Evening star., 1938-05-06

'ioil VI tne feNlSeQ Waee-h0ur bill
By INC Associated Press
A mad scramble followed filing of
petition today to force a House vote
on the revised Wage-hour bill. Within
an hour l83 signatures were on the
petition, according to supporters of the
move
Members iostled each other ano
enatched at the document.
The petition was filed by Chairman
Norton of the Labor Committee as
soon as the House convened. The ne
tltion must have 2l8 to give the meas
ure new House test.
On several occasions the members
attempting 10 affiX their signatures
threatened to tear the paper apart.
Speaker Bannhead rapnino vai,Ir
Tor order. was forced to suspend busi-
ncsS
VIII the members please form ?
hne and maintain some sort of order2'
he sang out
First TO Sign.
The first member to afiy his siona.
'ufe IN the chamber-Mrs. Norton
signed tcfore presenting the petition.
was Representative Dixon. Democrat
OF Ohio, member of the Labor Com.
mittee
In quick succession. he was followed
nN Representatives Flannery. Demo-
Graf, oT Pennsylvania: Curlev. Demo-
crat' Of New York; Welch. Republican
OF California; Lesinski. Democrat of
Mlchiean; Pleifer. Democrat. of New
York: O'Day. Democrat. of New York
fnilllpS, Democrat. OF Connecticut
and Cullen. Democrat. of New York.
A large group OF members had gath
ereo in the well OF the chamber almost
a quarter Of an hour before the session
pegan. II was the second time since
last November the membership had
oeen asked to overcome. BY the petition
method. opposition of the House Rules
Committee to wage-hour legislation.
Optimistic proponents contended
they had more than enough" sigma
lures pledged 10 complete the petition
today. but Mrs. Norton said if ITO
names were obtained the first day she
would be "tickled to death"
If the petition is completed, the
House could consider the bill by Nav
23-but not earlier.
Republican Support Increased.
Sponsors said between 25 and 30
Republicans had agreed to sign. When
a similar petition was used to over
come Rules Committee opposition to
the original Nage-hour bill last fall.
less than 10 Republicans signed.
Democratic legislators said dis
sension in Republican ranks over the
Waee-hour measure was an important
by-product of the f2ht.
Conservative Republican leaders.
they said. wanted to oppose the bill
openly, but members from the NORTH
ern industrial districts objected.
One of the first evidences OF Re-
publican discord came when efforts
to call a party conference on strategy
failed.
Backers of the bill counted heavily
on several other factors to aid their
fight.
Wide Backing Given,
Among these they listed President
Roosevelt's support, Endorsement of
tbs bill by the American Federation
OF Labor and the c. l. O., and the de-
cision of leaders to hold the House
in session tomorrow. This gives pro-
ponentS an extra day in which to
get the petition signed.
The petition must stay on the CAL
endar seven legislative days after il
is completed. 1t can be called up for
debate only on the second and fourth
Mondays of the month. thus making
May % the first day on which it could
be considered.
On the eve of the showdown, three
farm organizations united in a cam
paign against the measure.
The National Grange. the National
tSee WAGE-HOUR, Page AID