The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-05-25

ClOSCu 4duhS W 1ASHG " tA
ur bill passed by the House las
! night by a vote Of 314 to 81.
Organizing for one of the bit
terest Senate fights of the ses
sion, Southern leaders served no
tice they will accept only a bill
carrying wage and hour differ
entails for the South, and othel
sections of the country.
TALK TO DEATH"
Although no public announce
ment has been made of ii ell
plans, leaders of Southern oppo
sition to the bill said privately
they are prepared to talk tc
death" the Is to 40 cents pei
hour, and A to 40-hour work
week sliding three-year scale OF
the House bill.
Fearful that the House bill lay
evoke a prolonged controversy and
delay adjournment of Congress
Senate Administration supporters
planned to send it quickly to con
ference where it is hoped a com
promise with the House bill may
be worked out.
Senator Thomas Cd of Utah,
chairman of the Labor Commit
tee, planned to fight any attempt
to send the bill to his committee
TERRIFIC JOB"
"A terrific job lies ahead in
trying to harmonic the views
of the two houses of Congress"
he said, "but I believe that it
can best be done in conference"
Headed by Senator Harrison
CD of Mississippi, the South
erners insist the South must have
lower wage scales to be able to
compete with industry in the
North. They said the cheaper
labor is warranted because OF
cheaper living conditions.
AS a compromise, Harrison will
offer amendments to the House
bill to provide for differentials
similar to the wage and hour
codes established for southern
industry by the invalidated NRA
it met with general support from
the Dixie Senators.
PAY DIFFERENTIAL
$50 long as pay differentials
have been established for the
South by the WPA, and were
part of the NRA codes, I see no
reason why they should not be
included In wage and hour
hlll," said Senator Ellender CD
Of Louisiana, who voted for the
Senate bill last year.
Harrison bitterly opposed the
Senate bill, carrying differentials
last year and was one of severa
southern Senotors who voteo
against it. The bill was passed
by q vote of Sc to %.
SOUTHERN BLOC
Other Southern Senators who
join Harrison in demanding dit
ferentials be included in the
House bill, which affects industry
in interstate commerce and ex
emptS agricultural workers, are
Bankhead CD Alabama, Logar
CD of Kentucky, George Cd
Georgia, Russell CD Georgia
Miller Cd of Arkansas, Hill 3D.
of Alabama, Bilbo CD of Missis
sippi, Conally CD Texas, Byrne!
| Cd South Carolina. Bailey 3D.
North Carolina and Byrd 3D.
Virginia.
Although the Southerners hav
the support of the majority of Re
publicans in the Senate they hav
given up hope of blocking wag
and hour legislation. In view o
the House approval of the bill b,
an overwhelming majority, som
of those who voted against tn
Senate bill appear to be willing II
compromise.
PEPPER NOMINATION
The petition to discharge tn
House bill from committee wa
signed by 218 members soon ate
the nomination of Senator Pepper
Cd. of Florida, for another term
He voted for the Senate bill an,
made wage and hour legislation al
issue of his campaign.
The House approved its bill afte
IL hours of riotous debate durin
which time a strong bipartisan
bloc constantly beat dow,
attempts to insert emaSculatin
amendments.
: A compromise amendment wa
offered by Representative Mary 7
Norton CD of New Jersey, spor
SCR of the House bill. BY voic
vote the House exempted from
the hours limitation for a max
mum of IL weeks year cottol
ginning and professors of cottol
seed, fresh fish, seafood, perish
able fruits and vegetables ant
milk.