Show SUPPORT WAGER HOUR LAW Director Declares Act Wont Won't Hound Business Governors Pledge Help general Compliance Greets Federal Statute WASHINGTON Oct 24 24 CAPi AP P ELmer EUner F. F Andrews Andrew wage pour administrator received re pledges of in enforcement of the new la law today from many state gover gover- nors The far reaching labor standards stand ards nods act went vent into effect at 1201 a. a m. m today putting a floor under the wages and a ceiling over the hours of an estimated American working men Andrews had asked the states to help him at least temporarily in lit making certain that interstate industries inc in- in industries subject to the law keep proper records showing compU ance He also requested them to send lend representatives to a conference of state labor officials here November 4 to discuss state wage-hour wage laws lav Utah Pledges Aid Pledges of enforcement aid came camel among others from governors 6 I Alabama Iowa Mississippi Texas Louisiana Utah and Nevada The administrator also was ad that flint the American Amerian Federation nn n of Labors Labor's central labor bodies in more than cities would help enforce the act by reporting viola viola- lions The new law applying to virtually virtual virtual- virtually ly all workers in interstate commerce commerce com corn merce represented the broadest industrial in legislation since the N R H A. A In striking contrast to the fanfare fanfare fanfare fan fan- fare and hubbub of the blue eagle days however the wage wage hour hour law was put into operation quietly There were no parades no great concentration of business men in Washington I Wont Won't Hound Business Business' Administrator Elmer Eisner F. F Andrews took time from cleaning up a multitude multitude multitude mul mul- of details to tell a nationwide nationwide nation nation- wide radio audience that the tho new program was not designed to hound business but should be become become become be- be come a pillar of a sound economic system Its purpose is to protect business business busi bus ness he said to guard decent employers against the ruinous competitors competitors com corn whose only weapon is low prices based upon low wages arid and long hours for those who produce their goods Its further purpose and I think its most niost reaching far-reaching purpose is isto isto Isto to assure a steady stream of purchasing purchasing purchasing pur pur- chasing power in this country 1 Provisions of Law The major provisions of the new statute are as follows 1 A minimum wage of 25 cents cenis an hour is established This will willbe wilL wilLbe be raised to 30 cents October 24 1939 and to 40 cents after October 24 1945 2 The maximum work vork w week ek is s- s fixed at 44 H hours to be reduced reduced to 42 hours after October 4 1939 and to 40 hours after Oc October ober 24 1940 Employment abo above those levels must be compensated for in cash at time and a half rates Sr f 3 Employment is pr prohibited tor for children under 16 in a mining or or r manufacturing occupation and Slid for children under 18 in inan an industry declared to be hazardous Limited employment is permitted for lor children children children chil chil- dren 14 to 15 in other industries Makes Exemptions The act exempts cither In whole or in part seasonal industries certain certain tam tain agricultural occupations professional professional professional pro pro- men executives administrators administrators administrators adminis adminis- learners handicapped persons persons persons per per- sons and of companies regulated by the interstate commerce commerce commerce com com- merce commission The immediate effect of the law was to clip a few hours from the work week of about men and w women men and to fatten the pa pay envelopes of As the progressively progressively progressively pro pro- higher levels are arc adopted additional thousands will benefit Although Administrator Andrews said large groups of employers had offered their wholehearted cooperation cooperation coop coop- it was generally expected there would be many court tests of the legislation Officials said the child labor ban Continued on Page Two Column Fours Four I I States Support Wages ages Hours Law ADMINISTRATION SAYS PROGRAM M WONT WON'T 7 HOUND U. U S. S BUSINESS Continued from Page One for example was mu much th h the same as a 1916 law which the supreme court invalidated That tribunal also killed the N R A on the grou ground d that congress delegated unwarranted ed authority to the executive branch of the government Some Plants Close A few lumber and small textile companies did not resume work to today today today to- to day Andrews said he was Informed He did not name them One of Andrews Andrews' callers J. J Seligman Seligman Seligman Selig- Selig man of San Antonio Texas president president president dent of the National Pecan Shelters of America told newsmen he had reported that every pecan shelling plant in the south had closed because because because be be- cause of the wage-hour wage law One of Seligman's associates who declined to give his name said the industry's plants in and around Chicago were closed Seligman estimated workers work work- ers were involved He made the statement immediately immediately immediately immedi immedi- aft after r discussing with Andr Andrews Andrws ws and other officials concerning the possibility that the pecan shelling industry might be exempt from the new statute Seligman said he had told Andrews Andrews An An- drews the average wage paid in the I industry was from 10 to 15 cents I an hour Penalties Provided Pro Andrews has issued only general definitions and regulations to guide employers but he made it clear yesterday that a busin business ss man who guesses wrong about application of I the law will be subject to full penalties penalties pen pen- altier provided for violators Obviously any any- employer who has any doubt about whether the law applies to a particular should resolve that doubt in favor of th the worker he said Trade associations and business magazines have said when in doubt comply That I think is excellent advice and it will save a lot of trouble for everybody The law provides a fine six months' months imprisonment or both for infractions In addition em em- may recover twice the amount of wages denied them under the approved schedules Andrews warned against ill advised suits He expressed confidence that the statutory minimum minimum min mm- wage would not become the prevailing pay but instead would lead to a general rise in wage lev lev- els Our experience with state minimum minimum min mm- wage laws proved that the minimum does not become the maximum maximum maximum max max- despite the loud forebodings forebodings forebodings ings of opponents of that type of legislation he said He announced that enforcement would rest largely in the hands of business men themselves rather than on a large force of ot field in inspectors inspectors inspectors in- in from Washington The law authorizes creation of industry committees which may recommend higher wage levels than i ithe the statute provides If they do donot donot donot not curtail employment Andrews may approve them Acts to Quiet Fears He sought recently to quiet any fears that the statute would cause a general price rise He predicted that if any increase occurred It would be slight and justified Andrews has advocated that states pass legislation to raise the standards standards standards stand stand- ards of intrastate commerce on a apar apar apar par with the federal act The latter termed by President Roosevelt necessary to extend the frontiers of social progress was waa enacted last spring after a long congressional battle |