Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-08-08
Minimum Wage Battle
Starts in House Today;
Compromise Pushed
ey the Associated Press

its second big labor debate OF the
year. This one is on whether
to increase the national minimum
wage from 40 cents an hour to IS.
The Democratic Party's campaign
pledge of last fall to raise the min
imum and broaden coverage of the
1888 Wage-Hour Act was up for
redemption. 1t faced the same de-
termined, well-organized foes as
did the still -unredeemed campaign
pledged to repeal the Taft-Hartley
law.
Democratic leaders were backing
a compromise bill introduced last
week by Chairman LesinSki of the
House Labor Committee. Many
Southern Democrats and Republic
cans were lined up tentatively be-
hind a measure sponsored by Rep
resentative Lucas, Democrat, of
Texas, a Labor Committee men,
Der.
Union Activity Reported.
House members reported labor
unions active in drumming up sup
port for the compromise, but said
labor representatives would not
state their support of the measure
in writing. 1t falls short of the
original administration bill in its
coverage of workers.
The town is jumping with lob
byists on this thing" said one
Labor Committee Democrat.
Major amendments on the
wage section of the bill were to
be offered by Representatives
Sims, Democrat, of South Caro-
lima and Combs. Democrat, of
Texas. and floor managers of the
legislation had notice of scores
of other amendments ready to
be brought up when the time
comes. The debate was expected
to rage most, if not all, of the
week.
Similar to Taft Act Battle.
The situation was very similar
to that at the beginning of the
Taft-Hartley debate in the House,
with one exception. In this case,
the Democratic leadership's COM
promise was before the House at
the beginning of the struggle.
In the Taft Hartley debate, it
came out at the last Minute, and
was beaten. The House then went
on and sent the whole controversy
back to the Labor Committee,
where it rests with no hope of
getting out until next year.
A minimum wage bill was the
first administration labor meas
ure to reach Capitol Hill after
the new Congress got to town
last January. This bill would
have raised the minimum from
20 cents to IS cents and even
tually ST. and brought millions
of new workers in under the
Wage-hOur act.
The House committee finally ap-
proved 75-cent bill with fewer
changes in coverage. 1t would
have added about 100000 work.
ers to the approximately 20,000,000
now covered by the law.
The Senate Labor Committee
has approved a bill raising. the
minimum to rs cents and making
a few other changes, but emitting
any large-scale increase in cover
age. This is due for debate soon.
Mr.. Lesinski's first bill ran into
a Rules Committee roadblock and
he moved to bypass the rules
group and get it to the floor any
way.
Then last Tuesday he intro
duced a compromise bill drafted
after weeks of conferences with
Democratic leaders. 1t cleared the
Rules Committee Friday.
Would Tie With Living Cost.
This bill would make the min
imum rs cents, but would affect
coverage of the present law in
only minor instances. 1t would
drop out approximately 100000
employees of small saWmills who
are covered by the law now, and
would extend minimum wage
coverage to between 100000 and
$4,000 seamen and protection OF
the 40-hour week to between 600,-
900 and $4,000 maintenance en-
ployes of bus, truck and air lines.
Mr.. Lucas bill would raise the
minimum wage to IS cents, then
tie it to the cost of living. 1t
would be adjusted up or down
every year, but could not fall be-
low so cents.
This bill, Labor Committee ex-
perts estimate, would exclude
more than 100000 workers now
covered by the law. It would be
done. they say, by exempting en-
ployes who are not indispensable
to production Tor interstate COM
merce.
The Combs amendment would
set the minimum at IS, and Gre
ate industry committees to study
conditions in each industry. The
committees could recommend a
downward revision of the mini
mum in any industry, but could
not raise it above IS.
The Sims proposal would raise
the minimum to 60 cents an hour
right away, then lift it to IS at
the end of the year and to IS
after seven years. His amend
ment would make no changes in
coverage of the law.
Col. Parker Transferred
1t. Col. William E. Parker has
been assigned as assistant Army
Judge advocate at headquarters of