The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-10-07
Stabilized Living Costs
CA Tabulation Solves Your Problems

Washington, Oct. T. UP) = The following questions and answers were compiled on the basis of information supplied by government officials who are developing plans for the administration of the Presidents ex- ecutive order to stabilize living costs @. What does the program coveri A. Nearly all prices of commodities and services. Also all wages and many salaries.
 o. What does the order try to do? A. It tries in general to stabil- ize prices, wages, and salaries as of Sept. 15, 1942.
 o. Are there any exceptions to this? A. Yes, in the case of certain agricultural commodities and foods to which other standards can be ap- piled.
 Wages and Salaries
 Q. Does the program define the difference between wages and sal aries? A. Yes. Salaries are specif- ically defined as remuneration for personal services regularly paid on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis. Wages are remuneration on an hourly rate basis.
 o. Are wages frozen at the present level? A. Yes, at least for the time being. The War Labor Board must approve any increases or decreases but it has not yet set up the mach inery for doing so.
 o. Can saIaried workers earning less than $5,000 be given raises without VILE approval? A. Yes, unless the raises come through cOl- lective bargaining, or other group measures. Individual bargaining is not affected for Salaried persons making less than $5,OOO.
 @. Can an individual paid on a wage basis be granted an increase without WLB approval? A. No.
 Q. Who among wage earner5 can obtain an increase? A. Those suf- fering inequalities in specific in- dustries; those whose earnings have not kept pace with the rising cost of living; and those suffering gross inequalities. But they must await labor board action on their cases.
 o. Can salaries or wages be de- vseSseSa? <. Generally, -2c, except tc erase gross inequalities.
 o. Must salaries in excess of S25,OOO be cut? A. The order pro- vided a policy in this respect. Un- til a regulation is issued by OES director James F. Byrnes this question cannot be answered spe- officially.
 o. I work in small grocery store and my employer agrees to give me a raise. Will I have to wait until the VILE acts in my particular case? A. The VILE probably will exempt small establishments from the order.
 Q. | am an executive earning about $G5OO 8 year. Must my case receive specific approval from the director before can receive q raise? A. Yes, unless you have been assigned to more difficult or responsible work. You and your employer decide whether you have been assigned to such work, but Byrnes Is the ultimate judge. If he finds that the increase violates the law, both of you are equally guilty.
 Rents
 c. live in an area which was not designated as Q defense-rental sec- ton until yesterday. How soon may I expect Q cut in rent to the March i, ioi2 levelq A. The federal govern ment cannot order rents reduced for GO days dating from Oct. s.
 c. What happens at the end of the CO day period? A. If price ad- nllnlstrator Leon Henderson finds at that time that the rents have not been reduced Co March levels he can step ln and regulate Che rents.
 c. operate . rooming house in aii area where the rents were or. dered rolled back to prevailing levels os Jan. 1, i0fi. can I nov raigo my rents Co conform with those char sed on March 1, ieiaf A. Definitely