(The tables above referred to are as follows:)

TABLE I.-Distribution of workers in white-collar industries by straight-time wage rates, January 1944

Source: National War Labor Board, Wage Stabilization Division, July 1944.

TABLE II.-Percent of workers earning less than 65 cents an hour

TABLE III.—Average earnings in selected professions, 1943

1 This is based on a 40-hour week; actually the hours in these fields are generally longer and the hourly rate would be lower.

TABLE IV.-Budget for a working woman living at home

Source: New York State Department of Labor, September 1944.

TABLE V.-Wartime budget for white-collar worker (family of 4)
[All figures shown include the California retail sales taxl

Because of the demands of a wartime economy, the peacetime standard of goods and services for this family has been curtailed insofar as seemed resaonable and desirable. However, it was impossible to reduce the peacetime standard of consumption, plus wartime taxes and bond purchases, to the level established by the freezing order without encroaching upon such fundamentals as food, medical care, and life insurance, or proposing such unrealistic economies as foregoing all recreation or cutting the man's hair at home. The deficit must be made up by increased family income through pay for longer hours or through part-time work by other members of the family.

Automobile taxes and sales tax in effect Mar. 1 and excise tax in effect Apr. 1 are shown with the specific items on which they are levied.

Based on legislation in effect June 1, 1944, which reduced taxes on lower incomes. Takes into consideration community property law of California.

(Source: The Heller Committee for Research in Social Economics, University of California) March 1944

TABLE VI.-Hourly earnings of stenographers and general office clerks in selected cities, December 1943

TABLE VII.-Weekly clerical salary rates in 20 large cities

TABLE VIII.-Weekly clerical salary rates in New York City

Mr. RANDOLPH. Mr. Fisher, do you have any questions?

Mr. FISHER. I was interested in your statement that the minimum hourly rate substantially in excess of that proposed in the amendment is necessary. What would you regard as this substantial increase above the 75 cents which is necessary?

Mr. DURKIN. Well, our union has made a calculation that a decent, adequate livelihood for a man with a family is based on the equivalent of the Heller budget, made by the Heller committee of the University of California, which studied the needs of white-collar workers, and they calculated that as of 1943 price levels a white-collar worker with a family of four would need $70 a week.

On a basic minimum, however, we feel that a $30 per week minimum is absolutely the base below which it is practically impossible for anyone to get along, either single or with a family.

Mr. FISHER. To translate that into a minimum wage, what is your recommendation?

Mr. DURKIN. Now, on the basis of a 40-hour week, that would be the equivalent of 75 cents an hour, which would give $30 a week. Now, some white-collar industries, we must recognize, do not work 40 hours a week. They work only 372, 38, or 35. So 75 cents an hour there will not even provide $30 a week.

Mr. FISHER. Well, I wonder what you meant when you said that a minimum hourly rate substantially in excess of that proposed in the present amendments is necessary.'

Mr. DURKIN. That is because the 75 cents, and the $30 a week minimum we have calculated is a basic minimum really to cover a single worker, a young man, perhaps, or a young woman without family and dependents, and he can just about get by for $30.

Mr. FISHER. Then, I understand that your organization would be content with a 75 cents minimum.

Mr. DURKIN. We would be content with it, Mr. Congressman, because we believe it is probably the best we could get at present.

Mr. FISHER. Although I see you say you should have substantially more than that?

Mr. DURKIN. That is right. With the establishment of a 75-cent minimum, with collective bargaining growing throughout the whitecollar field and with the other factor we indicated, that is, the pressure of labor market once the 75-cent minimum is established, it will encourage employers to pay more than that where they can, and that would help to contribute not only to the 75-cent minimum, but would help in other cases in establishing more ample pay where it is required. Mr. FISHER. Now, you have made quite a study, it seems, of the minimum requirements of these various family groups and individuals. Have you also made a study of the ability of industry to pay these amounts that you say must be paid?

Mr. DURKIN. We have made a study to the extent possible of the fields in which we have collective-bargaining contracts.

Now, I pointed out that a large proportion of the white-collar people who receive less than 65 cents are in the fields of finance, insurance, and real estate. Now, real estate is not typical, and I will exclude that for the moment. But in the fields of finance and insurance, and other highly organized, highly integrated, big business, in many cases, whitecollar employment, the record of profits and increasing prosperity in