Evening star., 1938-05-02

Ey the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt expressed the
hope today that the House could vote
on wage-hour legislation at this ses-
sion despite refusal of the Rules Com
mittee to give it priority.
Chairman Norton, Democrat, of New
Jersey of the House Labor Committee
made public letter which Mr.. Roose-
welt sent her Saturday from Charles
ton. S. c., suggesting the bill might
reach the floor either by a petition or
by reconsideration of the Rules Com.
mittee's action.
Emphasizing that the committee
was within its rights and that he
had no right to criticize House rules,
the President said he had "a profound
respect for and devotion to the demo-
cratic legislative process"
The continuing fairness of that
legislative process is the foundation
Of enduring democracy" he said.
There are, however, certain types
OF measures in each session which
are of undoubted national Importance
because they relate to major policies
Of government and affect the lives of
millions of people.
Opportunity to Discuss 1t.
ut has always seemed to me that
in the case of these measures-few
in any one seSsion-the whole men,
bership of the legislative body should
be given full and free opportunity to
discuss them. This discussion may
end in drastic amendment. or in re-
committal, or even in complete rejec-
ton.
I'm the case OF wage and hour
legislation, the majority party of the
House is committed to legislation by
its national platform-and 7 have
no personal doubt that a large ma
jority of the membership of the House
believes that the House as a whole
should pass its Judgment on such
legislation"
Mrs. Norton said she would draft a
petition this week. If it is signed by
2lS members-a majority of the
House-automatic consideration of the
wage-hour bill would result.
An impending adjournment rush,
however, may block her plans. Many
members said privately the fact that
the petition could not become ef-
fective before May % at the earliest
meant the House would not reach the
controversial legislation.
Vote Seen Unlikely.
They agreed, too, that there was
little chance of achieving a vote by
the alternative mentioned by Mr..
Roosevelt - reconsideration by the
Rules Committee.
Five Southern Democrats and three
Republicans joined forces last Friday
against five Democrats and one Re-
publican to prevent the bill from being
rushed to the floor by special pro-
cedure
The pending bill, which the Labor
Committee reWrote after the House
shelved one wage-hour measure last
winter, would impose a Nationwide
minimum wage, starting at 25 cents
and hour and increasing to 40 cents
after three years.
Maximum hours would begin at A
a week and would drop to 40 in two
years Only industries engaged in
interstate commerce would be affected.
Representative Cox, Democrat, OF
Georgia, Rules Committee foe of the
bill, reiterated his belief that the
measure was dead for the session
Circulation of a petition, he said
would serve only to keep this threat
OF Federal domination hanging over
the heads of business"
President Roosevelt wrote to Mrs
Norton in reply to a letter in which
she denounced the Rules Commit.
tees arbitrary action and requested
the Chief Executives advice from his
personal experience. Mr.. Roosevelt
said he felt free to express his view
ION a difficult situation" because hi
once had been a legislator.
OF the new measure, he said:
u do not pass judgment on it.
merits or demerits. The fact remainl
that the subject should once more
be properly before the House."