CONDITION OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 1935 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C. The committee met in the hearing room at 10:20 a. m., Hon. Hatton W. Sumners (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. I presume you all know this meeting this morning is for the considering of Senate 3055. (The bill under consideration is as follows:) [S. 3055, 74th Cong. 1st scss.] AN ACT To provide conditions for the purchase of supplies and the making of contracts, loans, or grants by the United States, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in connection with all or any purchases of or contracts for construction, articles, materials, supplies, equipment, or services, except professional services, made, extended, or modified on or after the effective date hereof, by any executive department, independent establishment, or other agency or instrumentality of the United States, by the District of Columbia, or by any corporation all the stock of which is beneficially owned by the United States (all the foregoing being hereinafter designated as "agencies of the United States "), there shall be required to be included in the proposal or contract a representation or agreement that all persons employed by the principal contractor in classes of employment described specifically or by reference in the invitation to bid, while engaged in the construction, or the production or furnishing of articles, materials, supplies, equipment, or services, in connection with, or which may be identified as part of the subject matter of, the purchase or contract have since the effective date of this Act been paid not less than such minimum rates of pay and employed not to exceed such maximum hours as on May 26, 1935, were specified in the codes of fair competition and amendments thereto (subject, however, to any stays, exemptions, or exceptions theretofore issued or granted and then operative under Executive, administrative, or other applicable orders, rules, or regulations) approved pursuant to section 3 (a) and/or section 2 (b) of Title I of the National Industrial Recovery Act approved June 16, 1933, purporting to apply to their respective trades or industries, or as were specified in the President's Reemployment Agreement or approved substitutions therefor, if any, where there were on May 26, 1935, no approved codes of fair competition for such trades or industries, and further that they will be paid not less than such minimnum rates of pay and employed not to exceed such maximum hours as shall be designated specifically or by reference in the invitation to bid, and that no person under sixteen years of age and no convict labor has been on or after the effective date hereof or will be employed by the principal contractor in the construction, or the production or furnishing of articles, materials, supplies, equipment, or services, in connection with, or which may be identified as part of the subject matter of, the purchase or contract. SEC. 1-A. There shall also be included in every contract entered into pursuant to section 1 a covenant that the principal contractor will obtain from every 1 subcontractor or supplier of such articles, materials, supplies, equipment, or services as may be identified as part of the subject matter of the principal contract, a written representation or agreement that all persons employed by such subcontractor or supplier in classes of employment described specifically or by reference in the invitation to bid issued by the agency of the United States, while engaged in carrying out the subcontract, or in the production or furnishing of articles, materials, supplies, equipment, or services, in connection with, or which may be identified as part of the subject matter of, the purchase or contract, have since the effective date of this Act been paid not less than such minimum rates of pay and employed not to exceed such minimum hours as on May 26, 1935, were specified in the codes of fair competition and amendments thereto (subject, however, to any stays, exemptions, or exceptions theretofore issued or granted and then operative under Executive, administrative, or other applicable orders, rules, or regulations), approved pursuant to section 3 (a) and/or section 2 (b) of Title I of the National Industrial Recovery Act approved June 16, 1933, purporting to apply to their respective trades or industries, or as were specified in the President's Reemployment Agreement or approved substitutions therefor, if any, where there were on May 26, 1935, no approved codes of fair competition for such trades or industries, and that they will be paid not less than such minimum rates of pay and employed not to exceed such maximum hours of labor as shall be described specifically or by reference in such invitations to bid, and that no person under sixteen years of age and no convict labor has been or after the effective date hereof will be employed by such subcontractor or supplier in the carrying out of the subcontract or in the production or furnishing of articles, materials, supplies, equipment, or services in connection with, or which may be identified as part of the subject matter of, the principal contract. SEC. 2. In all or any contracts or agreements made, extended, or modified hereafter by agencies of the United States for a loan (including Federal Reserve bank industrial loans) or grant of funds or labor to any private person or corporation, there shall be included a representation or agreement that his or its employees engaged in the operations involving the expenditure of funds so loaned or granted or the use of such labor have since the effective date of this Act been paid not less than such minimum rates of pay and employed not to exceed such maximum hours as on May 26, 1935. were specified in the codes of fair competition and amendments thereto (subject, however, to any stays, exemptions, or exceptions theretofore issued or granted and then operative under Executive, administrative, or other applicable orders, rules, or regulations), approved pursuant to section 3 (a) and/or section 2 (b) of Title I of the National Industrial Recovery Act approved June 16, 1933, purporting to apply to their respective trades or industries, or as were specified in the President's Reemployment Agreement or approved substitutions therefor, if any, where there were on May 26, 1935 no approved codes of fair competition for such trades or industries and that during the expenditure of the funds so loaned or granted or during the utilization of such labor they will be paid not less than the minimum rates of pay and employed not more than the maximum hours of labor as shall be specified in such contract for loan or grant and that no person under sixteen years of age and no convict labor has been on or after the effective date hereof or will be employed in the carrying out of such operations or in the production or furnishing of articles, materials, supplies, equipment, or services in connection therewith; and a further covenant that the borrower or grantee will require a similar written representation or agreement from those with whom it contracts or from whom it makes purchases of articles, materials, supplies, equipment, or services in connection with the carrying out of projects or operations financed wholly or in part with the funds so loaned or granted or in connection with which such labor is used: Provided, That this section shall not apply to loans to financial institutions where the funds are commingled with the funds of the borrower and used for general business purposes. SEC. 2-A. In all or any contracts or agreements made, extended, or modified hereafter, by agencies of the United States for the loan or grant of funds or labor to any State, Territory, possession, including subdivisions and agencies thereof, municipality, and the District of Columbia, there shall be included a representation or agreement by the borrower or grantee, that it will require a representation or agreement from those with whom it contracts or from whom it makes purchases of articles, materials, supplies, equipment, or services in connection with the projects or operations financed or carried out wholly or in part with funds or labor so loaned or granted to it, that all persons employed by them in classes of employment described specifically or by reference in the contract or agreement for the loan or grant by the United States or any agency thereof, while engaged in the carrying out of the projects or operations, or in the production or furnishing of articles, materials, supplies, equipment, or services which shall be used in connection therewith have, since the effective date of this Act, been paid not less than such minimum rates of pay and employed not to exceed such maximum hours as on May 26, 1935, were specified in the codes of fair competition and amendments thereto (subject, however, to any stays, exemptions, or exceptions thereto issued or granted and then operative under Executive, administrative, or other applicable orders, rules, or regulations), approved pursuant to section 3 (a) and/or section 2 (b) of Title I of the National Industrial Recovery Act approved June 16, 1933, purporting to apply to their respective trades or industries, or as were specified in the President's Reemployment Agreement or approved substitutions therefor, if any, where there were on May 26, 1935, no approved codes of fair competition for such trades or industries, and will be paid not less than such minimum rates of pay and employed not to exceed such maximum hours of labor as shall be designated specifically or by reference in such contract or agreement for loan or grant, and that no person under sixteen years of age and no convict labor has been on or after the effective date hereof or will be employed by them in the carrying out of such projects or operations or in the production of articles, materials, or supplies or the furnishing of services in connection therewith: Provided, however, That where any borrower or grantee of funds or labor directly carries out the projects or operations wholly or in part with the funds or labor so loaned or grant to it, then, and in that event, all persons in classes of employment described specifically or by reference in the contract or agreement for the loan or grant, especially employed by the borrower or grantee to carry out such projects or operations, shall be paid not less than such minimum rates of pay and employed not to exceed such maximum hours of labor as shall be designated specifically or by reference in such contract or agreement for loan or grant, and no person under sixteen years of age and no convict labor shall be employed in the carrying out of such projects or operations. SEC. 2-B. There shall also be included in every contract or agreement for loan or grant entered into pursuant to sections 2 and 2-A a covenant that the principal contractor of the borrower or grantee will be required to obtain from every subcontractor or supplier of articles, materials, supplies, equipment, or services which may be identified as part of the subject matter of the principal contract, a written representation or agreement that all persons employed by such subcontractor or supplier in classes of employment described specifically or by reference in the contract or agreement for loan or grant while engaged in carrying out the subcontracts, or in the production or furnishing of articles, materials, supplies, equipment, or services in connection with, or which may be identified as part of the subject matter of, the principal contract, have since the effective date of this Act been paid not less than such minimum rates of pay and employed not to exceed such maximum hours as on May 26, 1935, were specified in the codes of fair competition and amendments thereto (subject, however, to any stays, exemptions, or exceptions, theretofore issued or granted and then operative under Executive, administrative, or other applicable orders, rules, or regulations), approved pursuant to section 3 (a) and/or section 2 (b) of Title I of the National Industrial Recovery Act approved June 16, 1933, purporting to apply to their respective trades or industries, or as were specified in the President's Reemployment Agreement or approved substitutions therefor, if any, where there were on May 26, 1935, no approved codes of fair competition for such trades or industries, and will be paid not less than such minimum rates of pay and employed not to exceed such maximum hours of labor as shall be designated specifically or by reference in such contract or agreement for loan or grant, and that no person under sixteen years of age and no convict labor has been on or after the effective date hereof or will be employed by such subcontractor or supplier in carrying out the subcontract or in the production or furnishing of articles, materials, supplies, equipment, or services as may be identified as part of the subject matter of the principal contract. SEC. 3. Every representation or agreement made pursuant to the provisions of this Act by a principal contractor, borrower, grantee, subcontractor, or supplier, shall provide: (1) That any breach or violation thereof shall render the party responsible therefor liable to the United States as and for liquidated damages in— (a) a sum equal to twice the difference between the amount required to be paid to employees, including the amount required to be paid for overtime in excess of the maximum hours designated in the invitation for bids, and the amount actually paid; (b) the sum of $10 per day with respect to each person under sixteen years of age employed in violation of any representation or agreement. (2) That the exaction or acceptance of any refunds ("kick-backs") of wages in any form whatsoever, from employees shall render the party exacting or accepting same liable to the United States as and for liquidated damages in a sum equal to five times the amount of such refund: Provided, That allowance shall be made for any penalty imposed on account of the same act or transaction and collected under any other Act of Congress; (3) That any breach or violation thereof shall entitle the other contracting party to cancel the contract with respect to which the representation or agreement is made, and to make open-market purchases or have the work completed, charging any additional cost to the party responsible for the breach or violation; (4) That the principal contractor shall, if directed by the contracting officer upon the recommendation of the President, cancel any subcontract for a breach by the subcontractor of his written representation or agreement, and failure on the part of the principal contractor so to cancel shall subject his contract to cancelation; (5) That the representatives of any agency charged with the administration of this Act may enter upon the premises of any borrower, grantee, contractor, subcontractor, or supplier for the purpose of obtaining information necessary for the administration of the provisions of this Act and that the borrower, grantee, contractor, subcontractor, or supplier will furnish upon request, duly authenticated or certified copies of his pay roll and such other relevant records. as may be requested by any duly authorized representative of any agency charged with administration of this Act. SEC. 4. Any sums due to the United States by virtue of the foregoing section if not withheld from any amounts due upon any contracts may be recovered in suits brought in the name of the United States by the Attorney General. Sums withheld or recovered shall be held in a special deposit account, and shall be applied, on order of the President to payment of deficiency in wages to employees who have been paid less than the minimum rates of pay and on account of whose services such sums were withheld or recovered: Provided, That no claims by employees for such payments shall be entertained unless made within one year from the date of the notification to the supplier or contractor of the withholding or recovery by the United States of such sums: Provided, however, That nothing herein contained shall authorize or permit any such claims to be prosecuted against the United States or any agency thereof, at law or otherwise, to obtain or recover any funds which are collected, collectible, deducted, or deductible under the provisions of this Act. SEC. 5. Upon his own motion, or on complaint of a breach or violation of a representation, agreement, or covenant made as herein provided, the President shall have the power to hold hearings and to issue orders requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence. Witnesses shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the United States. In case of contumacy, failure, or refusal by any person to obey such an order, any District Court of the United States or of any Territory or possession, or the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, within the jurisdiction of which the inquiry is carried on, or within the jurisdiction of which said person who is guilty of contumacy, failure, or refusal is found, or resides or transacts business, upon the application by the President, shall have jurisdiction to issue to such person an order requiring such person to appear before the President, to produce evidence if, as, and when so ordered, and to give testimony relating to the matter under investigation or in question; and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by said court as a contempt thereof; and the President shall have the power to make findings of fact after notice and hearing, which findings shall be conclusive upon all agencies of the United States, and if supported by the evidence, shall be conclusive upon review by the courts, and the President shall have the power, and is hereby authorized, to make such decisions based upon findings of fact as are deemed to be necessary to enforce the provisions of this Act. 1 |