Evening star., 1937-06-22
BRIDGES PROPOSES
WAGE-HOUR BILL
Assai|s B|ack-Connery
Measure as 'Destructive.'
Offers Substitute.

Republican, OF New Hampshire an
nounced last night he would intro
duce in Congress bill to establish a
<0-cent minimum hourly wage and a
<o-hour week for American industry.
A Federal wages and hours law,
declared the Senator in an address
on the weekly radio forum spon-
sored by The Star and broadcast
over Nationwide network of the
National Broadcasting Co., would be
easily enforceable without the neces-
sity of board and without "a tre-
mendous bureaucracy"
Il sincerely believe" he said, "in
q Federal minimum wage law.
would like to see the present Con-
gress pass such law, and I am
sure all my Republican colleagues
would, too.
The Black Connery bill is not a
minimum wage bill, but gives au-
thority to the board to fix rates in
the higher categories of labor. The
board could fix the entire wage scale
for all persons subject to the act.
To Sponsor Own Bill.
Because l am certain that the
Black-Connery bill will defeat its own
purpose and be more destructive to
the standards Of life and of our
people than it will be helpful, l shall
vigorously oppose its passage. But I
do not stop there. AS a result Of con-
ferences held with other Republicans
have developed my ideas on this
subject in the specific form of a bill
which I shall challenge the Demo-
Gratis to sponsor"
Under the Black -Connery bill,
Senator Bridges declared, the board
may ignore the results of collective
bargaining" Labor" he continued,
should rise up in protest against
this outrageous imposition"
His substitute bill would make 40
hours the standard work week, with
provision that any company might
work 48 hours a week under uni
form system for payment Of over
wage with allowance for subnormal
workers and apprentices, and deter
mine whether sectional wage differ
entails should be permitted.
Text of Address.
The text of his address follows:
want to thank The Washington
Evening Star Radio Forum for invit-
ing me to talk to you tonight on the
Black-Connery bill. You recently
heard Senator Black as spokesman
for the administration express his
views on this measure.
In what I say tonight I am in nc
sense debating with Senator Black. !
am sure my social objectives are the
same as those of the late Congress
man Connery. Labor will miss Billy
Connerys sympathetic interest in its
cause. We Republicans differ from
our political opponents only as to the
methods for raising the standards of
living and the level Of happiness and
prosperity for all our people.
Therefore, tonight shall disagree
with Senator Black most vigorously in
his approval Of this bill.
But, before doing so, let me say to
you that I sincerely believe in a
Federal minimum wage law. I would
like to see the present Congress pass
such law. I am sure that all my
Republican colleagues would like to
see a law, properly drawn. I believe
bill, economically and constitution
ally sound, can be so framed that 1t
would have the support of both the
Democratic majority and the Repub-
lcan minority of Congress.
In 1895, as Governor of New Hamp-
shire, I put into actual operation a
minimum wage law which has operated
successfully. But its operations have
convinced me that a Federal law is
necessary to make it more effective.
aho want to see the people Of the
entire country protected by such a
law with Federal authority behind it.
Nevertheless, am certain that the
Black -Connery bill will defeat it's own
purpose. am sure that it will set
back the cause, for which stand, by
many long years. am convinced
chat 1t will soon become milestone
around the necks of both employe and
employer I am confident that it will
be more destructive of the standards
OF living OF all our people than
helpful.
Challenges Democrats.
For these reasons shall vigorously
oppose its passage. But If I stopped
here, you could in all fairness say
that am only giving lip service to
this cause-that l have nothing con-
etructive to offer in its place. Such is
hot the case.
AS result of conferences held with
other Republicans have developed my
ideas In the specific form of a bill.
shall tell you of these ideas and let
you draw your own conclusions
shall challenge the New Deal admins
tration to sponsor my bill for I am
sure you will agree with me that under
the provisions of my bill We will reach
Our common objectives without re-
ducing our standards Of living and
seriously setting back our cause.
First, however, let's examine the
Black Connery bill briefly and ana
ly5e its certain results to labor and
the people as a whole.
The bill sets up national labor
standards board OF five men with
powers to fix minimum hours Of work
and minimum rates Of pay for ali
persons subject to the act and en-
ployed in producing or processing
Yoods either to b. shipped in inter-
StAte commerce or competing with
Euch goods. It excludes, however
workers paid more than 80 cents per
hour, and presumably will not apply
10 farmers, the service trades, and
units employing less than eight work.
Drs. In It's effect, however, 1t covers
Ill industry and mining. whether op-
Drating in interstate or intrastate