Evening star., 1938-06-06

f'y TIC Associated FreSS.
Congressional leaders discussed with
President Roosevelt today the chances
of adjourning Congress this week end
and agreed it could be done If there
were an early agreement on the wage
hour bill.
Eouse Majority Leader Rayburn
said the President was told progress
had been made with the wage-hour
measure by the committee of Senators
and Representatives drafting a COM
promise bill.
He added that the last major bill Of
the session, a $500, 900, 900 deficiency.
measure, would be reported to the
House tomorrow and probably would
be passed Wednesday.
Others at Conference.
Others at the regular weekly con-
ference were Vice President Garner
and Speaker Bankhead. Senator Bark
ley of Kentucky, the Senate majority
leader, went home Saturday for q
week end visit.
At the Capitol, Chairman Thomas
of the Senate Labor Committee sug-
gested that the Wage-Hour Confer
ence Committee approve compromise
giving board or other Federal agency
wide, latitude in enforcing wage scales
on interstate industry.
Under Senator Thomas proposal, it
would be the duty of the board to
put into effect a minimum of 40 cents
an hour for most industries within
three years. 1t would have the power
to exempt those industries which
would have to reduce employment be-
cause of such a minimum.
No Periodic Advances.
There would be no periodic ad-
vances in wage minima as provided
in the House bill, Senator Thomas ex-
planned.
Senator Borah, Republican, Of
Idaho, another of the Senate con-
ferees, said he favored modified YER
sion of the House bill.
j. Under his proposal, minimum wage
Of rs cents an hour would become
effective Immediately. This would be
advanced to 80 cents next year, but
thereafter the increase would be only
2 or cents an hour a year until 40
cents an hour was reached.
In an effort to expedite action the
Conference Committee separated into
House and Senate groups. Members
said each group would try to eliminate
some of the proposals advanced.
Representative Randolph, Demo-
crat, of West Virginia said he would
ask vote by the House group ON his
proposal to set up regional boards
within each major industry to fix
minimum wages-none to be lower
than 80 cents an hour the second
year.
After the N30-cent rate became ef-
fective an administrator would pass
on schedules proposed by the indus
trial boards.
Although conferees on the wage
hour bill are optimistic about reach
ing an agreement in a few days, they
still are divided on the issue Of fixing
labor standards irrevocably in the law
or setting up new agency to grant
exemptions.
Green Broadcasts Views.
Opposition to complicated admin
| istrative machinery was voiced in a
radio speech last night by william
Green, president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor. He also demanded
that the floor for wages and the cell
ing for hours be nationally uniform.
Some of the conferees said privately
Mr.. Green's espousal of these prin-
ciples, similar to those in the House
measure, was anticipated and there
fore would have little effect.
Mr.. Green declared the A. r. of
L. Is "unalterably opposed to the
Senate bill because it actually is not
minimum wage and maximum hour
bill at all" It would create a board
to Ak wages and hours by industries
under certain restrictions.
II the conferees accept some Of the
(See CONGRESS Page A-3l