The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-10-25
NEIGHBOUR LAW
 IS FUNCTIONINC
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association ordered 8 showdown protest" by telegraph operators against the Postal company because of alleged "chiseling" under the 44-hour- week provision. Union ofilcials said that operators through out the country were refusing to send more than 20 messages an hour; threatened to use these tac- tics against Western Union. Union contends that company has arranged schedule under which em- ployes are working 46 hours, l5 minutes Q week for same wages for- merly received for 48 hours of work. SAN ANTONIO
 More than l5,00o workers reported to have lost their jobs as result of shut-downs in pecan shelling and garment industries. All SO plants of pecan industry closed; between 2,500 and 5000 garment workers re- ported idle.
 Owners of pecan smelling com- panies contend that they do not earn enough to meet the 25 cents an hour minimum wage. Smelling plants in other Texas cities were expected to follow the example of San Antonio owners. The industry employees between 30,- 900 and 50,000 workers. GREENvILLE, N. 0.
 Heads of independent and export inng tobacco companies said that S0,O00 negroes, mostly women, would lose their jobs permanently, pre- dicted that between 50,000,000 and 5,000,000 pounds of fiue-cWed to- bacco, now stemmed in the United States, would be stemmed abroad because of the 25 cents an hour minimum wage. Exporters predicted increase in the use of stemming ma chimes, now used widely by domestic companies.
 Tobacco workers already out of work in eastern North Carolina were estimated as follows: Green vile, 1900; Wilson, HOO; Oxford, 800: Kinstoh, 1,200; Rocky Mount, l,400. It was reported that an ad- ditional 1900 would lose their jobs today.
 Andrews Takes It Easy Andrews did not appear greatly concerned with these difficulties. He said he was sorry" but explained that congress had established 26 cents an hour minimum wage for all interstate industries which could not be suspended.
 In Q nationally broadcast radio address concerning the law last night, he outlined the following benefits:
 For Employers: American indus try does not have to face unfair competition based on low-wage and hour standards from across state lines"
 For Workers: American workers in every section are protected from the effects of sweated labor from other parts of the country"
 For the Public; "The American public and those apparently not di- rected affected by the wage and hour law can expect more stable industrial conditions and price structure that will enable their ,fel- low citizens who labor to live as decent human beings should live"
 No Legal Attack Yet
 As yet no legal attack on the val- idity of the act has been reported, But oflicails considered 1t almost certain that 1t would get to the supreme court quickly. Some con- gressional opponents of the law be- lieved 1t was unconstitutional.
 Andrews disclosed that as soon as the act gets under way sufilcient- ly, he will report to President Roosevelt on the fine spirit" shown by the majority of employers in complying. as well as on those firms which have closed down rather than pay the minimum wage.
 Hartford, Conn, October 25. - (UP) - Governor Cross today tel- egraphed National Administrator Elmer F. Andrews that Connecti- cut would cooperate in the enforce ment of the federal fair labor standards act.
 "Please he assured" the governor wired. "of my interest and support in enforcement of the fair labor standards act of 1888.
 Connecticut department of labor wil lc0operate in every way and will be represented at national confer ence on labor legislation in Wash- ington November iz, 15, l6."
 Labor Commissioner Joseph M. Tone and two others, it was under stood, would attend the Washington barley.
 Tone yesterday announced . ten- tative draft of q bill had been made proposing state labor legislation paralleling the federal act.