The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-06-23
THURSDAY, JUNE %, 1888
HIDDEN MENACES IN THE
WAGE.HOUR LAW

" q feature article captioned as above
, brands the federal wage-hour law the most
: iniouitous measure enacted in this genera
! ton. 1t is a purely political measure, as
Miller clearly shows; and while many Oh
, its supporters in Congress We're controlled
. by what they imagined was political smart
. ness. the bill was conceived and spawned
by the same group or gang which Is re-
: sponsible for practically all new deal poll
/ cies and for the bills which Congress mas
{ been forced to accept from Roosevelt ana
enact into the law of the nation.
As the wage-hour law will do for the
country something much worse and more
damaging than NRA and some of the other
enactments of the new deal, The Times
News believes its obligation to its publlc
demands that it aid in understanding OF
the measure. Therefore, we are printing
the Miller article from The Texas Weekly
with the assurance that this thoroughly
reputable and Loyalty southern publication
will give the people of these southern
States nothing but the whole truth, with
particular application to the interests OF
the South:
The so-ealled wages and hours bill, passed by
Congress last Tuesday is probably the most iniqu-
tous measure enacted during our generation. 1t IS
unconstitutional in theory and will prove uneco-
nomic in practice and unjust in application 1t IS
long stride toward collectvistic control of the
economic pursuits of the people, and virtually con-
signs to death the remaining vestiges of the rights
of the States. 1t is wholly political in character
and demonstrates the extremes to which political
expediency can Subvert political principles. 1t IS
one of the most devastating examples of legsta.
ton ever directed against the South, and its com
promises are spurious and imaginary.
1T would be difficult know, to justify so harsh
an indictment against the law by superficial ex-
animation of its text. The Fair Labor Standards
Act of 1888 as the measure is called, parades be-
hind the mask of humanitarianism. 1t IS piously
praised by liberals great social achievement
in its protection of downtrodden labor from the
ruthless exploitation of employers. In short, 1t
sounds good-but it smells to high economic
r. heaven. Labor will suffer quite much rs capital
through this futile and costly effort to enslave free
economic forces by imperious political fiat.
THE terms of this law are intricate and con-
fusing that it would be impossible in the limited
space available to examine them in detail. Suf-
and to concentrate on some of its partially con-
eealed peculiarities, which are significant and i'm
portant.
THE law creates within the Department of La
Dor Wage and Hour Division under the direction
Of an administrator and unlimited number of
Assistants. The bureau can apparently maintain as
many offices throughout the country it desires
and can employ as large personnel as it deems
necessary The administrator is empowered to ap-
point an industry committee within each industry
to examine the conditions and needs of that indus
try and to make recommendations accordingly, but
the administrator may ignore it's recommendations,
dissolve the committee, and keep appointing as
many committees as ne likes until he gets the kind
of report he wants, 1t would be difficult to mag
Inc greater delegation of dictatorial power, de-
spite the fact that an aggrieved person may seek
redress in the courts
The law becomes effective 12O days after its
1passage, after which time every employer shall
spay to each of his employees who is engaged in
~eommerce or in the production of goods for com
merce wages at the following rates: during the
first year, not less than 25 cents an hour; during
the next six years, not less than 80 cents an hour
and after the seventh year. not less than 40 cents
an hour. If an industry committee so recon.
mends however, the administrator may enforce
effective without waiting for the expiration of the
seventh year. The law likewise provides for 9
maximum work-week of forty-four hours the first
g. year foftytwo hours the second, and forty hours
thereafter. IL further forbds rigidly regulates
sthe employment of persons under 18 years of age
desplte the fact that previous Congresses have re
peatedly recognized the unconsttutionality of leg
ktslaton embodying Federal control of child labor
Rand despite the fact that an amendment seeking
ato convey that power to the Federal Government
has failed of adoption by the States after IA years
IS Perhaps the most curious feature of this lon!
controversy over the so-caed wages and hours bill
IS the defusion compacently held by Southern Con
sgressmen and most of their constituents that the.
won their fight with the North for regional wag,
diferentials and that the Souths nebuous indus
trial development has been stoutly protected. A
number of Southern Representatives have beer
quoted as declaring happily, we got what We want
sed, and even such a keen capitol correspondent a