Evening star., 1942-03-17
Demands for Speed
In War Production
Needed by Congress
House Is Set 70 Rush
Measure TO Suspend
40-Hour Week
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
A public cry for faster wal
production got a quick reaction
today from Congress and the
administration.
Drastic legislation affecting
both labor and industry gained
House support which assumed
major proportions.
President Roosevelt was under
stood to have advised his legislative
leaders that the whole labor pro-
duction problem-involving ques-
tions ranging from a wage parity
to temporary suspension of the 40
hour week-was being reconsidered
by the administration.
As a result. there were reports
that Democratic congressional lead
ers would attempt to stave off i'm
mediate action in Congress on any
other new program. Precipitate
action, it was believed, might lead
to serious, general labor difficulty.
Speedy Action Forecast.
Friends of the administration in
the House, however, reported that
with sentiment mounting rapidly for
any legislation which would speed
war production. the first such bill
10 reach the debate stage probably
would be approved speedily and
overwhelmingly.
In this category they placed legis-
istion relating to both military and
naval war contracts introduced yes
terday by Representative Smith,
Democrat, Of Virginia, which would:
l. Wipe out the current basic 40
hour work week and provisions of
laws and contracts requiring pay
ment of time and one-half for over
time.
2. Outlaw the closed shop to in
sure what Representative Smith
termed the inalienable right" OF a
person to work without payment
tribute" to any one.
). Impose a fiat 6 per cent limita-
tion on profits from defense con-
tracts.
Hearings Start Thursday.
Chairman Vinson, author of a
twin bill introduced yesterday. an
nounced the House Naval Affairs
Committee would begin hearings
Thursday on the new proposals. end
the Military Affairs Committee was
expected to follow suit quickly.
Some House members quickly
seized upon the legislation as an
outlet for the protests that have
been arriving in waves from people
back home" who, they said, are
wondering why United States pro-
duction has not yet meant reinforce
ments for the Philippine garrison
and supplies for an otf ensive against
Japan
Additional stenographic help has
appeared in many Offices and at
least one member has abandoned
hope of keeping up on his mail.
Representative WickerSham, DEM
ocrat. of Oklahoma told the House
he had received $4,000 letters on the
subject in five days and that he had
hired 13 girls with money out of
his own pocket TO answer them.
Representative Disney, Demo-
cratic colleague from the same
State, displayed an armful of letters
and kilograms which he said pro-
tested "racketeering and strikes and
our failure to suspend the 40-hour
week"
Reports Of heavy mail of a SIM
llar nature came from more than
A score of other Representatives, on
both the Republican and Demo-
cratic sides of the aisle. One said
the flood OF mail exceeded even that
protesting pensions for Congress
members and that which poured in
during the pre-war controversy over
lease-lend aid.
Strategy Adopted.
Representatives Smith and Vim
son, as plan of strategy to bring
their bills to the House floor for
consideration, adopted the same
line that was employed by Mr.
Smith in obtaining action on his
pre-war measure to outlaw strikes
in defense industries bill now
resting in Senate Labor Commit
tee pigeonhole.
They were so drawn that they
would be sent to the House Military
and Naval Affairs Committees, in
stead of the Labor Committee
The Vinson-Smi measures, in a
declaration of policy, maintained
that in the prosecution of war
there should be no limitation by
law or by contract upon hours Of
work" and that mo individual
should receive, at the expense OF his
Government, compensation in ex-
cess OF that paid as straight time
under prevailing law"
At the same time, the declaration
said that no company should be
permitted to make excessive prof.
its" on war contracts and that all
laws, customs. contracts and agree
ments which violate the policies set
forth must. in the interest of ma
tionsl security, be suspended during
the period of the existing war"
Cox Would Turn on Heat"
Less than an hour before the bills
were introduced, Representative
Cox, Democrat, of Georgia, mem
mer of the Rules Committee,
touched off a furry of min
ute speeches by shouting that
the public must turn on the heat"
and force an lend Of strikes against
the Government"
Il am convinced" he declared,
that only by an infiamed, aroused
public opinion can Government
boondoggling and recketeering in
labor ranks be ended"
Representative Rankin, Democrat,
OF Mississippi jumped to his feet
with the argument that the House.
approved Smith anti-strike bill was
"soundly sleeping in the Senate"
and that AL that august body has
to do is wake up"
There seems to be a change OF
heart there" commented Repre-
sentative Rich. Republican, of Penn
sylvania. referring to rejection two
weeks ago by the House Of suspen-
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