Evening star., 1937-12-14

Committee. In call for special
session, President Roosevelt listed
measure as one OF four objectiues,
but petition method 1pas necessary
to get bill out OF committee and
bitter fight still looms before meas
nre may be passed.
By the Associated Press.
A smau group of rebellious Northern
Democrats displaced Southern col
leagues today at the spearhead OF
House opposition to the administra.
tions wage-hour bill.
Four members from north of the
Mason-Dixon Line proffered substitute
measures which would impose in
flexible wage-hour standards on firms
engaged in interstate commerce.
The House may vote on them late
today or tomorrow after deciding
whether to place administration of the
program under an independent five.
man board or one Labor Department
official.
Although the proposed substitutes
differed in some details, none would
permit any wage or hour differentials
between the North and the South
Some of their proponents admitted
frankly the purpose of the revisions
was to ALLEVIATE members who would
support more flexible measure.
Admin fro tiop fornoc i,oI coy,,e
Southern support for the bill last week
by agreeing to include differentials
Southerners contended that without
them industry in their region would
be hampered by the legislation.
House leaders, buoyed by their sue
cess yesterday in defeating efforts to
prevent consideration of the long
delayed bill, expressed confidence it
would pass late in the week without
substantial change They were more
concerned about sentiment for send
ing the bill back to the Labor Com
mittee for revision than about the
proposals to revise it on the floor.
The Senate, meanwhile, was trying
to complete the farm bill by the time
the House finished the wage-hour de-
bate. Senator Barkley, Democratic
floor leader, announced he was pre-
pared to insist on night sessions if
necessary to accomplish this objec-
tive.
The first major attempt to revise
the wage-hour bill was expected from
Representative Dockweiler, Democrat,
of California, sponsor of substitute
drafted by the American Federation of
Labor
He would impose a uniform mini
mum wage of 40 cents an hour and a
40-hour work week. The Labor Com
mittee draft would let these standards
be set by industries. Minimum wages
could not exceed 40 cents an hour,
and the maximum work week could
not be under 40 hours.
IT Mr.. Dockweiler's proposal failed,
Representatives Lamneck, Democrat,
of Ohio; Groswold, Democrat. of In
diana; Connery, Democrat, of Massa-
chusetts and Phillips, Democrat, of
Connecticut said they would demand
consideration of their substitutes
Mr.. Griswold asserted "a whole lot
Of people in this House are not in
favor of the monstrosity" being advo-
Gated by the leadership and the Labor
Committee. He suggested a fiat wage
OF 40 cents an hour and a 44-hour
week.
When the legislation finally reached
the House floor yesterday after 283
members voted to repudiate the Rules
Committees blockade of it, Republi-
cans and some Southern Democrats
denounced its provisions.
Bill Declared Sinful"
A retired Baptist minister. Repre.
sentative Eaton, Republican, of New
Jersey declared the bill was Con
ceived in sin and sired in the Cave
OF the Winds at the other end of
Pennsylvania avenue"
Representative Dies, Democrat. of
Texas, a leading foe of the measure.
said it was Designed to humbue"
the workers and would benefit only
handful of people"
Bipartisan critics contended en-
sctment of the bill at this time would
disturb economic conditions further
and would prolong the business recess
sion. ~ Ae'e'
representative Ramspeck, Demo-
crat, OF Georgia asserted, however
That failure to dispose of the leeisla.
ZION one way or another" would in
crease business uncertainty. He an
pealed to the House to "have the
courage to decide this thing on it's
merits"
Representative Dunn, Democrat, of
pennsylvania, calling for united s,,n-
port OF the bill, said every measure
recommended by President Roosevelt
hao oeen good legislation for the
poor OF this country"
Other portions of the Presidents
legislative program we're advancing
slowly. Both Senate and House Rank
Ing Committees continued their study
OF the housing bill, the Senate ero,,n
beginning final consideration of
amendments. Senator Barklev told
reporters the bill might be finished
late in the day.
Inc House Rivers and Harbors
Committee went ahead with hearings
on legislation to create seven regional
plannlng agencies. The Merchant
Marine Committee resumed the TAX
Ing OF testimony on changes in the
ship subsidy act designed to rehabili-
tate the American Merchant Marine.
senator Barkley pleaded with Sem
ators to quit talking matters no. in