The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-09-01
Changes In Wages
And Hours Law Are
Sought BY A. F. Of
Limitation Of Power For the
Administrator Urged
BY Council
JOB IS TOO BROAD
Believe Him Uncble to Class
Workers According
To Skill
JOB IS TOO BROAD

Atlantic City, N. 1.-THE American
Federation Of Labor will seek to have
the next session of Congress enact
major amendments to the Federal
Wages and Hours Law, including
broad curtailment of the authority
conferred upon the Administrator of
the Act, William Green, president Of
the Federation, announced at the
quarterly meeting of the A. F. of L..
Executive Council here.
Classification Power Opposed
One of the Federation's demands
will be the abolition of the power now
granted the Administrator to make
classifications of workers according
to skill for the purpose of determin-
ing the highest minimum wage rate
(between 25 and 40 cents an hour)
which workers in each class shall be
paid. Mr.. Green expressed the fear
that this provision would make it pos
sble for Government agents to class
ify skilled craftsmen as "hatchet and
saw men," thus depressing wage
standards. He urged, instead, estab-
lishment of an absolute minimum
wage.
Another A. F. of L. demand is the
termination of the complete control
which the Administrator of the Wages
and Hours Act can exercise over the
industry committees which he is au-
thorized to appoint for each industry
coming under the scope of the law.
Following a thorough investigation,
the industry committee files with the
Administrator a report recommending
minimum wage order for the workers
in the industry. If the Administrator
agrees with the recommendations of
! the committee, he is authorized to en-
body them in the wage order. If, how
ever, he does not agree with the COM
mittee recommendation he may refer
the matter back to the same commit
tee or to another committee appointed
by him for the purpose of further con-
sideration and recommendation.
1t was pointed out that under this
power the Administrator can continue
appointing new industry committees
until he finds one that issues reports
conforming to his views.
A third provision of the Act which
the American FeAeEation of Labor will
undertake to have changed is that
which grants to the Administrator the
authority to establish conditions of
apprenticeship, including the determ-
ination of the percentage of appren-
tices that may be employed, how long
worker may be considered an ap-
prentice, the wages lower than the
minimum wage which apprentices may
be paid, and fixing other working con-
ditions of apprentices.
The A. f. of l.. feels that board
representing both labor and employ
ers, such as the Federal Committee on
Apprentice Training, should admins
ter this phase Of the Act.
The A. F. of l.. may also insist that
changes be made in the method by
which industry committees are ap-
pointed. Although the law prescribes
that the Administrator shall appoint
an equal number respectively of per
sons representing the public, the en-
ployers and the employees to each com
mittee, he is not under any obligation
to consult representatives of any OF
these groups in making the appoint
ments.
In discussing the Wages and Hours
Act Mr.. Green declared that it woult
be possible for the Administrator tt
become dictator" through his power
of choosing the various industry com
mittees. He made it clear that his
criticism of the Wages and Hour:
Law was not intended to reflect in an!
way on Elmer f. Andrews, the presen
Administrator. Mr.. Andrews has th'
full confidence of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, it was stated.