Evening star., 1937-08-12

der the edge of the American tent.
Once they get that they can 60 far.
With the aid OF sympathetic Presi-
dent, President who lends himself
to their purposes more than he under
stands, they can 90 all the way.
They now want mainly two things.
They want a CROP control measure.
For this Mr.. Roosevelt Is maneuvering
ingeniously. The price Of cotton has
gone down. Southern Congressman
want the President to make loans out
OF public funds on cotton in order
to keep the price up. Mr.. Roosevelt
says he won't make any loans on cot
ton unless Congress first gives him a
crop-control measure. His argument
Is reasonable. He says the adminis-
tration ought not to loan money on
existing cotton unless it is first given
power to limit the amount Of future
cotton grown.
Once the New Dealers get even =
mild crop-control measure, even one
controlling only one crop, they can
know that the measures will expand
automatically 20 as to cover other
crops. Not only will it ultimately fix
the amount Of each crop to be raised; ;
in time 1t will determine the selling
price and the distribution to mills and
factories.
Want Waxe-Hour Bill.
Besides a crop-control measure. the
New Dealers want the wage-and-hour
bill. That is what it is called But it
Is not simple act Of Congress de-
creeing that no person shall be en-
ployed at less than 10 cents an hour
or required to work more than 40 hours
. week. An act that simple might
work. though the best authorities are
not sure think it might work II 1t
were . State act, with A Federal act
to supplement it and make it effective.
I doubt whether it is practicable as
. Federal act covering the whole
country uniformly. or establishing
sectional difIerentials.
But why discuss that? That is not
what We have before us. The wage
and hour bill Is nothing 50 simple Is
that. Just what 1t is is not easy to
say. for it varies from time to time.
One version Of 1t was passed by the
Senate. Another version was intro
duced in the House and in the House
Committee on Labor was modified by
more than 50 amendments. Through
all the changes, however, the heart
~ TIA ire ho ~ ~
the wage-and- hour measure is a board
of five men, to be appointed by the
President. The board will have
enormous power and discretion. 1t
can flx minimum wage and maxi
mum Of hours per week for one plant,
and different standards for another.
1t can-I quote Democratic Repre-
sentative Glenn Griswold of Indiana
it can create differentials not only
between sections and localities, but
between different plants in the same
occupation: it can even discriminate
between classes OF employers, employees
or employment"
Once the Machiavellis get that, they
can 60 far The fixing of one wage
will compel the fixing of another. 1t
will not stop with fixing wages. for the
fixing OF wages will compel fixing of
the prices of the goods which the
wages produce. Once the automatic
process is under way, its effect upon
one plant or section will put another
plant or section under a disadvantage
They will need protection. Within 4
short time persons who now resist
the measure will be clamoring to have
1t extended to them as defense.
First Crop Control Plan.
To say this is surmise, and surmise
about the future. One ought not to
say it without giving some kind OF
proof. The proof exists. It exists In
the shape Of what happened about the