Evening star., 1937-08-10

both assured of representation, which
refutes one OF the most serious objec-
tions to the bill-that capital Will have
little, II any, representation The
board is appointed, originally for terms
Of one, two. three, four and five years
and thereafter for terms of five years
each
S. The administrative board created
under the bill, as it now is written, is
required to appoint State directors for
each State, territory and the District
of Columbia, thereby localizing and
decentralizing to some extent the
administration.
6. The board is required to submit
an annual report to Congress of its
activities, thus establishing the right
Of Congress to protect legislation it
has passed.
7. The bill sets forth directly stand
ards and policies as to working con-
ditions, as I have already stated.
Hearings Conducted Locally
8. Hearings of the board are to be
conducted locally. There will be no
need for business men and labor
groups to travel to Washington for the
protection of their rights hearing
must be held before a labor standard
order setting up minimum wages or
maximum hours is made by the board
and a hearing may be held at the
request Of any person having q bona
flde interest, at the request of any
labor organiza ton, or on the boards
own motion if it finds conditions re-
qulrlng such an order to exist in any
industry or occupation. Notice must
be given to all the interested persons
and the hearing must be public.
After the hearing is held and before
the order is issued, If at all, an ad-
vlsory committee composed of an
equal number of persons representing
the employers and the employees In
the occupation affected and not more
than three disinterested persons rep
resentmg the public must be ap-
pointed
9. The board is permitted to de-
termine minimum wages and maxi
mum hours only in those industries
where substandard labor conditions
exist. The high-type American busi-
ness men, and they are in the ma joritv,
whose wages and hours are in line with
the thought of the President on this
social principle, need not fear that
the Government is trying to interfere
with their business
10. The power of the Tariff Com
mission under the tariff act of 1880
to protect American labor against
foreign competition is provided for
under this act. thus protecting our
products from unfair competition with
foreign goods produced under SUBJ
standard labor conditions
II. The manner of conduct of in
vestigations and the taking Of testi-
mony are provided for with due re-
gard to the constitutional rights Of
persons appearing before the board.
Action Against Chiseller.
II. The bill furnishes employees the
right of action for the amount Of
wages payable representing the diff
ference between the minimum wage
as established by the board and the
substandard wage actually paid This
safeguards the employe from the CHS
cling employer and virtually puts
the chiseller out of business.
l3. The bill if enacted will not
supersede any State minimum wage
law if the State minimum wage law
is higher, nor will State maximum
hour laws be superseded if said law
is lower.
IA. The orders of the board are
subject to court review.
Is. Orders of the board are not ef-
fective until 80 days have elapsed
from the date Of the order. Further,
the act shall not take effect until 120
days after its enactment.
l6. This point I cannot stress too
strongly, the protection of the rights
OF collective bargaining under this
bill. Actually it will be distinctly to
the advantage of the employe to bar
gain collectively as only in this way
can he be assured of minimum wage
Va 1IlOlC tIIdAA ~ SCllto VI a tulIl
work week of less than 40 hours. The
board is specifically denied this power.
The board cannot supersede agree
ments reached by collective bargain
Ing when they raise the standards of
working conditions in any occupation
The bill further states that on of the
factors to be taken into consideration
by the board before establishing a
minimum wage or maximum work
week for any industry Is the hours
and wages agreed upon by collective
bargaining for an industry Of like or
similar character. Would it not, there
fore, be to the advantage of labor to
bargain for as high standards as pos
sible so as to help one another.
Blow At Child Labor.
IT, And last but not least the bill
does away with the evil Of child labor
in the factory. At long last goods pro-
duced at the cost of ruined lives Of
American children are definitely ban
ned from the channels of interstate
commerce.
In your consideration of the fore
going I want to make clear that Con-
gress does not believe itself to be in
fallible. We believe firmly, sincerely
and strongly in the principles OF this
bill, but it may we'll be that time will
suggest certain clarifying amend
ments to be added, some limiting or
extension of power, or some broadening
Of exclusions. All can say now, and
I want to state this emphatically, is
that this bill is the best that We have
been able, during extensive and