The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-10-24

OmClalS eSGlUldteQ UIlub UCCWecu 600OO0 and 100000 workers received pay increases.
 Approximately 1,662,000 employees received shorter hours or got addi- tional pay in the form of overtime.
 A special wage order for the tex tile industry, bitterly fought by southern manufacturers, became eff fective simultaneously, raising the textile minimum pay from 25 to g 1-2 cents per hour and bringing pay increases to approximately ITS, 5,000 of the 600,000 employees in the in- dustry.
 Although the bill was strongly opposed during the long congress sional fight for its enactment, and some critics charged that it was un- constitutional, no serious elgal at- tack on the measure had been made at the first years end.
 Industries Affected
 The fair labor standards acts en- trance into its second year was marked by none of the confusion and tension of one year ago today when the law first went into effect. At that time, 1t established na- tional minimum wage of 25 cents an hour, which meant wage jumps for approximately 27O,O0O employees and reduced the regular work week to A hours, which benefited an esti- mated l,380,0OO Workmen.
 Additional pay increases for an- other 277.5O0 employees in the mill linery, mems hats,s shoes, apparel, and wool industries already have been recommended by special indus try committees, but have not re- ceived final approval yet by the ad- ministrator.
 Officials said that IS per cent of the workers who would receive more pay because of the laws automatic 1 improvement in standards were con- l centrated in these 12 manufacturing industries: saw mills, millwork, fur niture, cotton textiles, silk and ray on, knit goods, mems clothing, wom- en's clothing, shirts and collars, boots and shoes, cottonseed oil, and fertilizers.
 In the southern sawmill industry, the bureau of labor statistics esti- mated that 94,000 of the 134,00O workers in the industry received less than 30 cents an hour before today. Officials said that the distribution by regions and states of workers re- ceiving additional pay under the new standards ranged from # to 1 per cent on the Pacific coast to 40 per cent in Mississippi. Lists Accomplishments In its first year, the wage-hour administration transacted the fol- lowing business:
 Received 21,576 complaints and analysed 18,774 in which 13,O68 vio- lations were indicated. Took 91 cases to court; AT crim- inal indictments or nformations were filed; 28 pleaded guilty and paid cash fines totalling $81 $50; 19 cases still pending. Asked for A civil injunctions, of which 38 were | granted, one partially denied, one partially granted, and four still pending.
 Adjusted 321 cases without court action, including reimbursement of employees who did not receive legal wages.
 Dropped 267 cases without court action when investigation indicated no violation or that the industry was not covered by the act.
 Increased its administrative force from one employe-Administ Elmer F. Andrews-on July 15, 1888, to Il employees by the first of October 1899.
 Received an answered 10000 let ters or postcards of inquiry con- corning the act.
 | Spent approximately $1,750,OO for administration. A total of $1, ,250, ,O0O was appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1899, and congress provided $4,316,77O for the year end { ing June 30, 194O.