Evening star., 1938-08-26
MILL TOWNS FEEL
WAGE ACT EFFECT
Hundreds Of Boys Under 18
to Lose Jobs-EmpIoyers
Favor the Law.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
GASTONIA, N. c., Aug. 26-Gaston
County, the Nations largest producer
Of combed cotton yarns, began today
to feel the first effects Of the new wage
hour law.
Several hundred youths between 16
and 18 were being told that they would
have to give up their Jobs in cotton
textile mills.
In scores of mills throughout the
county notices were posted setting
September % as the deadline for the
work of those under 1s.
Among the youths who fell within
that age boundary, and among their
neighbors there was considerable
speculation over what they could do
until they grow old enough to qualify
legally for the jobs which they have
already done.
Most of them are already looking
for jobs in other fields. They are
above the maximum school age fixed
by State law. So far as the State is
concerned it is all right for them to
work. the North Carolina age limit
being set at Is. But the Federal law
bars them from employment in manu-
featuring or mining. which are deemed
hazardous activities for those under 18
Ten Apply for Every Job.
Il hate to see them CO." said one
plant foreman, but there is nothing
can do about it. I don't know what
they will do. In many cases that
know, these youngsters are the sole
support of their families We have
10 men applying for every job"
Discussion of the notice ran through
grass in front of mills during the
rest periods.
Il know a boy who just got his
work card Monday" said one young
ster. He had job and was ready
to go to work He was sure tickled
And then he found that he couldn't
work He's looking for another job
now"
The Southern Combed Yarn Spin
ners' Association, with headquarters
In Gastonia, includes 100 per cent of
the combed yarn mills in its member
ship. Most of the CASTOR County mills
are combed yarn mills.
Seen as Great Stabilizer.
The association told its members in
u-oon1y, cnnf6ortia1 roUiou tnHov
This is not a drastic upheaval as
1t is found that there are actually only
few such minors employed, and
although 1t is hard on the minor to
lose his job under this ruling, the
manufacturer must in an act Of self
protection, take this step before
September %, unless-of course-the
cotton textile industry is in the mean
time declared to be not a hazardous
calling"
Neither the wage-hour admin
istrator nor the Childrens Bureau,
which is vested with enforcement
of the laws child labor provisions,
has issued regulations governing
hazardous occupations. However,
SOLlc SlQuCtlUS Va tllC 40" lbNAiS'S
its language. by inference, Classics
manufacturing and mining as
hazardous)
Another section of the report said:
THAT the wage-hour bill will be a
great stabilizer in the textile industry
Is admitted by all the textile execu-
tives with whom we came in contact.
There is just one added under
current of thought: Wishing it were
in effect today instead of two months
from now This is extremely hearten-
ing because having the purpose to
cooperate with the administrator in
seeing this thing through is the only
way to handle it, and willing purpose,
rather than forced acquiescence, makes
1t easier for us to carry on; easier for
the administrator to call the figures.
Mills Want Higher Wage.
Association officials say most Of their
mills pay a minimum wage of 10 pei
cent more than they paid under the
long departed N. R. A. That mini
mum was 80 cents an hour. The
plSScllU SCdlco AAOiAA "
cents an hour for laborers, waste
balers and night watchmen, to 6A
cents an hour and higher for ma
chinists
How do I feel about the wage-hour
law?" pondered one mill executive
Il wish they would set the wage higher
than 30 cents. Thirty-f -five cents would
not make me mad"
Il was for the first N. R. A." said
his partner.
The 1871 combed yarn mill en-
ployes in North Carolina got an aver
age OF 37.7 cents an hour last year
Figuring their salaries on basis OF
the total number of hours worked
they got an average Of $3.50 for the
years work.
Out OF this, the workers-or most
Of those in GaStonia-pald from ~
cents to $1.50 week for rent. That
includes electric current and water and
runs from s4160 to $7s for the year
Most of the houses are neatly painted
Virtually all of them have room for a
garden patch at the back. The rent
is figured on a basis Of 20 to 25 cents
per room and the houses usually have
four or six rooms.
For the most part, the mills in
CASTOR County are operated by
Southern capital.
Adopt Mutual Code.