Evening star., 1934-06-16
MEDIATION BOARD
MEASURE PASSED
House Acts on Bill Aimed to
Prevent Spread of
Strikes.


gaining disputes.
Action was taken without a record
vote and the measure was sent to the
Senate
Enactment is demanded by the
administration before adjournment.
The measure was brought to the
floor by Representative Byrns, the
Democratic leader. under procedure
requiring unanimous consent
The Republicans demanded an eX-
planation of the measure, and, after
brief discussion, it was put to a vote
by Speaker Rainey and passed al
most before the members realized it.
Mapes Asks Explanation.
Representative Mapes, Republican,
of Michigan, pressed Byrns for more
explanation and the Democratic leader
said:
From reading the measure, don't
think it does any more than re-enact
powers the President already has"
The measure authorizes the Presi-
dent to establish boards to investi-
gate tissues, facts, practices or ac-
tivitieS of employers or employees in
any controversies" growing out of the
N. r. A. or which threaten to inter-
fere with interstate commerce.
Chairman Connery Of the Labor
Committee said the American Fedora
ton of Labor had preferred the orig
inal Wagner bill, but would accept
the modification.
Clause Held Intact.
At the insistence of President Roose-
velt. a clause in the measure con-
strued as preserving the permissive
right Of union organizations to bargain
collectively in wage and hour negotia-
tions was held intact.
Senator Robinson of Arkansas, the
Democratic leader. formally intro
duced the measure late yesterday.
The Republican floor leader, Senator
McNary of Oregon, said the measure
as introduced was satisfactory to the
regular Republicans.
Independent Republicans. however.
voiced opposition to the substitute
and said they would demand passage
of the original labor disputes bill in
troduced by Senator Wagner, Demo-
crat, of New York.
Senator La Toilette of Wisconsin,
one Of the independent group, prompt
ly offered the Wagner bill when Rob-
inson introduced the administration
measure.
La Toilette said In statement:
II do not expect to delay the ad-
journment longer than necessary to
offer my substitute and debate it
briefly"
Substitute Considered.
The Senate Labor Committee i'm
mediately began consideration of the
substitute proposal and reported 1t to
the Senate within an hour.
President Roosevelt told reporters
he had no objection to the Republic
an amendment proposing that the
life of the suggested act, together
with the special boards to be named
by the President to investigate labor
disputes and hold secret workers elec-
tions, be limited to one year.
The Chief Executive said, however,
he did have very definite objection
to any proposal to eliminate the word
organizations" from the provision in
the substitute bill covering collective
bargaining
The section to which he referred
reads:
ANY board so established is hereby
empowered, when it shall appear in
the public interest, to order and con-
duct an election by a secret ballot
OF any of the employees of any en-
ployers, to determine by what person
or persons or organization they desire
to be represented in order to insure
the right of employees to organize and
to select their representatives for the
purpose of collective bargaining as
defined in section Ia
Position of President.
The President made it clear he be-
lieved that section of the national in
dustrial recovery act provided the
workers with a free hand in selecting
their representatives, whether in
dividuals or organizations. He like
wise was emphatic in his belief that
employers must treat with workers or
organizations so selected
The subject of minority representa-
tion in collective bargaining was re-
garded by him as a matter to be
worked out in individual cases. He
believes instances exist where neither
employer nor employe desire such a
set-up and that in these cases law
should not force it upon them.
There was no comment from the
white House on the proposal for spe-
clal boards endowed with broad DOW
ers made by William Green, president
OF the American Federation of Labor.
at the Pittsburgh meeting of the steel
workers.
Although the regular Republicans of
the Senate subscribed to the final
form OF the administrations bill,
McNary agreed that yesterdays
actions by the independent Republi-
cans might cause trouble on the floor.
Senator Wagner Appointed.
Senator Wagner remained out of
the controversy, but he was under
stood to have been keenly disappoint-
ed at the apparent intention to shelve
his bill. The Wagner measure re-
ceived the support of the American
Federation of Labor, but was assailed
by such industrial organizations as
the National Association of Manufac-
turers and the Chamber of Commerce
of the United States.
OPPOSED BY STEEL INDUSTRY.