Evening star., 1937-07-31

AoI AaooI uliioli a*#$$3
to do but to get
better wages and
hours for its dues paying members? 1?
Likewise, If. the minimum wage is
established by law and govern
mental board has to take into con-
s1deration economic factors. will not
. simple amendment subsequently,
give over to the same Federal board
the task Of regulating hours and
wages for all other groups of en-
ployes?
The wage and hour bill is based
on splendid intentions and is the
result OF a campaign pledge. given
Aln the generosity of campaign days
President Roosevelt feels he must go
ahead and arrange for minimum wage
and maximum hours by Federal
statute instead OF leaving it to the
States. Unfortunately. the move Is
20 far-reaching and touches so many
\ industries that 1t may result in un-
employment and possibly some cuts
Xn wages for those in the groups above
the minimum.
The mere fact that the proposed
Federal board, which with its supposed
oh1ntscience is to settle satisfactorily
~ questions arising out Of the pro-
posed legislation, is to be instructed
~ Congress to move cautiously and
to be sure to avoid curtailing earn
ing power is sign that the trainers
sf the act knew they were treading
on dangerous ground
Bread Generalization.
The proposed law, for instance,
commando the board to arrange for
the maximum of 40 hours a week
and minimum of 40 cents an hour
~as rapidly IS is economically feasible"
which is yretty broad generalization
The measure raises some interesting
questions OF economic equality, espe-
<Cially in the South. Likewise it is
full OF jokers already on the matter
OF exempting agricultural labor. The
Federal board is to determine when
cotton ginned on a farmers own
property means he can pay labor
any price he pleases, whereas when
taken to processing establishment
which makes a business OF cotton gin
ming another wage scale is to prevail
Then there's the question Of what
constitutes a seasonal" peak. Certain
occupations like fishing and canning
are exempted. Senators have been
piling on amendments in the nature
Of special privileges for citizens OF
their own States so that the bill is
already . hodgepodge OF inconsist-
enciex
Opposition from Southern quarters
to the proposal is rather intense and
there is some ground for the belief
that even though the bill may pass
the Senate it may slumber in con-
ference till next January. Undoubtedly
minimum wage and hour bill will
tend to increase the purchasing power
of some groups, but it will be at
the expense of other groups.
Sees Prices Forced Up.
1t will naturally tend to force prices
upward, but it may we'll be argued
that Government regulation OF wages
and hours may possibly be done on
much more scientific basis than is
possible when the c. /. o. with Gov
ernment encouragement uses its eco
4 nomic power to force prices upward
irrespective of whether the consumers
can pay the higher costs or the busi-
ness owners can absorb them.
So FAR as a regulated economy is
concerned. the pending wage and
hour bill Is an initial step of ma jor
proportions, perhaps more important
than the N R. A because the ele-
ment OF code making Of dif1erentials
Is eliminated and one Government
board Is to do all the work that all
the codes put together tried to do
heretofore.
The bill is fun Of broad delegations
OF power which seem to be plainly
Invalid, but the feeling Of most mem
>bers who intend TO vote for the meas
urs Is that something is better than
nothing. There Is still the little mat
ter OF determining what companies or
firms are engaged in local or intra-
state business and what ones are inter-
state and hence subject TO the pro-
posed law. But confusion never deters
the New Deal legisla tors. Their hone
u that somehow al these reforms will
be disested and that everything will
come out all right in the end even II
IL takes another depression or panic to
bring about few more drastic changes
In the whole economic system.
What About Incompetence
One major question has gone un-
answered IN the debate. What Is going
70 happen to the persons who really
cannot earn the minimum wage and
who will be displaced bv Younger
workers? The suggested law ATTEMPTS
to take care OF them by providing
that the Federal board NAV issue
orders for the employment OF persons
whose earning capacity is impaired
by age or physical or mental deficiency
or injury, under special licenses To b,,
Issued by the board, At wages lower
than the applicable wage and for such
period AZ shall be fixed by the licenses -
Where are these people going to get
the money to hire lawyers or LOBBYISTS
to 60 to Washington to get them spe
eiAl licenses The probabilities are
that many OF these persons will wind
up on the relief rolls and will lose
their Jobs as well as their morals But
the New Deal believes that \ certain
amount OF cruelty and hardship is
necessary to all reforms. In air-coo,ed
Fonfortable New Deal of71ceS there is
much prattle about the iii housed
III nourished and i'll clad" but at best
only political sympathy and not q
realistic appreciation OF the immensity
OF the whole problem
tCopyr!ght. 1879
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