Evening star., 1942-04-21
Flexible Wage Ceiling
Proposed by Thomas
To Solve Labor Issue
Senator Would Peg Poy
AT Present Scale, Create
Reviewing Board

Expansion of labor'S no-strike
agreement in war industries to
embrace a flexible ceiling on
wages was proposed today by
Chairman Thomas of the Senate
Labor Committee.
Senator Thomas, who often ex-
presses administration views, said he
thought voluntary sterilization of
wages on an equitable basis would
do much toward quieting the current
congressional wrangling over the 40
hour week and overtime pay.
The Utah Senator told reporters
he believed plan could be worked
out to peg wages generally at present
levels, with adjustments provided
for low-pay groups of individuals.
He suggested that a general board
then could review war industry wages
about every eight months, and order
increases to compensate for any ad-
vance in living costs.
President Asks Delay.
Senator Thomas proposal conceded
with move by President Roosevelt
to have the Senate defer considera-
ton OF labor legislation which was
to have been taken up yesterday.
The Senate had agreed to consider
bill by Senator Connally, Demo-
crat, of Texas to permit the Gov
ernment to take over strike bound
industrial plants and freeze their
working conditions, and some mem
bers were hoping to substitute a bill
by Senator Ball, Republican, of
Minnesota, to provide for Govern
ment veto of wage increases in
excess OF the advance in the cost of
living and to set up machinery for
regulating some union activities.
Senator Connally, however, asked
Tor delay on his measure, explaining
that he was acting at the personal
request of the President. At a
White House conference with Con-
gressional leaders earlier in the day,
the Texan said, President Roosevelt
had disclosed his intention to send
message to Congress dealing with
all phases of the living costs prob
lem, including labor" With the
Senate acceding to Senator Connal-
ly's request, the Senate Labor Com
mittee decided also to defer
consideration of the Ball bill.
The Presidents message, which is
to be followed by a radio talk on the
| same subject Monday night, is not
expected to make specific recon-
mendations for new legislation. Con-
g1eSsional leaders believing the Chief
Executive now has sufficient author
ity to order a general freezing of
prices as brake against imitation.
Nor are any drastic proposals as to
wage controls anticipated, although
Mr.. Roosevelt has said this subject
is under study.
Emphasis on Profits.
1t was indicated a major part Of
the Presidents message would be
devoted to the elimination of exces-
sive war profits, probably through
taxation, and to the limitation Of
management salaries and bonuses.
/ Expressing the hope that Mr..
Roosevelt would advocate program
of control Of prices, wages, salaries
and bonuses. after the Senate had
been advised of the forthcoming
message, Senator Pepper, Democrat,
of Florida, said anything short of
that was not likely to satisfy those
who have been demanding wartime
restrictions on union activities.
We're not going to forget about
the 48hour week at regular pay or
the question of eliminating racket
eering union initiation fees" Sena-
tor Pepper declared. Neither are
We going to permit management to
pay huge salaries and bonuses to
executives or stand by idly while
excessive profits are made out of
Government contracts"
Senator Pepper, who previously
proposed extension of the 40-hour
week to 48 hours, said he had pre-
pared an amendment putting a
ceiling of $4,000 on the salaries of
executives of companies handling
war contracts.