The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-07


 Peter EdsOn wage in the United States today is about $60 a month, without board. From 1887 to 1940 the average wage was un- der $40 month. The era of high est farm wages was in 1920, when the average rose to $65 month. So the margin between the going rate of $60 a month and the so-called ceiling rate of $200 8 month leaves the employers plenty of room.
 Farm wage scales are therefore the most unfrozen pay rates in the country, and the maximum of $2400 the pay of their hands without ask ing the government for permission practically makes the sky the limit.
 This policy of unfreezing farm wages was deliberately adopted so that farmers could pay whatever rate was necessary to get labor to take off essential war crops. The farm labor problem is largely 8 manpower supply problem, not 8 wage problem.
 Sooner or later, the secretary of l WILL nave OO 4oSuC CC1 tain basic definitions or interpreta- tions of the farm wage order, just to standardize practices.
 QUESTIONS WILL ARISE
 It will have to be determined whether the $2400 a year limitation applies to year-round employment only, meaning that agricultural wage rates cannot go above $200 a month, or whether seasonal labor could be hired at say $400 month for six months.
 Also, some standards will have to be set up on whether or not food and lodging should be included in computing wages, and at what rates the board and keep should be cal- iculated.
 Thus far in the war the trouble in regulating farm wages has not been in fixing 8 ceiling over the pay scales, but in raising the floor un- der them. Farmers, and the farm organizations in particular, are against any move that will tend to set 8 minimum wage for agricultural labor.
 Secretary of Agriculture Claude Wickard, however, thinks that farm wages are generally too low and he has been doing everything he could to better the standards of farm labor, raising the farm wage and improving the living and work ing conditions of farm laborers.
 There is, therefore, definite pro- cedure to set basic wages for farm labor which must be moved into an agricultural area for seasonal em- ployment when there is a farm labor shortage. During the coming farm year, it will be applied to some 200,- 900 farm workers.
 Supposing it's case of having to move farm hands from Kentucky or West Virginia to New York state to pick apples as handled last fall.
 The secretary of agriculture sets up wage board of four govern ment officials in the apple area of New York state. Two are from the Department of Agriculture, one from the War Manpower Commission and one from the United States Employ ment Service. All are officials from the local area. familiar with labor conditions in that region
 FARMER CAN HAVE HIS SAY
 The wage board then holds hear ing in the area to determine what the going rate of pay for farm labor in that area may be. Any | farmer in the area can come in and speak his piece, giving evidence as to what the wage for the incoming labor should be. Farm laborers can come in, testifying the rate should be higher. The wage board sits all this evidence. then makes recom- mendations to the secretary of agri- culture.
 The secretary then promulgates an order, establishing the rate. In every case, however, the rate must be the equivalent of 30 cents an hour or higher, and there must be guarantees that the labor coming in will be adequately housed and will be given employment for at least three-fourths of the time cov- cred by the contract.
 If the rates. and conditions of the wage board can be met, then con- tract is drawn up between the farm CTS and the Farm Security Admins tration of the Department of Agri- culture. covering definite period of time. FSA then pays the transpor- tation Of the workers from their homes to the job, less $5 per worker which the farmer must pay for each Of the workers he employs. When the job is done and the contract has expired. FSA will transport the workers back home.