The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-05-26
FUNDAMENTALS OF FEDERAL WAGE AND
HOUR LEGISLATION


and hour bill for consideration. 1t is therefore
appropriate to visualize the essential conditions
that should characterize such measure in order
to afford adequate protection to the workers in
voved without the dangers of dctatoral admins
tration which often Unexpectedly follows the en-
actment of labor measures.
These fundamental conditions were recently
set forth in concise and unmistakable language by
President William Green of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor who, in statement giving the
position of the A. F. of l.. on this type of egisa-
ton, said
"We against any bill deegating sweeping
administrative powers to a Federal Wage Board
or Federal Administrator.
''We are against any bill delegating sweeping
administrative powers to Federal Wage Board or
a Federal Administrator.
1--WE see no need for setting up cumbersome
government machinery for the enforcement of
sfair minimum wage and maximum hour standards.
Labor and industry must be protected from
a new tidal wave of bureaucratic regulations
which would of necessity follow the establishment
of d Federal Board Federal Administrator.
Our laws should be made simple, understandable,
enforceable and inescapable.
"President Roosevelt repeatedly has stated in
public speeches that he regards this country an
economic whole. This attitude fully supports the
position of the American Federation of Labor in
opposing establishment of geographical differ
entails in the proposed Wage and Hour Bill.
"After all, such legislation is an attempt to
lift working conditions in oppressed and sweated
industries to minimum standards of decency.
There is no sound economic excuse for permitting
employers in any section of the country to cut be-
low such standards. That means permitting them
to depress the entire American standard of living.
1t also means restricting purchasing power which
would benefit the very employers supposedly faV-
ored by differentias. Furthermore, consider
it dangerous to give any Federal Board or Admin
istrator discretionary powers over dillerentials.
"The American Federation of Labor believes
there should be Government protection of workers
in sweated and oppressed industries-workers
who lack the benefits and collective bargaining
power that come with sef-organization.'
The principles so clearly set forth by President
Green are given legislative form in the American
Federation Of Labor bill 'to provide for the estab
lshment of minimum labor standards in employ
ments in and affecting interstate commerce. IN
troduced in the House of Representatives by Rep
resentative Michael J. Stack of Pennsy vanla The
Federation bill provides Il flat minimum for wages
at 40 cents an hour and a maximum work week OF
40 hours for oppressed and SWeated industries.
These provisions are uniform throughout the
nation without geographical dilfercntias.
The enforcement of the A. f. Of l.. measure is
simple and adequate. There is no provision for
the establishment of any administrative machln-
cry Violations of the Act to be prosecuted
by the United States Department of Justice in the
Federal courts, with fines set at 500 for each OF
fense.
The evils Of child labor and convict labor are
definitely ended by the A. +. Of l.. measure, which
contains provisions making it unlawful to trans
port the products of such labor in interstate COM
merce.
There are no adequate reasons why the funda-
mental principles Of the American Federation OF
Labor Wage and Hour Bill should not be lncor-