The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-02-06
CONGRESS TO
AIR views ON
NRA SUCCESS
Labor Board Moves Again
to End Deadlock in
Steel Industry
BY c. G.. NICOLET
United Press Staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON. Feb. 6. (UP).
The national labor board moved
into the Whirton Steel Co. dead
lock again last night, after SEN
ator Wagner. DEM. N. Y, chair
man, had announced definite plans
to ask congress for new NRA Ia
Dor legislation. Pc.
The federal trade commission
meanwhile was starting a con-
occasionally ordered inquiry into
operations of the steel and oil
codes in relation to the antitrust
laws. Oil Administrator Ickes
asked the house ways and means
committee to impose tax of one
fifth of a cent d barrel on oil to
paw the cost of operation of the
petroleum code authority.
Thus, for the first time, it be-
came almost certain that congress
at this session would have Il
chance to disclose it's views on the
recovery act and the way it Is
working. And despite the close
control that President Roosevelt
has maintained over the capitol
thus far, administration congress
sional leaders are not too happy
over the prospect.
Milton Hadley. general counsel
of the labor board, and James f.
Dewey of the labor department
left here last night for Weirton,
w. Va. to poll employees of the
Weirton Steel Co.. and see wheth-
er substantial number wanted
new election to pick representa-
tives for collective bargaining.
Reports from Weirton indicat-
ed that the company might seek
an injunction to prevent the poll
though the company denied it.
Once already the company has re-
fused to permit the labor board
to preside over an election, con-
tending that its own company
sponsored election-which chose
only company union delegates
was fair.
The issue here is identical with
that existing in many other NRA
disputes, and the American Iron
and Steel Institute last week pro
tested against any administration
action tending to eliminate COM
pany unions to which Wagner s
frankly opposed. The labor
boards power now is based en-
tirely upon executive orders as it
was given no authority under last
springs recovery act. Wagner's
bill will be designed to give it
statutory power. A complete
shakeup in the labor board and
revision of its methods of opera
ton also is being considered.
Wagner's bill is certain to stir bit
ter opposition among conserva-
tives.
The federal trade commission
inquiry is directed primarily at
price fixing. The commission IN
recent memorandum to the White
House charged the price features
of the steel code amounted to
revival of the Pittsburgh plus"
system once knocked out under
the Sherman antitrust law. SEN
ator Borah, Repn., Idaho. and
other old trust foes in the senate
charge that the codes tend to ere
ate monopolies and any support
they may get from the trade com
mission will lead to explosions m
..,
Much comment was caused by
an admission from the treasury
late yesterday, after previous de-
mails that the United States was
making an inquiry into the where
abouts of all stocks Of silver metal
held for speculation. Some OBJ
servers interpreted this as indicat-
ing that the administration plan
ned a move soon which would in
crease greatly the market price
of silver. The treasury refused to
discuss this or other interpreted
tions but did reveal that the price
of silver had risen 20 per cent
since the gold buying program
went into effect last October. .,
Majority Leader Robinson SAID