Evening star., 1937-07-31
WAGE-H0UR BILL
COMMISSION PAY !
EXEMPTION LOSES
Senate Leaders Press for
Vote as Foes Seek to
ReCommit Measure,
MCARRAN ASKS BAR
TO THREAT" IMPORTS
Proposes Amendment to Keep Out
Products That Would Destroy /
U. S. Industry"
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
The Black-Connery urce and
hour bill Is the most controversial
item remaining on the Sendtes
program. 1t Dould empouer d
fireman Labor Standards Board to
tI minimum ,Ddges in interstate
industries no higher than 40 cents
an hour. The n,drimur pork ueek
could not be reduced belop 40
hours.
Goods produced in ptolation OF
rage and hour rulings or bv child
tdoor ,Donld be barred from inter
state commerce. Child labor Is de-
fined as the uork of children under
16. or under 18 in hazardous oc-
cupations.
By the Associated Press.
The Senate rejected today, as IL
neared vote on the administrator
wage-and-hour bill, a proposal to ex-
empt from its provisions employees paid
on commission basis.
The amendment was offered by
Senator Davis, Republican, of Penn.
sylvania, who argued that many work.
ers obtained only few days employ.
ment at irregular intervals and would
be handicapped by wage and hour
regulation.
Opposing the amendment, Senator
La Toilette. Progressive, of Wisconsin
said its adoption might provide a de-
vice whereby employers may take
themselves out from under the act"
Senator McCarran. Democrat, Of
Nevada then proposed barring imports
produced under labor standards lower
than those of domestic industry.
He contended his amendment would
protect American labor and Ameri.
can industry against products and
commodities that would destroy Amer.
lean labor and American industry"
AT present" he asserted, dairy
products from abroad are virtually
tearing down the dairy industry Of
this country
Why should American labor be re-
quired to compete with workers who
live on handful Of rice and sleep on
mat?" he asked.
Says Menace Unanswered.
Senator Vandenberg. Republican. Of
Michigan, suggested that "the text Of
the bill confesses the menace to which
the Senator refers. but totally fails to
answer it." He referred to a section
giving the Tariff Commission author
lty to investigate adverse effects Of
foreign competition resulting from the
operation Of the bill.
Senator'S Harrison of Mississippi and
Connally of Texas were leading a band
OF Southern Democrats in an eleventh.
hour revolt against the bill. They ara
trying to sidetrack the issue for this
session by sending the measure back
TO the Labor Committee.
Administration leaders, however,
predicted the measure would pass bv
comfortable margin In the finaI
vote, set for 3 pm. today.
The rebellion emphasized that the
rift in the Democratic Senate ranks
had continued despite cessation Of
WIG Soui lcoI sdIlDdllON uRQI.
Senator's Byrd, Democrat, Of Viz
ginia, and Smith. Democrat, Of South
Carolina long critical Of the admins.
tration, helped rally the rebel faction.
Some Senators said privately that
Vice President Garner was encour-
aging the group in one OF its aims
early adjournment of Congress.
Members Of the Southern bloc said
the split was hastened by the death
OF Majority Leader Robinson Of
Arkansas, who had held many Demo-
Gratis in line through personal ties.
Some administration Senators, how
ever, agreed with Postmaster General
Farley that the split was only tempo
rary and would heal after adjourn
ment soothed ruffled tempers.
Farley told Salem, III, audience
(See WAGE-HOUR, Page A-eD