Evening star., 1942-03-13
Wage Controls
Being Studied,
Roosevelt Says
President Refuses,
However, to Discuss
Ceiling on Pay
BY the Associated Press.

BY the ASSoclated Press.
The question Of wage control
as a war measure is under study,
President Roosevelt said today.
The Chief Executive refused at
his press conference to go into the
question of putting a ceiling on
wages as an anti-inflation step, but
he did disclose that the whole prob
lem was under consideration.
Asked whether he was considering
positive action on wage control"
he replied crisply. it is under study.
To another question, whether any
progress was being made on con-
trolling imitation, Mr.. Roosevelt said,
in some ways, yes. and in some ways,
no. He placed the action Of the
House in voting to ban sales of Gov
ernment owned surplus farm prod
ucts at below parity prices in the
category of those things on what he
termed the no side.
Canadian System Studied.
Proponents Of wage ceiling have
contended it is necessary 10 cut
down purchasing power Of individ-
uals if imitation is to be checked,
just as it is necessary to control
prices.
Mr.. Roosevelt was asked whether
he had arrived at any opinion on
how the Canadian system of wage
control might work in this country.
He said ne did not know and had
no news on the matter. This is only
one factor of the situation which is
under study, he said
While Mrs. Roosevelt had written
in her newspaper column Of meet
ing at the White House at which
wage control was discussed, the
Chief Executive said he had not par
ticipated in the meeting
Meanwhile the question Of labor
pay was in the forefront at the SEN
ate. with bipartisan efforts to limit
overtime pay in war industries
pushed despite opposition of Secre-
tary Of Labor Perkins.
Closed Shop Ban Urged.
Senator Lee. Democrat. of Okla
homa asked Chairman Nelson Of
the War Production Board to rec
ommend legislation or overtime and
ways of putting more shifts on-the
job. while Senator Reed. Repub-
liCan. Of Kansas urged early ac-
ton on a measure TO increase the
work week from 40 to 48 hours be-
fore extra pay is allowed The law
now provides for time and a half
for work over 40 hours.
Senator Reed yesterday also in
troduced a bill TO make it unlawful
to require membership in any Or
ganization as a condition to work.
ing for the Government or on any
contract being carried out for the
Government
For employment in any govern
mental capacity. whether carried
on directly by the Government or
by contract. there should be no re-
quirement for employment beyond
competency and citizenship said
the Kansan. Il deal with this ques-
tion without prejudice. In my pub
fishing business I have maintained
a closed shop under contract with
the typogra phical union for the past
35 years. 1t has worked satisfac-
torily. That arrangement regard
ing employment is a matter be-
tween the union and myself as a
private employer.
Different Rule Needed.
"I am definitely of the opinion
that a different rule must be ap-
piled 10 Government employment.
If the taxpayers money taken from
the public treasury is to be used
in Government activity. no require
ment for employment can fairly be
imposed except as stated, namely.
competency and citizenship"
Senator Lee wrote Mr.. Nelson on
the overtime issue, after quoting
him as saying that time and-a-half
and double-time pay and re-
luctance by manufacturers to in
crease the number of shifts were
two problems involved in increasing
production.
These two hindrances. it seems
to me. can be removed by proper
legislation" Senator Lee told the
Senate yesterday, adding he had
long advocated relaxation of the
40-hour week
Secretary Perkins, heard in closed
session by the Senate Labor Com
mittee yesterday on the whole labor
and production outlook. was re-
quested to furnish the committee,
in writing. her views on the Reed
bill and the general strike situa-
ton.
Senators said she gave three rea-
sons for opposing any change in the
wage-hour law:
l. That the existing law does not
prevent any one from working
longer than 40 hours.
2. That any change would not
affect industries with union con-
tracts calling for overtime, but
(See LABOR. Page A-3D