Imperial Valley press., 1938-09-18
News Behind
the News
Headaches Pile Up
For Wa0e-HOur Boss i.

WASHINGTON, DC.-Headaches
were freely predicted for the ad-
ministrator of the wage-hour act.
But they're piling up in even great
pr numbers than anyone anticipat-
ed.
They march upon Administrator
Elmer F.. Andrews and his deputy
Paul F.. Sifton, in the form of huge
question marks mostly involed
nuestions as to who's covered by
the law. which Congress tossed out
TO fall in the administrators lap.
The laws automatic provisions
for an initial minimum wage of Is
cents an hour and maximum A
hour week take effect Oct. "a.
Before that time, employers must
be advised what industries are to
be considered in interstate COM
merce and thus affected. The acts
language is broad, asserting, "'Com-
merce' means trade, commerce.
transportation, transmission, or
communication among the several
states or from any state to any
place outside thereof" Already the
question is asked: How about man.
ufecturers who buy raw materials
outside the state, but manufacture
and sell only inside?
The law exempts persons in ~
fessional capacities" The Wage
Hour Division is being asked il
this means nurses, clerks, neWspa-
permen, private secretaries, office
forces, and so on. Must workers
affected be actually producing goods
or are Watchmen, firemen, outside
workers, research workers, electri-
clans, engineers, repair shop work.
ers, and maintenance men covered
by the hour limitations?
What is seasonal labor? The law
exempts certain persons employed
for IA weeks or less, but answers
to this question will require a huge
amount of investigation.
The law exempts persons engag-
ed in the first processing" in food
industries and processing of other
agricultural products for up to IA
weeks in any calendar year when
employed in the AREA of produc-
ton" as defined by the administra-
tor. What, Andrews would like to
know, is the AREA of production"
in this, that and a thousand other
cases?
Another nice little job for the
administrator is computation OF
money value of board, lodging, and
other facilities which are given as
part of wages in many industries.
And what is a trade associa-
ton? The Commerce Department
lists 5000 of them, but finds soTe
hastily dissolving as it sends ~
a searching QUESTIONABLE in q
phase of the monopoly investiga-
ton. On the other hand, the Wage
Hour Division finds quite a few
"trade associations" some of them
obviously phony, springing up over
night and demanding representa-
tions on the Industry committees"
which are to decide how much spe-
cific industries should increase the
bottom minimum toward 40 cents
an hour.
Bright prospects for bitter CIO-
AFL battles over labor represent
tation on the industry committees,
with Andrews in the middle, are
obvious.
: Many more problems of decision
and Interpretation are presented
by the act. Already many low-Wage
employers say they won't or can't
obey the law. Threats to sub-con-
tract orders for home work are
heard and in some southern states
companies are reported TO have set
: up dual organizations, one to man.
, ufacture in intraState commerce,
the other to transport and sell in
interstate commerce.
spelling that last one "wrily" foI