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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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It was as good as we could make it on the basis of what we knew and what we thought was right and proper. The draft of it was pretty good. It had been canvassed probably with Healey. I don't think we canvassed it with Black, because, by common consent, the Black-Connery bill had been sort of put on the shelf when the NRA was born. But, of course, as soon as NRA died Black began advocating again that we back his bill, which would be a sound, solid piece of legislation, not subject to the criticisms of the NRA.

I brought the wage-hour bill up with the President privately, showed him the draft of the bill, taught it to him, so to speak. He thought it was all right and it suited him. I said, “Well, now, when do we get it introduced and how do you want it introduced?”

He said, “Let's not decide that yet. Let's just let it wait a while. Let it ride a while.”

I decided to do what I sometimes did, mention it in Cabinet meeting, so that he and I would not be the only people who knew that there was a wage and hour bill ready. It wasn't done with any unfair desire to press him, but just to let it be known in a broader circle. So I brought it up in Cabinet meeting. I said, “As you know, Mr. President, this bill is ready and





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