Evening star., 1938-04-30
By the ASsl ctated Press.

Adjournment sentiment gained in
both House and Senate today in the
wake Of another humping defeat for
the administration on the revised wage
hour bill despite President Roosevelt's
latest demands for such legislation.
Senate Majority Leader Barkley held
to his prediction that Congress would
go home by May IS. House leaders
fixed the quitting date closer to June /.
The House Rules Committee gave
the administration its second major
defeat on wage-hour legislation yes
terday when it refused by q vote Of
8 to to send the revised bill to the
House floor for consideration.
Many members interpreted this ac-
ton, generally regarded as killing
the legislation for this session, as an
indication that Congress had had its
fill OF controversial matters. The men,
bership. they said, was increasingly
anxious to get home for political cam
pa:gns.
viii Seek Signatures.
Proponents Of the wage-hour bill.
however. Immediately said they would
try to get the required 2l8 signatures
on a petition to force it to the floor.
Should this be successful, it might
delay adjournment because the earliest
date at which the petition could be-
come operative is May %.
AS for the anti-monopoly message,
received from the President yesterday,
the consensus was that it would not
prolong the session.
Senator Barley told news men he
foresaw little difficulty in obtaining
congressional approval for the thor
ough study Of the concentration Of
economic power in American indus
try" which the President recon-
mended.
There was little indication, however,
that Congress would comply with the
Chief Executives request for legisla-
tion at this session to effectively con-
troll the operation of bank holding
companies.
Some members expressed belief this
should be made the subject for
recess study.
Asks for Legislation.
The Rules Committees vote to
"pigeonhole" the wage-hour bill was
taken shortly before Congress received
the anti-monopoly message in which
the President reasserted his desire for
labor standards legislation.
Three Republicans and five South
ern Democrats voted against sending
the bill to the floor.
Most Of the opposition to the meas
ure centered on its inflexibility which,
foes contended, made it unconstitu-
tional. Southerners argued lower
standards should be provided in the
South because Of lower living costs.
The bill would have imposed a Ma
tion-wide minimum wage starting at
rs cents an hour and increasing to
40 cents at the end Of three years in
industries engaged in interstate COM
merce. Hours would have started at
A per week and dropped to 40 in two
years.
Proponents Of the measure asserted
they were ready to hold Congress in
session beyond June l in order to get
the discharge petition signed.
Questioned about this possibility,
House Majority Leader Rayburn of
Texas said:
Il never have seen Congress will
ing to remain In session for the sake
Of one bill"
Last winter a petition wrested the
original wage hour bill from commit
tee. but the measure subsequently was
shelved.
Removal Of the labor standards bill
from prospective consideration left
the Presidents spending lending pro-
gram about the only important matter
awaiting House action. Leaders said
they expected it to be ready for debate
about . week from Monday. Commit
tee hearings proceeded today while
both House and Senate were In week
end receSS