Evening star., 1950-05-04
Labor, Business
Give Testimony
On Wages Bill
Payment in ; Days
By Cash or Check
Would Be Required

payment of wages by employers
and to require the District govern
ment to help collect unpaid wages
was debated sharply today before
a Senate District subcommittee.
The measure was strongly rec
commended by spokesmen for the
American Federation of Labor
the United States Labor Depart
ment, the Building Trades Council
of the District and a union of
hotel and restaurant woarkers. 1t
was opposed by representatives
of the Board of Trade, the Wash
ington Hotel Association, the
Washington Terminal Co. and
other employers.
The measure was introduced by
Chairman Nicely of the Senate
District Committee after confer
ences with group of labor leaders
here.
Three Day Limit Proposed.
The bill would require payment
in cash or a bank check to en-
ployes for work performed up to
three days prior to the payment.
In case of dismissal, full payment
would be required Immediately.
Proponents of the measure said
that somewhat similar laws were
in effect in 46 States. They con-
tended it was needed to guarantee
payment of wages regularly and
to provide system by which the
District government would act as
a collection agency for overdue
wages or those payments refused
by employers.
Opponents charged that the
provisions would be unduly re-
strictive. that there was no need
for such a law and that bill as
drafted might even affect both the
United States and the District
governments.
Government Spokesman Approves.
Miss Beatrice Mcconnell, chief
of the Legislative Standards and
State Services Division of the
Bureau of Labor Standards,
United States Department of La
Dor, said the Nicely bill "incorpo-
rates principles which have been
widely approved" would not i'm
pose any unreasonable work on
any employer, and would give
needed protection to workers in
the District"
In California she told the sub
committee that States Depart
ment of Industrial Relations dur
ing the calendar year 1949 re-
covered 81 ,329.879 In unpaid wages
for California workers.
Others stresSing. the need for
the bill included Frank O'Connor.
secretary of the Building Trades
Council here; Walter Mason of the
American Federation of Labor and
Charles E. Sands of the Execu-
tive Board, Hotel and Restaurant
Employees international Alliance,
including, he said. over 1000 work.
ers in the District.
Mr.. Sands said that generally
union workers were fortunate in
collecting their pay. but he
charged that some night club OPP
orators here had folded up" leav-
ing workers unpaid.
For the Washington Board of
Trade. A. Julian Brylawski said
that the measure would add "un-
fair imposition" on business here,
particularly home builders. Com
panies constructing homes in
this city, he said, are faced with
the competition by larger VOL
ume of building in nearby areas.
Joseph McGarraghy, for the
Washington Hotel Association.
charged that every housewife in
Washington would have to keep
books on employment of maids
and would be subject to penalties
from 500 to $1,000 for violation.
Corporation Counsel Vernon
West said the Commissioners
feared the measure would affect
adversely the District Govern
ment as an employer, and might
even be broad enough to require
compliance by the whole Federal
Government here.
Miss Carrie Allgood, executive
secretary of the District Minimum
Wage Board. said there was spe-
cial difficulty here in the collec-
ton of wages for girls. She
recommended simplification of the
Nicely bill.
The session was presided over
at it's start by Senator Darby
Republican, of Kansas, and later
by Senator Frear, Democrat, of
nelauoro