The union times., 1941-07-19
Southerners In Congress
 Try Threats
Federation of Labor Says Act Protects Employers
 And Employees

Because General Philip B. Fleming, administrator of the Wage-Hour Act, wants to enforce the law rigidIy, small group of Congressmen has threatened to have him removed from office, fined and imprisoned.
 THREATENED
 This astonishing threat was voiced on the floor of the House and in a letter sent to Fleming by Congress- man M. C. Tarver (Dem., Ga.), who, along with Congressman E. E. Cox of the same state and other Southern members, have been leading a fight to cripple the act.
 Tarver has been in key role to wage this attack. He is chairman of a House appropriations subcommittee, which handles funds for the Depart ment of Labor.
 When the Wage-Hour Administra- tion's budget requests for the new fiscal year, beginning July 1, came before the subcommittee, Tarver suc- ceeded in having $563,00O Topped off the sum recommended by the Budget Bureau.
 Fleming was anxious to have the amount restored, so he could under take regular inspections of all firms covered by the law-thus protecting victimized employees and fair employ CTS from competition by cutthroat rivals.
 A.F.L. ENTER FIGHT
 Tarver insisted such regular inspections were unnecessary. He won the subcommittee to his view and managed to railroad the cut in funds through the House. The A. E. of L. persuaded the Senate to reinstate the $563, ,OOO, but i'm conference between House and Senate committees, Tarver refused to recede from his posi- tiOn and forced the Senate con- ferees to yield.
 During the controversy, Flem- ing addressed the Colorado State Federation of Labor at Greeley, explaining why he thought regu- lar inspections were essential. Copies of his speech, as cus- tomary, were released to the press.
 INTIMIDATION?
 This aroused Tarver's ire. He wrote an intirnidating letter to Fleming, in which he accused him of violating a Federal law which forbids public officials from trying to influence members of Congress on pending legislation. Tarver cited sections of this law which make a guilty official subject to removal, fine up to $500 and jail term of up to a year.
 He sent copies of the letter to the Secretary of Labor and Attorney General, inferring they should take action against Fleming, and he read the letter to the House.
 Fleming, who's scrappy soldier, stuck by his guns, re- fusing to be browbeaten. In a straight-from-the-shoulder reply to Tarver, he declared his speech to the A. F. of L. violated no law and, furthermore, that his statements were ''fully justified by the facts."
 THOUSANDS HELPED
 He reiterated contentious he made in the Greeley talk that only by thorough inspections could the Wage Hour Act be really enforced. Thaus- ands of workers, he said were brought up to standards fixed by the law and given handsome back pay checks only because inspectors during regular checkups had rooted out evasions of the act.
 There are millions of such people who, through no fault of their own, are simply not able to protect them selves" Fleming asserted. "They are not going to be protected unless the government, through the Wage-Hour Division, does it."
 AIDS EMPLOYERS, TOO!
 He added that not only does labor have a vital stake in see- ing that wage-hour standards do not deteriorate, but many em- ployers who comply with the law have demanded periodic inspec- tions, s'sO that their unconscion- able competitors will not obtain an advantage by paying illegally