Evening star., 1940-07-27
Professional Status
For Newspaper 5taffs
Is Urged Under Act
Publishers Association
Counsel Proposes Two
New Definitions

bNSW SSIutbtNVUS
Pointing out that newspaper pub
fishers employ more salaried work.
ers than any other group engaged
in business or industry in the United
States, Elisha Hanson, counsel for
the American Newspaper Publishers
Association. yesterday urged the
Wage and Hour Division to classify
news reporters, writers, editors and
advertising employees as professional
workers.
Appearing at a Wage and Hour
Division hearing called to consider
redefinitions of executive" profess
sional," outside salesman and
administrative" in describing work.
ers exempt from the Fair Labor
Standards Act. Mr.. Hanson pro-
posed two definitions to classify
workers in executive and admini-
strative capacities. He suggested
that the weekly pay for the former
to be not less than $50. and for the
ldtuSI llOJ lCoS llldll 0GC
IF it finally be held that the
Wage and Hour Act can be applied
to the newspaper publishing field,
publishers have q vital interest in
a proper and reasonable definition
Of those classes whom Congress in
tended to exempt from the pro-
visions OF the act" Mr. Hanson said.
They have had this interest since
the day the law went on the stat
utes, and they have done every
thing within their power to assist
in a reasonable and intelligent de-
termination of their obligations, If
any"
Critical Of Classification.
Mr.. Hanson sharply criticized
the Wage and Hour Division for
falling to classify those engaged in
the writing and handling Of news
as professional workers. II am
amazed at the lengths to which
the Wage and Hour Administration
has gone to deny professional status
to persons who have long consid-
cred themselves professional and
to a business which is essentially
professional in nature. have
reached the conclusion that the
Wage and Hour Administration
Notwithstanding the weight of au-
thority against it both in the Gov
ernment and elsewhere. refuses tc
treat employees of newspaper en-
gagged in reportorial or editorial
work as professionals. He asked
for an early ruling holding as pro-
| fessionals all persons engaged ir
soliciting. writing and preparing OF
news and the soliciting, writing. pre-
pairing and laying out of adver-
tising.
The PRONUNCIATION of the defini-
tions which we are now consider
ing. followed up by the application
OF those definitions. has disturbed
the orderly and regular procedure
not only of the newspaper business
but of all other businesses" Mr.
Hanson said. The sending OF
hordes of inspectors into the field
with the equivalent of the notorious
writs of assistance so universally
condemned and universally hated in
our Colonial period has upset the
orderly and regular procedure OF
business. Demands for back over
time based upon secret investiga-
ton and accompanied by refusal to
give the basis on which the calcu-
lations of such overtime were made
have upset the orderly and regular
procedure in the business field"
Hits interpretations.
THE interpretive bulletins OF
the administration have not been
legally sound, fair in conclusion or
based upon the. realities of business
organization and procedure. The
rulings of the administration upon
specific cases have been equally un-
sound unfair and unrealistic."
Acceptance of his proposed defini-
tions, Mr.. Hanson declared, will
make possible proper classifica.
ton of employees on an intelligible
basis, whether or not the law be
ultimately held to apply to the
press"
Approximately 80 pc cent of thu
small businessmen of America art
opposed to the maximum hour provi-
sions of the Wage and Hour Act
and cannot afford to pay overtime
declared j. Raymond Tiffany of New
York, who appeared as representa-
tive of the Book Manufacturers
Institute, the Subscription Bool
Publishers Institute, the Roll Lea
Manufacturing Association and tn,
National Small Businessmen's AS
sociation.
Texas Paper Files Suit
To Test Woge-Hour Law
DALLAS, July n R.-The A. H
Belo Corp, publishers of the Dalla'