The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-11-18


Washington, Nov. ia national
S6-hour week law for industry rs
likely to be passed by the next con-
RreSs In It's first session.
It,cannot be said as yet that this
Is part Of the Roosevelt program.
But here are some reasons for ex-
pectlng that 1t will be:
1.-THE most influential leaders Of
organized labor, who probably
will have the most effective lobby
on Capitol Hill this winter, have
decided that the 36-hour working
zweek--with possible provision FOL
Exceptions as well as minimum wage
astandards--is about what's needed
Z to absorb most OF the nations un.
-employed employables.
Z 7-Roosevelt biggest Job Is still TO
= solve the problem Of the So
called "10,000000 unemployed" He
.cannot depend OH private industry
ito solve It, as no had hoped, and
hour legislation seems his only re-
wcourse II he Is 10 cut down the ex-
Expensive WPA rolls. AS reported IN
lthis column q year ago. Roosevelt
.then wanted n national 40-hour
week law. He was dissuaded Subse-
sauently by u. s.. Supreme court de-
= cisions, bitter Industrial opposition,
!. and the political situation.
7. 7-Congress In all probability
- would quickly pass such law
The Black 30-hour week law easily
,BlId through the senate IN 1888 and
would have passed the house II
Roosevelt and the U. 3. Chamber
Z of Commerce hadn't dashed In with
NRA as n substitute. Passage OF u
38-hour bill would be likely as
: result OF labor pressure even II
Roosevelt were TO keep hands OH.
/, Industry Stretches Hours
=. Hours In industry have been
heightened since MIRA died. Thus
production has been Increased with
no great absorption OF the unem'
ployed.
Il With industry on an upward
.Bwing, labor leaders say, @ 36-hollr
s'law would increase employment per-
maps 10 per cent.
Leaders Of Labor's Non Parti-
san League and the Committee
for Industrial Organization, NJ
least, will not 70 no far as to de-
mand u 30.h0ur week. They nd.
init privately that they don't
N know what such drastic change
= would do 10 industry and that IL
might cause harmful disturb
" aisce.
y On the other hand, they point 10
z certain industries, notably the gar
y ment trades, where the 36-hour
I, weak has been successfully tried.
y Face High Court Hurdle
" Passage Of short work week law
would iaean n showdown with the
: E,iprctnc court, whose decisions
= have plainly shown that o compiled,
y change OF heart or change OF
: nembership would be necessary be-
I. fore such act would be held consti-
tutional.
.John l.. Lewis and his group. or
:, labor leaders are not looking DC.
- You'd the point where wage ano
/. hour legislation would be inVaI'
dated except as they expect 70 de-
!, nand that Roosevelt move Vigor'
- olIsly 10 meet the issue.
The LabOr'S Non Partisan
II League altitude toward Roosevelt,
4 In whose landslide u was o very
large factor, IL friendly and Loyal:
& Al the same time, this political
y orenniaztIon, which expects TO set
I, mo mn important labor lobby ~
Warrington for the first time, VIII
II stress the fact that II isn't tiled
II up' with the administration.
II "a not committed 10 formation
X of a third party or the political
advancement OF Lewis and Will
concentrate IN 1898 $50 and perhaps
iO40--on election Of labor'S friends
IN both parties and defeat OF iS
enemies.