Evening star., 1938-04-15
SOUTHERNERSH|T
NEW WAGE PLAN
Measure Never Will Get to
House Floor, Forecast
of McReyno|ds.
BY the Associated Press.

Southern opposition developed in
the House today against the new
wage-hour bill, chiefly because of the
elimination of all wage differentials.
Representative McReynolds. Demo-
crat, of Tennessee. who led the South
ern opposition to the legislation re-
jected by the House last December,
expressed belief the new measure would
never reach the House floor.
Mr.. McReynolds said he was Every
much opposed to the new bill be-
cause he believed it would work
great hardship on the South"
He said Congress should adopt a
resolution providing for a thorough
investigation of the wage-hour prob
lem instead of guessing at the facts
and trying to write bill on the re-
suit
Moderated Minimum Wage.
The new bill would provide for a
graduated minimum wage, starting at
IS cents An hour and increasing to 40
cents at the end Of three years. 1t
also would provide for reduction Of
the work week from a. hours to 40 in
two years.
The Labor Committee approved the
measure at an overtime session last
night, and Chairman Norton said it's
chances for reaching the Presidents
desk were good"
The committee acted only a few
hours before Mr. Roosevelt told the
Nation in his 'fireside chat" he hoped
Congress would enact wage hour
bill at this session to insure a better
distribution of our prosperity"
Provisions Of New Bill.
The bill. representing compromise
on many points OF conflict, would fix
the minimum wage for workers en-
gagged in interstate commerce and
provide for maximum work week
The Secretary of Labor would be
directed to report violations to the
Justice Department for prosecution.
Described by legislators as much
more rigid than the bill rejected by
the House in December, the new
measure conforms fairly closely to
the recommendations Of the American
Federation of Labor-a point on
which proponents counted heavily.
William Green, A. F. of L. president,
tentatively approved the bill today,
while Mr.. Green withheld final ap-
proval until he has had chance to
study all angles he said.
1T seems that they have arrived
at the A. F. of L. point Of view
Mr.. Green said the 25-cent figure
was too low, but that the A. F. of L.
highly approved Of a single standard
for the entire country without
geographical differentials. He also
approved of the enforcement provis-
ions
In commenting on labor legislation,
he said I'VE stand with the Presi-
dent on the latter's recommendation
to Congress to put floor under wages
and ceiling over hours.
Il take it to mean floor for wages.
not series Of floors; a ceiling for
hours, not a series of ceilings" Green
said.
New Support Seen.
Elimination OF geographical differ
entails was accomplished by a II to 6
approval of a motion by Represen-
tative Griswold, Democrat, of 1ndi-
ana, Mrs. Norton predicted this
would win support for the measure,
particularly among Republicans from
Northern industrial sections. Repre-
sentative Ramspeck, Democrat, of
Georgia expressed doubt that the new
bill, a revision Of his own more fex-
ible measure, was constitutional.
AS soon as the bill was approved
by vote of IA to 4, Mrs. Norton
called the White House and later in
formed reporters the President had
been delighted"
House members agreed the imme-
diate future of the legislation rested
with the Rules Committee, which
blocked the original bill for months
last year.
The Senate already has passed a
wage-hour bill, different in details
but similar in purpose to that before
the House.
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