ANOTHER DEFEAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23026, 2 May 1938, Page 9

ANOTHER DEFEAT

AMERICAN PRESIDENT WAGES AND HOURS BILL THE ANTI-TRUST CAMPAIGN GRAVE ECONOMIC RECESSION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 1, 5.5 p.ai.) WASHINGTON, April 30 President Roosevelt's New Deal programme received another defeat when the Rules Committee of the House of Representatives, disregarding a virtual mandate from the President,' voted to kill the new Wages and Hours Bill in committee for the remainder of the present session. Leading supporters of the Administration immediately began a movement to discharge the committee and force the measiire to the floor of the House, but it is believed that the time available is not sufficient in the present session, which is expected to terminate on June 1. Study of Problems President Roosevelt sent a message to Congress asking for an appropriation of £125,000 for a comprehensive study of anti-trust problems and a special £50,000 appropriation for expanded enforcement of the present trust laws. The message stated that seven specific problems required the attention of Congress, the principal ones beinc the improvement of the present anti-trust procedure, scrutiny of mercers and their interlocking relationships, and scrutiny\of investment trusts and bank holding companies.

"Unhappy events abroad," continued the President, "have taught us two simple truths about the liberty of democratic people. Firstly, democracy's liberty is xinsafc if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than the State itself. Decline of National Income "Secondly, it becomes unsafe if the business system does not provide employment and does not produce or distribute goods in such a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living, Both these lessons hit "home." Mr. Roosevelt cited statistics for 1935-36 showing that 47 per cent of all families and individuals living alone had incomes below £250 a year. Tho Federal Relief Administrator, Mr. H. L. Hopkins, states that the national income decreased by £3,000,000.000 in the last six months and 3,000,000 men were, thrown out of work. He expressed the opinion that this was tho fastest decline in the .history of the country. OCEAN VACATION PRESIDENT 'ROOSEVELT TRIP ON A CRUISER MAY VISIT WEST INDIES (Received May 1 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 30 President Roosevelt sailed from Charleston on board the cruiser Philadelphia for an ocean vacation, which may take him as far south as the West Indies. The destroyer Fanning accompanied the cruiser for tho purpose of acting as communication vessel. Ihe trip is expected to last five or six days. NAVAL PROGRAMME NEW BATTLESHIPS CONGRESS GRANT SOUGHT WASHINGTON, April 29 President Roosevelt has sent a message to Congress asking for additional appropriation of 25.597,000 dollars to enable a start to be made with the construction of two more battleships. Thus, there is a likelihood that six dreadnoughts will be on the way in January, 1939, not counting three contemplated under the Naval Bill now being debated in the Senate. WAGES REDUCTION AMERICAN RAILWAYS . CHICAGO. April 29 The American Association of Railway Companies has decided to reduce wages by 15 per cent as from July 1. The estimated saving is 250,000,000 dollars annually. "The present financial condition of the~~railways is more desperate than in 1932, when a 10 per cent reduction was accepted voluntarily by the employees," says an official statement.