Evening star., 1942-03-18
Senators Support
Roosevelt Stand on
40-Hour Week Law
Many Agree No Chonge
In Statute Is Needed
At Present Time

At Present Time
~ the Associated Press.
President RooSevelt's blunt op-
position to any immediate
changes in the 40-hour-week law
found important support in the
Senate today, but the House still
seemed bent on taking matters
into its own hands.
Even in some Senate quarters
there were those who believed that
the war production emergency
called for modification Of the over
time pay provisions Of the statute.
The House manifested every in
tention Of pushing ahead with con-
sideration OF legislation which
would suspend all maximum hour
laws in war industries, and some
staunch administration hackers
privately we're dubious about the
chances Of defeating such a measure
II it also contained drastic provi-
sions for recapture of all corporate
war profits over per cent.
Election Kept in Mind.
A potent factor in the entire sit
uation was the unabated avalanche
Of mail which continued to pour
into Congressional ofiices from back
home, demanding that all legiSla-
tive precautions be taken to prevent
any further interruption or delay
in the arms output. Mindful of
the fact that this Is an election
year, more than one legislator ap-
parently was apprehensive lest in
action now be miSconstrued by the
voters later.
In one preliminary study Of di-
verse problems, Senate appropri-
atoms subcommittee called high
Government of1cials into q closed
session today for testimony on
whether strikes should be outlawed
and the 40-hour work week modi-
fed.
The President told . press con-
ference late yesterday that there
had been IAN amazing state Of pub
lie misinformation" on the 40-hour
week question. He spoke out
against any change in the law at
the present time because. he said.
things were going along pretty well
Mr.. Roosevelt conceded, in re-
Spouse to a question. that some
legislation on the 40-hour week and
strikes might be required in time
but advised against rushing things,
repeating that they were going
pretty well.
Editors Misinformed.
He pointed out to reporters that
Congress could not pass = law to
make q man produce more. AS Tor
misinformation, he said he had re-
ceived five letters from editors OF
small newspapers asking why the
wage-hour law did not permit any
one to work longer than 40 hours
q week. Every one knew the law
did not prohibit any one from work
ing longer than that, he said, add
ing the editors evidently had been
misled by speeches in Congress and
things they had read.
Chairman Hill Of 4 Senate sub
committee in charge OF wage-hour
revision bills agreed with the Presi-
dents statement and advised legis-
lators to go awfully slow lest they
upset what Is now = very favorable
situation"
There is no question" Senator
Hill said, that there Is gross mis-
information about the 40-hour week
and there has undoubtedly been .
steady fiow Of propaganda in an
effort to mislead the people on the
matter"
Chairman Thomas Of the Senate
Labor Committee also indorsed the
Chief Executives stand, saying most
industries were already working
their men more than 10 hours .
week.
Senator Connally, Democrat, Of
Texas agreed there was no legal
limit on the work week, but pro-
fessed to see strong support for
restricting overtime pay.
Wants Wages Fixed.
I'm willing to suspend the 40
hour week." he said, "and make it
%8 hours, with overtime pay coming
after 48 hours instead of 40. Then
If the men were not getting enough
pay let them raise their base wages.
I'm for national wage board to
say what the wages should be-"
President Roosevelt in the course
Of his press conference declared that
almost all the munitions plants were
now working more than 40 hours a
week, except in some cases where
. shortage of materials prevailed.
He also asserted that time-and-
half pay for overtime had been the
rule in the United States for many
years.
Before the conference Mr.. Roose-
velt saw William Green and Philip
Murray, the A. F. L. and c. o.
presidents. and other labor leaders.
These union chieftains reiterated
their pledge OF no strikes for the
duration.
(ava@ la~L.rI OnSu.a.