on W.P.A. projects
regardless of whether a man has no de-
pendents or a dozen. If these were
jobs that provided full time employ
ment at the going rate OF wages, there
would not be any legitimate kick on this
score, but OF course the facts are dif-
~ferent. Where $1,000 to $4,000 a mon
tn might be sufficient to support an
adult man or woman in comparative
comfort, it could be, and is, totally in
adequate to supply the bare necessi-
ties for a family OF three or four peo-
pie. Another thing that must be re-
membered in this connection, in order
to get a true picture of the situation,
is, that these people have absolutely no
resources of their own, upon which
they might draw. These have been
hausted long ago. Consequently, it is
probable that such families will be i'll
prepared to withstand the rigors OF a
winter such as we usually get in Mon
Itana. They are now and will continue
to be, poorly nourished and an easy
prey to disease.
We have at present, in several dis
tricts of the State, contagious diseases,
such as smallpox and scarlet fever in al
most epidemic proportions. | would
not be at all surprised but that these
health conditions are traceable to some
extent to the undernourished, non
resistant physical condition OF the
people.
Another major cause for complaint
is the fact that the fellow who was
not on Relief between the month of
May and November, 1885, may not be
assigned to a W.P.A. job. These may
be, and in a great many cases they
are, people who have been self sustain
ing, who through native pride and in
dependence have refused to ask for
direct relief, who have exhausted every
resource at their command, but who
have now arrived at the end Of their
ropes and cannot continue any furth-
er under their own power. | believe
your rules should be elastic enough to
take care OF such people and in this
connection, another thing to remember
is that for such people who have re-
ached middle life, jobs in private in
dustry are no more plentiful than they
were in 1882.
Now Mr.. Hart, | want you to under
stand that this is not intended as a
criticism of your administration.
have stated as briefly as possible the
complaints to which I've listened,
as well as the principal arguments in
support OF these complaints, SO that
you may have an opportunity to ex-
plain why these conditions exist.
l will appreciate a reply, outlining
your position in these matters and stat
ing if it is possible to remedy any OF
seeming defects.
With best wishes, | am
Sincerely yours,
EDWARD O'BYRNE,
Commissioner of Labor
COPY
WORKS PROGRESS ADMIN.
Lawrence and North Warren
Helena, Montana
Mr.. Edward O'Byrne,
Montana Commissioner Of Labor,
Building,
Helena, Montana.
Dear Mr.. O'Byrne:
Beg to acknowledge receipt Of your
Of December 5. l have read
same several times.
Regarding the complaints relative to
administrative oo-workers working
more than eight hours a day, this is
undoubtedly true in some instances.
We have been overcoming this, es- I
pecially in the Helena office, except
as TO heads Of Departments, by putting
on two shifts, especially those work
ing on payrolls. The heads OF our De-
partments in a majority of cases have
been working over time a great deal,
and there is really no other way out.
Candidly, since the first of July quite
a few of US have put in hours far be-
yond the eight hour limit, but c%andidly,
[ never knew there was any state law
regarding Department heads, etc, in
any business being prohibited from
working more than eight hours. How
ever, we are taking this up with our
Regional people and will advise you
alter to same. The only regulation we I
lave from the United States Govern t
nent relative to Administrative hours /
s the minimum to be thirty nine hours t
ger week. There is nothing said about y
maximum hours. +
The other particular complaint in J
our letter was relative to W.P.A. !
workers who could only earn the sec c
lrity wage Of from $4,000 to $4,000 a b
month, common labor. For your in t
ormation Of same, we are now check S
ng second priority or second person in a
he large family, and as soon as this i
Ist is checked over we will put to work Il
ONE Of the second priorities, Of course b
depending upon the condition Of the 4
etc. Il
Regarding the third complaint, the c
elbow who was not on the Relief be- t.
ween the months of May and Nov o
mber l, 1885, who may not be as S
to a W.P.A. job until Washing o
on changes their rules" Regarding t.
man, we can not do anything re- Il
to assigning him to a job.
Sincerely, II