Evening star., 1939-07-09
Varied Views Held by Persons
Affected by D. c. Merger Plan
Loeher, Labor Leader, AssoiIs Kennedy Bill;
Wage Boord Head Fovors Proposal

ov0rS FroPosol
Also brigaded into the new Indus.
trial Relations Department under
the Kennedy bill would be the Mini
mum Wage Board.
The three members of the Mini
mum Wage Board took somewhat
different positions. None had been
able to read the bill itself, but had
seen the Kennedy report in The
Star.
Favored by Mrs Kittle.
Mrs. William Kittle, chairman,
said she was very much in favor of
a Department of Industrial Rela-
tions" in the new District govern
ment.
personally" she explained, "I
believe all labor relations in the Dis
trict should be included. To do so
at this time might not be practical.
At the same time. however, would
like to see the beginning of an In
dustrial Relations Department. I
feel sure we ought to get start"
Arthur L. Schoenthal, labor men,
Der OF the board, explained he had
not been able to read the bill itself,
although he had attempted to get
copy. AS a member of the Central
Labor Union and one of its off,
cials, he favors the Schultz bill. in
troduced in the House, with the
backing OF the c. L. U. He would
rather see the Schultz bill enacted
than the Kennedy bill, which he
considers too "all inclusive" In the
Schultz bill. he explained, a three
man board is provided, to be an
pointed, representing the public, en-
ployers and employees. The success
OF such three-part board has been
amply demonstrated in the opera-
ton OF the Minimum Wage Board
Mr.. Schoenthal said. Agreements
nave been unanimous in the board
meetings. and decisions have result
eo IN successful enforcement
through cooperation of all parties
involved. This same principle, he
Tells, is better carried out in the
Schulte bill than in the Kennedy
Dill, although the Kennedy bill
would continue the present Mini
mum Wage Board and the Schultz
bill would abolish the Minimum
wage Board as such and set up a
new board.
Meeting Tomorrow.
Mr. Schoenthal will meet with
Central Labor Union officials to-
morrow to study the Kennedy bin
and analyze it in detail in compsri-
son with the Schultz bill, Mr.
schoenthal is a member of the
Legislative Committee of the Cen
tral Labor Union and is business
agent OF the Stone and Marble
Masons Union.
Claude H. Woodward, empIover
member of the Minimum Ware
Board, said he had not vet sum
Gently familiarized himself with the
proposals as to how they affected
the board, but said he was "opnosed
10 any proposition that would take
away from the board its inde-
pendence Of action"
Frederick w. McReynolds chair
man Of the Board of Public wei
1are. said the board had decided in
view OF the pending Kennedy lepis.
latlon TO postpone until later an
pointment OF a director of public
Weilare' 10 succeed Elwood Street.
ms was decided, he explained
after conference with some mem
oers OF the board. Up to late YES
teroay Mr.. McReynolds had been
unable to get a copy of the ken
nedy bill, and so hesitated to COM
ment specifically on its provisions
Wants to Keep Open Mind.
L want to keep my mind open
on the whole matter until I see
the BILL" he said.
Inc director Of public welfare
would be head of the new public
welfare department, according tn
the Kennedy report on the reor-
ganlzation bill, and the Board of
Public Welfare would be continued
Mr.. McReynolds expressed the
nope. however, that the new meas
ure still would allow appointments
TO be made without political con-
slderation.' The director of public
Wehare and other appointments.
Mr.. McReynolds said, had always
oeen made solely on merit"
I would be sorry if this bill
should turn appointments over to
political consideration. If the bill
makes appointments subject to DO
lltlcal pressure, we would want to
safeguard merit"
Wilbur La Roe, jr., of the Board
OF 1ndeterminate Sentence and Pa
role, announced the board will meet
shortly to make a thorough study of
the bill.
In the absence of Frank p .Telle9