Evening star., 1938-09-26
i. S. LABOR LAWS
ASSA|LED BYFREY
A. F. of |. Metal Trades
Chief Lashes at Political
Ventures of C.I. o..
0y the Associated Press.


HOUSTON. Tex, Sept. 26.-John p.
Frey, chief of the A. F. of L. metal
trades department. attacked Federal
regulation of wages and industrial re-
lations today and called for greater
cooperation between labor and in
dustry
In his annual report to the Metal
Trades Conference, Mr.. Frey said that
the trade union movement was founded
on "self-government in industry in
stead Of government by bureaus and
administrators"
Congress, he declared. would do
much to prevent recurring depressions
by establishing "the proper and ade-
-quate rules under which business is
to be conducted"
Business and organized labor
through the conference room and COL
lecttve bargaining. must then work
out the problem of stable production
and the economically sound division
Of the wealth being created" he said.
Hits Both Acts.
Mr.. Freys report criticized both the
vage-hour law and the National Labor
Relations Act. The administration Of
the latter, he said, was "disrupting"
factor in American industry.
Both the law and the personnel
must be changed before the board
under the Wagner Act can construc-
lively and sanely apply its authority
to protect the right Of wage earners
to be represented by organizations Of
their own choosing" he said.
The wage-hour law, he continued,
conferred extraordinary authority"
on the administrator amounting to
bureaucratic or commissar control"
The metal trades chief also criticized
the activity Of Communists in the labor
movement, the political ventures of the
rival c. I. O., and its contributions to
political campaigns.
In less specific terms, he struck at
Capitalization Of Government author
ity, college professors and theorists in
administrative posts" and at a super
intelligent, highly educated minority"
he said was preaching that workers
should trade their independence for
security.
Both Understand Problems.
In calling for cooperation between
business and government, Mr.. Frey
said both understood their problems
as thoroughly "as the great majority
Of those who profess to be economists"
1T Is evident that unless labor and
business join hands on a larger scale
than ever before" he went on, "the
people will insist that the Gov
ernment endeavor to do what business
and labor only are adequately equipped
by experience to undertake"
Mr.. Frey urged the creation of more
wealth through industry and agricul-
ture. and said If it was not done there
would be an increasing need for Gov
eminent relief for the unemployed.
The metal trades chief did not pro-
pose specifically approval Of amend
ments to the wage-hour law which
probably will be voted on in the A. F.
OF L. convention, but instead left it
to the metal trades meeting to decide
It's policy toward the act.
Raps Discretionary Powers.
He said his complaint was not
directed 1T the present wage hour
administrator, nor at the minimum
wages and maximum hours specified
In the statute, but rather at some
Of the discretionary powers vested
In an administrator.
Some parts of the law. he said,
establish principles and policies which
run counter to the welfare of our
trade union movement"
He objected particularly to sections
giving the administrator exclusive
power over learners and apprentices
without regard to existing employer
employe agreements of the standards
developed by the Federal Apprentice
Training Committee.
Mr.. Frey further complained about
provisions he said gave the-admin-
istrator too free hand in selecting
industry committees to determine min
tmum wages without consulting en-
ployers and employees. provisions for
the classification of labor. by degrees
Of skill, and the authority to accept
or reject industry committee wage
recommendations