Evening star., 1942-02-28
Ban on 40-Hour Week
Rejected by House
Vote Of 226 10 81
Big Majority Against
Smith Amendment
Surprises Leaders
1y the Associated Press.

Surprises Leaders
Dy the Associated Press.
The House resumed considera-
tion of the second war powers
bill today after rejecting over
whelmingly a proposal to suspend
the 40-hour week and extra pay
for overtime.
A standing vote of 226 to 50 yes
terday, with many Republicans
joining Democrats in opposition,
killed an amendment by Represent
ative Smith, Democrat, of Virginia
which would have suspended II laws
providing for the 8-hour day. 40
hour week, and time-and-a-half for
work in excess Of those limits.
The amendment was strenuously
opposed by the administration. 1t
was announced on the floor that
President Roosevelt was against it
and would veto the war powers
measure if the labor amendment
was approved. The war powers bill
would broaden a number of laws,
to expedite the war program.
- Administration Surprised.
The size of the vote against the
Smith amendment surprised even
administration leaders who, the
night before, thought the amend
ment would carry and ordered an
overnight recess to muster strength.
The fact that three-fourths or
more of the Republicans present
joined in the opposition also sur
prised many members. Minority
Leader Martin told reporters later
that most of those on his side OF
the aisle were convinced in the
second days debate that the amend
ment was meaningless"
They felt that the amendment
would not affect organized labor
with union contracts at all, but
would affect only unorganiZed Ia
bor," he said.
This was the main argument used
against it by young Representative
Casey. Democrat. of Massachusetts,,
who, many members agreed, helped
to pile up the votes against Mr..
Smiths proposal.
Wouldn't Affect Unions.
Representative Casey said it would
have destroyed existing wage evels
in unorganized industries and per-
mitted employers to pocket addi-
tional profits by not having to pay
overtime Members of the C.. I. o.
and A. F. L. would not have been
affected, he added, because they
have contracts guaranteeing the 40
hour week and overtime.
Before the vote on the Smith
amendment. the House rejected, by
q standing vote of 162 to 80, a sub
stitue by Representative Monroney,
Democrat, of Oklahoma which
would have given the President dis
cretionary power to do the same
thing for war industries only.
The Senate Labor Committee,
meanwhile, heard Chairman William
H. Davis of the War Labor Board
urge that Congress refrain from
trying to enact national labor pol
icy now. Mr.. Davis said that the
no-strike, no-lockout agreement re-
Gently negotiated by labor and man.
agement should be given a fair
chance to function.
Macarthur men are calling for
tools and it is high time for Amer
lea to answer that call" declared
Representative Russell, Democrat, Of
Texas, In charging during the aft
ernoon's bitter wrangling over the
Smith amendment that the war
effort was handicapped by some
union leaders who prevent their
members from working on holidays
Defends Labor's Patriotism.
y, "Ninety-eight per cent of labor Is
just as patriotic as the members
here" rejoined another Texas
Democrat, Representative Thoma-
son. who argued that the amend
ment would increase, rather than
diminish labor disputes.
President William Green Of the 4,
A. F. L. and President Philip Muir
ray of the C. I. o. sent messages
to party leaders opposing the Smith
proposal. Representatives of their
organization were buttonholing
members of the House in the Capt.
tol corridors
Mr.. Green's statement said:
THE Smith amendment is false
IN its basic premise and misleading
in its objective. 1t would not !
lengthen working hours. There is |
nothing in existing law which pre-
vents workers from being employed
for more than 40 hours a week.
What this amendment really aims
to do is to absolve employers of |
sweated workers, who did not have
the protection of unions, of the re-
quirement of paying such workers
overtime rates for work in excess of
20 hours a week.
Murray States Views.
Mr.. Murray's letter said:
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