The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-07-03
War Production
Continued from Page one)

| ifoH GdSt ohtt
lied labor, because of its vital interes
IN the law, well recalls, the minimum
wage requirement for the first yea,
of the laws operation was 25 cents
an hour. When the law went into
effect no studies had been made as tc
the extent of wages which a 25-cents
an-hour minimum would correct.
The extremely low wages of depres
sional depths of 1882 and 1888 had
been generally eliminated by the
NRA. Yet, Inauguration of the rs.
cents-an-hour minimum wage on Octo-
Der "a, 1898, Immediately was felt by
some very low-wage industrial opera
tions, notably in pecan Smelling in
San Antonio, in the caDdlewick bed
spread industry of the Georgia hills,
in the cutting of pearl buttons from
frcsh-water mussel shells in the river
communities of the great middlewest,
in the stripping of tobacco, in south
ern "peckerwood" sawmills, and in
the manufacture of bagging for cotton
bales.
Although no study was made of the
number of workers who received d.
rect benefits as a result of the 25-
cents-an-hour wage, some indication
of the number was seen from the fact
that it was later revealed that APP
proximately 100000 workers had been
earning less than 30 cents an hour
in the interstate industries affected
by the act. The 100000 figure was
obtained in survey made by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. De-
partment of Labor, during the week of
April 10, 1889, in anticipation Of the
first anniversary of the law, at which
time the minimum wage became 80
cents an hour. Furthermore, the $780,
600 figure did not include some $780,,
600 seasonal workers in the packing
and canning of fresh fruits and vege-
tables who, other studies showed,
earned less than 30 cents an hour
when employed. The largest industry
groups among the 100000 included
100000 lumber workers, $4,000 cotton
mill workers, 10000 knitting mill
$4,000 garment workers and
10000 shoe workers.
How the Wage and Hour law has
been benefiting American workers is
seen in an examination of the records
Of the Wage and Hour Division, U.
S Department of Labor, covering the |
sarly months of administration of the |
law. One of the most outstanding ac-
eomplishments of the law is the prog |
'ess made to date in correcting or
the undesirable conditions |
lmple of the divisions efforts in this
direction occurred in December, 1899,
When the division succeeded in OBJ
aiming more than 100000 in back
wage restitution for nearly 400 fam
lies of industrial homeworkers who
lad been employed by Chicago hair
lin manufacturing company at sub
minimum wages. Concerted action of
his type by the by the division has
Ollowed since
Although administration of the law
uring normal times met with less
nd less resistance on the part of en-
loyers as its intent and purpose be- !,
anne more generally known, the re-
ction of some persons to the require !,
lents of the law during the present
mergency was the subject of consid- :
rable discussion during recent weeks
he discussion, as organized labor, of
curse, knows, centered about the :
vertime provisions of the law, which :
equire that time and one-half be
aid to covered workers for work be-
0nd 40 hours in one week. 1t was
larged that this provision of the :
W hampered production, in that it
mited work to 40 hours a week.
Of course, the Wage and Hour law
)es not limit work to 40 hours a :,
eek. The law merely requires the :
yment of overtime for work beyond =
hours. When this simple truth
as made clear to all, and it was "
own that Americas war production :,
rs proceeding on workweek sched- =
es of well over 40 hours, with two
d three shift operations in many <
ants, the clamor against the law r.
bsided And it is well that labor :,
is not overcome with fear because
the clamor, since the record clearly i
1icates that labor has nothing to be
named of in connection with its
TT in the war effort
In his next article Mr. Hill dis |
sses Protecting Low-Wage Earn
s."