Evening star., 1933-07-31
Will Strive to
Keep Bargain
ing Method.
ACTION HAILED
BY MISS PERKINS
40 Hours Declared
Limit on Minimum
Working Week.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated PreSS.
The company union," peren-
nial source of conflict between
organized labor and the great
steel makers, was eliminated to-
day from the code proposed by
that industry at the insistence
of Hugh S. Johnson, the recov-
cry administrator, but the manu-
facturers served emphatic notice
they will make every effort to
continue this method OF dealing
with their employees.
Hardly had hearings begun In
a hall packed with perspiring
spectators, than Robert P. La
mont, Secretary Of Commerce
under President Hoover and now
president of the American Iron
& Steel Institute, announced the
industry was ready to eliminate
the much-disputed section de-
signed for perpetuation OF the
company union.
While it is probably a border
line case, it seems to me that
matter is inappropriate in that
particular section of this code,
which contains the mandatory
provisions of the recovery law,
johnson had said as he spraWled
in a huge leather-cushioned chair.
Lamont Discloses Views.
Lamont stood c.ose by, tall, erect and
horid.
II believe the section can be omitted
from the code without materially aItei-
ing it." Lamont said. Il am willing TO
recommend that it be omitted and
believe that the industry will adopt my
recommendation.
TT should be distinctly understood,
however, that the omission OF the sec
tion does not imply any change in the
attitude of the industry on the two
points therein referred to; that the in
dustry believes that the employe rep
resentation plans now In erect at ltS
plants are desired by its employees; that
the members of the industry will
naturally do everything in their power
to preserve the satisfactory relation
ships now existing with their employees,
and that the section will be omitted 1or
the sole purpose Of avoiding the neces-
sity of considering at this hearing any
questions that are not fundamental 10
the code"
Shortly thereafter, leaders in the in
dustry voted in a quick, informal meet
ing to throw out the controverted mat
ter, and they were congratulated py
Secretary Perkins amid applause.
Called Best Method.
The company union section OF the
code had asserted belief on the part
of the manufacturers that this pro-
vtded the best method OF dealing with
their employees.
Beyond that it outlined plan Tor
employe representation in such unions
with a stipulation that the final de-
cision in all disputes should rest with
the highest officer Of the company IN
volved.
with the elimination Of these para
graphs, the code contained only wnat
the recovery law specifies as relative to
the freedom OF the workers to join or
form whatever unions they please.
Lamont Presents Views.
At the opening of the hearing. La
mont said:
"On less than 40-hour week, the
industry positively could not operate the
mills and meet any demands upon them
materially in excess of present produc-
tions. and such demands could not be
met with present available forces on
rate of operation equal to the average
of 1929-1930.
I'm submitting these conclusions we
have not overlooked the possible sug-
gestion that the necessary number OF
men might be drawn from unemployed
individuals in a given locality who are
not included among those who normally
look to the steel companies for employ
ment. The answer to this is two-fold:
First, persons who were engaged in
other industries and who have lost their
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