The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-27
] BEHIND THE SCENJESI WASHINGTON AWv RODNEY DUTcHER-&
 Democrat Washington
 Correspondent  of Wage Bill Hardest Jolt
 Yet Given
 New Deal

 ing of the minimum wage-maximum hour bill in the house was harder jolt to the New Deal than the sen- ate's defeat of the presidents su- preme court plan.
 Which means that it's the worst blow the Roosevelt administration has received to date.
 This time a fundamental ecO- homie issue was involved and the New Deal met its defeat in the house of representa- lives, where traditionally the administration IS expected to have control. The de- feat Is all the worse because its effect is cumulative, following the court plan debacle as closely as 1t does.
 As a result of Roosevelt's bold attempt to enlarge the supreme court, the justices appeared to have been scared into handing down pro- New Deal decisions and one con- servative justice resigned. The pres- ct cloud appears to have no silver lining whatever. Wage-hour legis- lation was keystone in the Roose- welt program.
 A DiscOncerting Shock
 The great political question of the hour is whether Roosevelt will fight to regain the control of con- gress, which a combination of con- servative southern Democrats and northern Republicans have wrested away from him and, If 80, whether he can win. For the time being one can only be sure that MT. Roose- welt has received a disconcerting shock.
 The president will be urged by some advisers and congressional supporters to veto any farm legis- lati0n which congress passes, and to insist that there be no more huge appropriations for farmers until representatives of the cotton south and the grain belt have shown themselves willing to aid the poorest paid groups in indus- try.
 Such course would require more obstinacy than the president has shown for long time. Had Most to Win
 The queerest thing about the final wage-hour debacle was the fact that contributory parts in 1t were played by President William Green of the American Federation of Labor, Sec- retary of Labor Frances Perkins and MT. Roosevelt himself, who was re- sponsible for the bill and had most to win' or lose.
 The A. F. of L. lost much prestige and power through its peculiar tactics. Few congress- men who voted for the defeated A. F. of L. substitute bill were willing to continue following W.T. liam Greens orders subsequently by voting to recommlt the bill backed by the administration Nevertheless there were 8 few such men and their votes counted were fewer than 10-the number in the margin even though there of votes which, if. switched, would have turned the tide.
 Although Secretary Perkins may not have lobbied directly to put administration of the wage. hour measure under her department, one of her feminine minions was conspicuous in lining up support for and causing Chairman Mary Norton of the house labor com mittee to make the proposal for a labor department administra- tor.
 The positions of certain labor leaders were falsified in the course of this lobbying. Members favorable to the original plan for Q five man board administration estimate that somewhere between s and 20 southern members de. serted the bill because of distrust for Miss Perkins, and the feeling that a board at least would allow southern representation.
 Although Roosevelt took no ac- tive part in the fight, his combina- ton of floor leadership and liaison men worked feverishly. The ad- ministration machine" proved both weak and unable to estimate It's strength. Roosevelt was ready to send a message to the house on the last day If advised that there was any doubt as to the outcome of the recommittal fight. He was told the bill was safe. Hence the shock. Copyright, 1897, NEA Service, Incl