The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-07-29

Inc legislative QeCkS Oh NOHSIeSS
are being cleared for action. Speedy
consideration will be given to i'm
portant measures already in the
Congressional hopper, many having
already undergone the scrutiny of
committees. Adjournment of what
has been one of the three longest
SESSIONS of the last fifteen years may
come as early as August Is, or it
may be prolonged until September
/. Events of the next few days will
have a bearing on the adjournment
date.
Of the pending measures, two are
of prime Importance to North Caro-
lina--the wage and hour bill and
farm legislation. The former may
vitality affect the working conditions
of countless hundreds of industrial
workers in the state and any new
farm bill will, of course, exercise an
influence on the income of the agri-
cultural population.
WAGE AND HOUR BILL-As a
result of careful consideration on
the part of the Senate Committee on
Education and Labor, the wage and
hour bill to be given early atten-
ton, provides only basic standards
for maximum hours, minimum
wages and child labor. The admin
istering board would be given some
powers of adjustment, based on for
ty cents an hour and forty hours a
week. Many highly controversial
features of the bill, particularly as
regards separate wage and hour
standards in the absence of union
agreements more favorable to work.
ers, have been eliminated. Of *x-
IRENE Importance to the South is
the regional differentials in mini
mum wages permitted in the revised
bill. The measure would apply to
all establishments whose goods en-
ter into interstate commerce or
compete, in substantial way, with
goods moving into interstate COM
merce, regardless of the number of
employees. Obviously, the great to-
bacco, cotton and rayon manufac-
turing plants in the state would be
affected. And these plants and their
employees may rest assured that
members of Congress from the
South are alive to the influence the
wage and hour bill may have on the
Southern states and are ready to see
that the rights of all are safe
guarded.
FARM LEGISLATION-The stu
alton as regards new and much
needed farm legislation blows hot
and cold. One day it looks as if the
Congress will speedily enact new
farm legislation before adjournment.
The outlook for heavy cotton sur
plus is source of concern. On other
days the outlook for immediate &C
ton is not encouraging.
In other words, there are two
schools of thought on the subject.
One favors quick steps to aid the
farmers and to prepare for any
emergency now while crops are
good and prices are high. The other
school of thought is opposed to tenn
porary eXpedients and hurriedly
drafted laws. It includes many Con-
gresslonal veterans and leans toward
the idea of extensive regional hear
lngs to get at the roots of the prob
lem on a permanent basis. There is
some merit to this plan, when it is
considered that steps must be taken
to meet conditions ahead that can
only be seen dimly now.
Reconciliation between many con-
flicting attitudes and ideas and at
tempts to solve the farm problem on
the basis of economics and not poll
tics are essential to an improvement
of the status of agriculture and those
who till the soil.