The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-07-20

|
tives.
Conference Committee Report Killing
Prevailing Wage Rate Passed by
Both Houses
"On June 80, the bill was referred
to a Conference Committee composed
of representatives of the House and
Senate. The following named Con-
gressmen and United States Senators
were members of the Conference
Committee:
"Managers on the part of the
House:
"Edw. T. Taylor, C. A. Woodrum,
Louis Ludlow, Thos. S. Mcmillan, j.
Buell. Snyder, Emmett O'Neal, Geo. w.
Johnson, John Aaber, r. B. Wiggles
worth, w. P. Lambertson, J. w. Dit
| ter.
Managers on the part Of the Sem
ate:
>"Alva B. Adams, Kenneth McKellar,
Carl Hayden, James F. Byrnes, Fred
erick Hale, J. G. Townsend, Jr.
"We were tremendously disappoint-
ed when the Conference Committee
finally reported relief measure from
which the prevailing rate of wage
section introduced by Senator Nc
Carran, of Nevada, and accepted by
the Senate, had been eliminated.
eve have never learned since, and
we do not know now why the con-
: ferees of the House and Senate agreed
to the elimination of the prevailing
rate of wage section from the WPA
relief measure.
"The conferees submitted report
upon the relief measure on June 80.
The WPA relief bill which had passed
at the previous session of Congress
expired at midnight on June 80. Ap-
parently, because of this fact, the re-
port Of the committee was rushed
through both Houses of Congress and
presented to the President for Execu-
tive approval. The President signed
the relief measure on June 80, 1889.
WPA Workers Spontaneously Strike
Against Reduced Wage Rates
Immediately following the appro-
val of the measure, WPA administra-
! tors throughout the nation notified
all WPA workers of the change in
,, their wage standards as provided fol
in the new relief measure.
"This action created a nationwide
, protest on the part of WPA workers
and the officers and members OF
American Federation of Labor unions
directly affected.
"The workers became thoroughly
aroused in the different cities anC
towns throughout the nation. They
protested this reduction in wage rates
which was being imposed upon them
Strikes occurred in number of places
All concerned felt that great in.
justice had been done.
"We diligently endeavored to pre-
Z vent the imposition of this injustice
: and we are determined now to do al
: that lies within our power to lift il
and remove it.
Prevailing Wage Rate is Necessary
-, To Protect Wage Levels
"The officers and members of the
; American Federation of Labor as
), sumed that the Government was thor
4 oughly committed to the establish
ment and maintenance of the prevail
= ing rate of wage principle.
i. at was accepted and incorporated
y in the Walsh-Healey Act.
at is applicable to those employe,
by private contractors on government
work and in carrying forward gov
ernment construction projects as pro
vided for in the Davis-Bacon Act.
at has been applied by the admin
e istrators of WPA relief measures
: during the distressing days of unem
G ployment through which we have
: passed.
+ "The organizations of the Ameri
S can Federation of Labor sees to it tina
: the prevailing rate of wage principle
is applied in practically all cities ant
S towns throughout the country OF
: projects originated and launched b!
e municipal and State governments.
"We have always regarded the ap
pication of the prevailing rate O
wage principle as fundamental an(
vital to the membership of the Amer
y lean Federation of Labor.
! eve are firmly convinced that the
/ recognition, application and continue
q tion of this principle by government
is necessary to the further mainte
, nance and preservation Of wage levels
established as result of much sacri
/ flee on the part of organized labor il
private industry.
t Congress Should Promptly Restore
Prevailing Wage Rate
e "The solution Of the problem pre-.
4 sented to this conference lies witt
I Congress. know you who are in at
e tendance at this conference share witt
f me my firm conviction that an amend
= ment providing for the payment Of thu
e prevailing rate of wage on WPA pro
/ iects should be promptly adopted b!
the Congress Of the United States.