The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-03-18

make living on 40 hours a week,
 Erickson said that he knew Of nothing in the law that would hurt the canning industry. The cannery he said, favor 40-Eoul week.
 Asked by Senator Gsrnick whetll- CT the 40-hour law would help to prevent strikes, Erickson said that it would
 If we can't get the A0-,hour week through this bill we will have. to get it the hard way" he asserted.
 Do you mean that as a threat?" Senator Collins demanded.
 Erickson said that ha merely meant it as a staten s1s of tha facts of the case.
 Increased Costs
 J. Howard Wakefield, Alaska Uorn herring plant operator from Port Wakefield, outlined the labor 5ituation in his business. The crew works from June Is to October 15 and often put in 12-hour shifts, seven days week, for considerable stretches of time. They receive overtime for everything over l3 hours, he said, and 40-hour week would increase labor costs of the plant by $18,000 to $20,000 a sea- son.
 Only three of the 16 herring plants in Alaska made a profit fast year, and two others broke even. Wakefield stated Even without the 40-hour week the outlook isn't good for next year, since the price of herring oil has dropped from 19 sents pound to cents pound md the unions are demanding Is ger cent wage increase,
 Pathological Advances
 John Wiese, representing the CIO fisheries unions, followed Wakefield 1n the stand and explained that the shorter work week has been made necessary by technological advances.
 In 1880, he said, line of salmon cannery machines turned out 40 cans a minute with approximately 57 men. In contrast. he said, a canning line today can produce 300 cans minute with only a2 men.
 If we adopt the 40-hour law" Wiese said, it will tend to off, Jet the short salmon season by re- distributing the labor supply"
 Senator Rivers, quoting from pamphlet, said that the U. s. De- 1artment of labor has recommend d a 56-hour week for period of A weeks for seasonal industries.
 We do not agree that that is necessary" Wiese stated.
 Senator Garnicks' request that Ilahor Commission Henry Benson 0e called to the stand brough5 iemand from Senator Steve Mo- Jutcheon for the previous question md his motion carried by a vote of l4-2, ending the hearings.
 Other Bills Passed
 During it's afternoon and evening iessions yesterday the Senate pass I'd 13 bills and memorials, includ- ng the following:
 HB. 72 to require premarital physical examinations. with a pro- vision that the examinations nay be waived by U. s. Commits sioners or Marriage Commissioners m isolated places where the fac- lities are unavailable.
 H.B. 13, prohibiting outdoor ad- gertising in Alaska.
 H.B. II, increasing maximum benefits under the aid to dependent children program of the Welfare Department.
 H.B. 80, to exempt publicly owned md operated utility plants from the motor fuels tax.
 s. B. 82. amending the law relat- ng to Territorial audits. The lat ter was introduced yesterday after noon by Senator Butrovich and whipped through to final passage within five and half minutes.
 The bill adds the following lan- yuage to the present law:
 With respect to the making of all audits of particular depart nents. officers. boards or institu- ions, the Auditor or other persons 50 authorized shall, in addition to checking fiscal aspects, scrlltinize fficiency of administration methods involved and make recommends lions pertaining thereto, and shall provide a copy of ane resultant findings and recommendations or