The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-06-24
SEEN and HEARQ>
around the a@N
NATIONAL CAPITALA< /
BY Carter Field ~
FAMOUS WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
FAMOUS WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT


Washington. - There is more to
the uneasiness of certain high labor
officials to government fixing of
minimum wages than is being made
known. What some of them think
about it down in their hearts would
not arouse any enthusiasm if stated
in plain English. 1t would not be
good politics, and in politics man
who has become a labor leader Is
apt TO know his way around.
One objection is stated frankly
They are afraid that if the govern
ment fixes a minimum wage 1t Will
tend to become the standard wage.
A good deal of publicity has been
given to this. But most OF 1t is just
talk. A good many workers suspect
that the social security payroll taxes
are more menacing to pay adj
vances than any governmental edict
that not less than a certain amount
can be paid for a definite job IN
| definite place.
Every once in while there IS a
hint that the fixing of wages is
matter which should be left to col
lective bargaining. That comes pref
ty close to being the heart of the
real objection. The same danger
was realized by labor leaders dur
ing the MIRA regime. Obviously If
the government should eventually
control all working conditions, par
ticularly hours and wages, the I'M
portance of union labor leaders
would shrink considerably. There
| might even come time when work
ers would doubt the wisdom OF hav-
ing highly paid union officials with
liberal expense accounts. The gov
eminent would be doing the job that
the unions set out to do and have
been doing.
There was small contingent OF
the original brain trust which saw
this very clearly, and welcomed the
day when it would mature. They
wanted all power lodged in the fed
eral government. This line Q
thought never triumphed. The time
was not ripe for it.
Moreover the election was ap
preaching and the administration
| did not know then that 1t coulc
have been reelected even If all the
labor unions had been just as strong
ly opposed to 1t as they were II
favor of it.
See Danger There
| But the dangerous germ 0
thought is still there. The admin
stration intends to march on its eff
forts to straighten out the waving III
and down curve of business boom.
and depressions. It intends to con
troll business more and more, es
pecially in the matter OF plant ex
pansions.
With the regulation OF wages an'
hours, not a part OF the program
for the present session of congress
the regulation of business come
closer. Sooner or later may com
another move. 1t has not even bee
limited, so far, but as a matter C
fact it has lots OF advocates, som
of them inside the New Deal breast
works.
For if governmental control
to be exercised over business |
order to avoid hectic booms an
gloomy depressions-with the ide
being to keep the curve of prospel
ity in a straight line, with no UP
and downs-it will become impol
tant not to have cessations OF wor
due to labor troubles. They are al
to play hob not only with produ'
tion--bearing in mind that the go'
OF, the New Deal is to have pr,
duction geared down to the cap
city of the market to consume
, but with government revenues.
The millions of taxes paid to I'll
, federal government out of the a
nual profits of the steel corporation
, for. example, and out Of person
, incomes derived from DIVIDEND
, from that company, might concei
| ably disappear entirely for one YET
due to strikes which might turn ii
black ink figures of that compar
into red.
All of which has labor leaders
, little perturbed as they see the sta
! made on government regulation
o wages.
G Ohio in Congress
!, The Ohio delegation Is an intere.
= ing example of what is happenil
! to the President on the Supren
court enlargement bill, and on
= surgency in general. 1t is typical
most of the delegations from stat
G which are normally Republican, a
{ at present have heavy Democrat
:, majorities in the Capitol Hill &C
: tingents.
! Ohio now has % Democrats a
! only 2 Republicans in the hou:
! although if there is such thing a
n more as a normal" majority t
!, Buckeye state should have abe
!, 100000 Republicans.
: A month ago confidential p
! was taken of these % Ohio Den
: Gratis. 1t showed Is of them we
: against the President on the s