The Butler County press. [volume], December 30, 1932, Image 1

About The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946

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VOL. XXXII. No. 38
'i-.-c. v-"'.
New York City (ILNS)—Seeking
restoration of wage and hour stand
ards in industry, which Mrs. Mary
W. Dawson, chairman, declared have
"toppled like a house of cards," the
National Consumers' League rallied
several hundred representatives of
social agencies, state and United
States government bureaus at the
Hotel Allerton here to hear reports
on conditions in various sections and
take action on a program to bring
about better things.
Miss Mary Anderson, director, Wo
men's Bureau, United States Depart
ment of Labor, said that "practically
all organized workers are not work
ing over 48 hours a week," but ex
plained that "few women workers in
the country are organized, or are only
poorly organized."
5*he entire morning session of the
conference was devoted to a review
of the sweatshop situation in the
eastern states and industrial condi
tions general in other sections. Miss
Caroline Manning, of the U. S. Wo
mens Bureau, declared that she found
the contract system, which has been
the breeder of sweatshops, as far
south as Texas. Commissioner Ed
win A. Smith, of the Massachusetts
state department of labor and in
dustries Commissioner Charles 0.
Beale, of the Maine department of
labor and industry Miss Charlotte
Carr, deputy secretary of the Penn
sylvania department of labor and in
dustry Miss Helen Wood, of the Con
necticut department of labor, and
Mrs. Marion C. MacRobert, manag
ing editor of the Trenton, N. J. La
bor News, told the story of the sweat
shops. In the former states the aver
age wage rate was given as "five
or six dollars."
RAILROADS
Record Income Gains While
Agitating Wage Cuts
New York City (ILNS)—October
financial reports of railroads which
are now becoming available show
that some lines were able to achieve
net income for that month in excess
of that reported for the same month
last year, while the roads continue
to agitate for wage cuts.
The improvement is due to a larger
volume of freight handled by the
lines.
Records of cars loaded with freight
for October show that the Class One
lines as a whole received more than
600,000 cars daily during October.
In one week, the daily average of
loadings rose to 650,578 cars, the
highest weekly report for 1932. That
was in the week ended October 15.
In the preceding week loadings aver
aged 625,636 cars daily, and in the
week following the average was 642,
173 cars. During the whole month of
October, loadings were larger than
in any other month of the year*
Jn August and September, loadings
averaged less than 600,000 cars daily,
but more than 500,000 cars. In July
and June, the average was below
500,000 cars a day. These months
mark the lowest volume of freight
handled in many years.
Records of the American Railway
Association reveal that from Janu
ary 1 to November 19 the Class One
lines loaded 25,214,114 cars of freight
as compared with 33,817,668 in the
same months of 1931, and with 41
619,587 in the corresponding months
of.
1930.
SMOKED CALA
HAMS ..
«-4* -*1* CK Mttk II .1 tl'l
fSix Dollars That's Real Wages"
Labor Editor Tells League Meet
Marion 6. Macltotiert, in Battle Against Sweatshop,
Exhibits Pay Envelopes for $1.90 to $3.96, Reduced By
50-Cent Fake Union Deduction—Evil Widespread.
Saturday Specials
FRESH SHOULDER RIBS
Per Pound
FANCY BOILING BEEF
Per pound
1 Chicago Market Co.
Corner Front and High Sts. Telephone 4506
"When you talk about six dollars
you ai*e speaking of real wages," said
Mrs. MacRobert, who displayed a
sheaf of pay envelopes given to girls
employed in Trenton's sweatshops,
which bore figures ranging from $3.96
for a week's work down to $1.90 for
the same period. Each envelope had
had 50 cents deducted from it for
"dues" in a fake nnion, the deduction
being made by the bosses.
Miss Frances Perkins, state indus
trial commissioner of New York, who
made the final address of the morn
ing session, noted an increase in vio
lations of labor laws, and said as a
result of a campaign of education in
connection with enforcement of the
laws there had been "a responsive
and alert working group," which had
aided the New York department in
discovering violations.
Miss Caroline Manning, of the Wo
men's Bureau of the United States
Department of Labor reported that a
survey in Texas had shown that half
of the women industrially employed
in that state received less than $10
a week. She asked, "Who is paying
for the 'share-the-work' movement?"
Miss Frieda Miller, of the Women's
Bureau of the New York Department
of Labor, said that employes of "a
large hotel" here, "taken over by the
bankers," received a 10 per cent pay
cut, with the exception of the cham
bermaids, whose two-day vacation a
month was taken away and their $48
a month salaries were left intact.
Ways and means of action were
taken up in the afternoon.
The conference adopted a resolu
tion favoring the 44-hour week as the
maximum for women in industry, ex
clusive of those engaged in domestic
work and in agriculture. The confer
ence also approved the principle of
mandatory minimum wage laws.
EDUCATION!
Nashville (ILNS)—With an eight
cent total tax on gasoline, a filling
station owner got the bright idea to
explain to motorists where the money
went. He put up a placard reading:
Governor Horton 7 cents
Hoover I cent
Gas 6 cents
Freight 3 cents
Distribution 4 cents
Me 2 cents
Total 23 cents
Thus the multitude to whom 23
cents is a knockout blow found out
graphically the "why" of it and knew
where to place their kick.
AGAIN: HOW CAN A
GIRL LIVE?
New York City (ILNS)—Fortune,
the dollar-a-copy magazine, paints the
crash of domestic service wage stand
ards thus:
"You can have your garden taken
care of in Los Angeles for $1 a week.
You can get a dignified couple to run
your Commonwealth avenue house in
Boston for $80 a month. A Negro will
fry your chicken and do your washing
for $8 a month in Virginia. Any
where in the North you will find fair
ly well trained girls only too glad
to work at $5 a week, and less train
ed but willing girls anxious to do any
form of housework in return for
their room and board. These are gen
eral conditions, not isolated instances.
The whole domestic-service situation
has been demoralized, both as to
wages and as to hours."
9
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(Copyright, W. N. U.)
Washington, D. C. (ILNS)—Bat
tle of the kind that (disdains pop
guns and false motions is due to
open in the New Year if the Shan
non committee submits to the house
of representatives the kind of report
forecasted on the general subject of
government in business.
Unless there is radical change in
the trend of committee feeling it is
forecasted that the Shannon report
will urge taking the government out
of almost every kind of business in
which it now is engaged.
Principally the battle will come
over munitions making, but it will
not stop there. It will range over
a wide front, from cannons to cafe
terias.
Favor Munitions Makers
Righteous indignation has been
breathed by a portion of the com
mittee at the idea of such govern
ment service as cafeteria service,
even where government employes
must work where no privately owned
restaurant facilities are available. But
the big, high-powered indignation has
flared up at the idea that Uncle Sam
makes his own big guns and many
other war supplies. In the committee
it has been said that specifically the
Bethlehem Steel Company is being
robbed of work by government navy
yards and arsenals.
The Shannon committee is not rid
ing high and untroubled on its course
of throwing back to private industry
work now done by the government
with out profit and with the finest
of results in workmanship. There
has been some turn of opinion inside
the committee, it is reported. If the
majority insists upon too much ad
vocacy of the merits of private gun
building there may, it is said, be a
minority report. But it seems fairly
clear that a majority will go down
the line for dear old private profit.
Labor Against War Profits
The subject loomed large at the
recent A. F. of L. convention, and
even larger in the metal trades de
partment convention. The depart
ment adopted resolutions and then
introduced resolutions in the A. F.
of L. convention. These also were
adopted. As a result labor stands
solidly for taking all profit out of
the making of munitions and war
supplies, and for having the work
done, wherever possible, by the gov
ernment itself.
It is pointed out that there never
has been a scandal over munitions
made by the government in its own
plants.
If the Shannon report should come
in as generally predicted and as in
dicated by the questionings, the wit
nesses and statements by committee
members, it would effect every navy
yard and arsenal in the U. SM and
would change the flow of many com
modities, so that its effect would be
generally felt.
It is notable that the position as
cribed to the Shannon committee has
be^n. vigorously supported Jby the
i i
TIIK JU:TI,EJ{ COUNTY PIJESS
SHANNON REPORT WOULD
SHUT GOVERNMENT SHOPS
Sentiment Among House Committee Members Reported
Shifting, But Document is Expected to Favor Private
Interests—Labor Preparing for Last-Ditch Battle.
HAMILTON, OHIO, FRIDAY. DECEMBER 30, 1932
Time to Wind It Up
Hot Battle Impends to Block
Munitions Manufacturers
United States Chamber of Commerce,
the same organization that has
fought and is fighting for reduction
of pay of government employes.
Laying Plans for Contest
Labor's position, as laid down at
Cincinnati, is one of absolute oppo
sition to permitting any profit motive
in the making of munitions of war,
naval vessels or any equipment used
for militai-y or naval purposes. It
believes profit should get no chance to
foment either war or the enlarge
ment of military and naval estab
lishments.
If the Shannon report follows the
line which observers believe it will
follow upless minority opinion be
comes stronger than it now seems to
be, then the battle against its adop
tion and against its recommendations
will assume the proportions of a ma
jor conflict. It can be said that labor
is beginning its preparations for the
fight, and that it is intended that
everything humanly possible be done
to defeat the Shannon purposes.
The report was to have been sub
mitted on December 13, but on that
date the committee asked and was
granted an extension of time until
after the holiday recess, so that the
report now is looked for immediately
after January 1.
PROMPT ACTION
To Stabilize Coal Is Held
Imperative
Washington, D. C. (ILNS)—Stabil
ization of the bituminous coal indus
try will be an important subject for
action by congress 4t \thje coming
session, according to Ellis Searles,
representative of the United Mine
Workers of America, who is now in
Washington. A bill for this purpose,
known as the Davis-Kelly bill, already
is pending in the senate and house,
having been introduced at the last
session by Senator James J. Davis, of
Pennsylvania, and Representative
Clyde Kelly, also of Pennsylvania.
Hearings on this bill were held by a
sub-committee of the senate commit
tee on mines and mining last spring,
and the members of the sub-commit
tee made a divided report.
The Davis-Kelly bill proposes that
every coal company doing business in
interstate commerce shall obtain a
federal license from a commission
which the bill would create. Such
licensed coal companies in any field
may then form selling pools and joint
selling agencies for the purpose of
stabilizing production and marketing
of their output. The entire expense
of maintaining the commission and
administration of the law would bp
borne by the industry itself and not
by the government.
Regulatory Power Provided
The commission would have regula
tory power somewhat similar in char
actec- £q.4J^ Authority the iater-
I HOPE IT KfcEPy
PETTCR TIME
NEXT YEAR.
tate commerce commission over
transportation. Under the provisions
of the Davis-Kelly bill, coal miners
would have the right to organize and
deal collectively with their employ
ers in regard to wages and working
conditions.
While Senator Hatfield, of West
Virginia, chairman of the senate sub
committee, expressed disapproval of
the present Davis-Kelly bill, he said,
in his report:
"There is no occasion here to enter
into an academic discussion of the
merits of collective bargaining. I
dismiss the subject with the state
ment that its worth has been firmly
established.
"The present situation of the indus
try, unprofitable alike to owner and
workman, cannot fail to enlist the
sympathy of the legislator. The
workman is subjected to part time
employment and low wages and the
same condition affects the employes
of other industries. Apparently, his
position can only be improved through
the elevation of the industry as a
whole, and the increased demand for
coal is largely the solution and rests
upon a resumption of normal busi
ness. When a willing and efficient
workman cannot derive from his labor
a sufficient amount to maintain him
self and his family upon a decent
American scale of living, there is
something wrong with the industry in
which he is engaged.
"Now Is Time to Act"
Senator Davis, also a member of
the senate sub-committee, said in his
report:
"The so-called Davis-Kelly bill is
no hastily framed piece of legislation.
In its main principles it has been un
der consideration for years. The evils
it is designed to correct are well
known. The public has been patient
to the breaking point. It has granted
the industry years of grace to set its
house in order and the industry has
failed to do so. The regulation now
proposed is the only way out of an
intolerable situation, and now is the
time of all times to act. It is pos
sible, indeed, that prompt action in
the rehabilitation of the bituminous
industry may be the turning point to
ward general economic recovery."
No hearings have been held in the
house, but it is expected that the
committee on interstate commerce
will give early consideration to the
Davis-Kelly bill. Mr. Searles says the
United Mine Workers of America are
convinced that once the subject is
brought before both branches of con
gress for a vote a coal stabilization
measure will be promptly enacted.
Railroad Wage Is
In
Deadlock Stage
Chicago, 111. (ILNS)—Railroad
wage negotiations remained in a state
of near-deadlock through this week,
with the roads rejecting the latest
union proposal, for a one-year exten
sion of the 10 per cent deduction
agreement,
Through the whole proceeding: the
railroads have continued to seek
methods of jockeying into position to
bring about a permanent basic wage
reduction.
Thus far the union executives have
outmaneuvered the management rep
resentatives.
3
End Depression.
Washington.—The major basis for
ending the business depression is
higher wage rates and the shorter
work week, declared the Monthly
Survey of the American Federation
of Labor.
'How to put eleven million unem
ployed back to work and progress
ively raise living standards until our
people can buy the full product of
industry is the great question before
the American people," said the Sur
vey. "When we have solved this
problem, depression will be over and
we shall have established a sound
basis for future progress."
In criticism of owners and manag
ers of industry for their production
policies since the depression, the
Survey said:
'Since 1929 we have met the short
age of buying power by ireducfing
production. Men were laid off, buy
ing power reduced still further, and
we are now in the grip of the worst
depression in history. We have re
duced our production for each per
son in the population by more than
half, 51 per cent, and we are even
producing 36 per cent less per person
FIGHT
On Economy Act to Bitter
End Pledged By Green
Washington, D. C. (ILNS)—Labor
is in the fight to repeal the economy
act and will stay in until the fight
is won.
'If this sesion of congress fails to
right the wrong imposed upon gov
ernment employes, we are confident
some future session will do so," said
President William Green, of the A. F.
of L. Government employes through
out the United States are affected by
the terms of the economy act and
will be further affected if proposed
new wage-cut legilsation goes
through.
'The threat of a further reduction
in the pay of government employes
and the proposal that the so-called
furlough plan be continued is having
a most harmful effect upon the gen
eral unemployment situation through
out the nation," President Green con
tinuedl. "Its evil effect was reflected
in the failure of the recent commu
nity chest campaigns and in the de
cline in the volume of the sale of
goods by the merchants throughout
the nation. In the District of Colum
bia this depressed condition is espe
cially keen.
'Any salary-cutting plan forced
upon government employes is bound
tc create a bad psychological eondi-
Ambulance Service
Phone 35
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Higher Wages and Shorter
Hours Are Held Necessary
A. F. of L. Business Survey Says Jobs for 11,000,000 Idlfc
With Wages Large Enough to Buy Entire Output of
Labor Under Mass Production Must Be Provided tip
Robert G.Taylor Mortuary
Formerly
THE C. W. GATH CO.
fr
OUR NEW
YEAR'S WISH
FOR YOU
Is that each day will be one of peace
prosperity and plenty
THIRD 0"°^
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••'. '. -,v v\r. .«!? ^C*
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ONE DOLLAR PER TSAR
than in 1922."
Pointing out that before the de
pression those who managed our
manufacturing industries kept labor'*
buying power far below its increased
contribution to society in the output
of goods while increasing the buying
power of managers and owners much
beyond their contribution, the Sur
vey continued:
"Economic growth depends upon a
rising standard of living. Mass pro
duction must be accompanied with
mass buying to operate on a profit
table basis. It is possible even under
the present circumstances to raise
hourly wage rates while reducing
weekly work hours. But unless thi£
is accomplished we must look for
ward to a period of widespread un
employment and curtailed business.
"Every previous great depression
has been followed by expansion in
some industry which furnished buy
ing power and started business up
ward. Today we have no industry
capable of supplying this stimulus.
Expansion must come from a deliber
ate effort to create mass purchasing
power by raising wages and shorten
ing hours."
tion, paralysis in buying power, a de
cline in the volume of business and
increased unemployment. Its net re
sult is to add to the nation's distress
and to the sum total of human mis
ery.
"TKe American Federation of La
bor is definitely and unrelentingly op
posed not only to a further reduction
in the pay of government employes,
but also to a continuation of the pay
cut imposed upon them through the
so-called furlough plan adopted at the
last session of congress,
"Labor throughout the nation is
aroused in its opposition to the on
slaught which is being made upon the
wage and living standards of their
fellow-workers in the government
service. Labor everywhere regards
the fight of the employes of the fed
eral government against lowered
living standards as its fight. The
cause of the government employes is
labor's cause. The full moral and
political power of labor throughout
the entire country is being mobilized
in support of government employes
and against the wage-cutting policy
which some members of congress and
some representatives of the govern
ment seem determined to force upon
them."
No race of men consistently aver
ages above 5 ft. 10 in. in height, and
in only a few small tribes is the
average below 5 ft.
Funeral Directors
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Chairs and Tables Rented
17 So. Street
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