Evening star., 1934-06-15
ACCORD ON LABOR
BOARD BILL SEEN
Leaders Confer With Ro0Se.
welt to Speed Measure
in Congress.
By the Associated Press.

sional leaders neared an understand
ing today on Labor Board measure
which the Executive wants enacted
this session.
After a long White House confer
ence, Senator Robinson, Democratic
leader. told reporters:
Negotiations are continuing and I
hope they will reach q consummation
in the immediate future"
The legislation provides for appoint
ment Of conciliation boards to settle
disputes such as the threatened steel
strike.
1t was generally believed Robinson
took back to Capitol Hill a draft of a
modified measure seeking to bring
about an understanding among the
divergent groups.
Roosevelt Insists.
With Roosevelt insisting upon the
labor legislation, Robinson withheld
q prediction on adjournment Of Con-
gress- He said he continued to hope
for adjournment by tomorrow night,
but added it was doubtful"
Secretary Perkins, Hugh s. johnson,
industrial administrator; Donald Rich
berg, counsel for the N. r. A., and
Senator Wagner (Democrat) of New
York, chairman Of the Presidents
Special Labor Board and author of
the labor bill, participated in the
White House session.
Senate Republicans agreed today
upon three changes In the bill and
planned to submit them TO Demo-
cratic leaders later in the day. If
found acceptable, Senator Robinson,
the majority chieftain, will introduce
the ball Immediately.
Senator McNary, the Republican
leader, described the amendments as
mot material" and said the most
important one would limit the author
ity for the proposed labor boards to
provisions of section IA of the re-
covery act and the official interpre-
tations that have been placed upon it
The section pertaining to collective
bargaining, has been interpreted by
officials as containing nothing to as
sure closed shop.
Action Tomorrow Likely.
McNary said the bill, II introduced
today, would be taken up tomorrow
1t would not be necessary to send it
to committee first, he said.
While Democratic leaders have been
hoping for a quick agreement on the
labor bill in view OF the threatened
steel strike and the desire to adjourn
Congress by tomorrow night, McNary
indicated rough and tumble" fight
was In prospect over the legislation.
Several Republican independents are
dissatisfied with the new measure and
have demanded that Congress remain
In session to pass the original Wagner
bill.
Meanwhile, the substitute for the
Wagner labor bill was criticized by the
American Civil Liberties Union as "the
severest blow to organized labor yet
proposed"
Sees Employers Aid.
In q statement the union asserted
the proposal would be "a weapon in
the hands Of employers to crush"
labor.
To Henry I. Hartman, president Of
the United States Chamber of Com
merce, 1t is "a most dangerous meas
ure";; to william Green, president of
the American Federation of Labor, 1t
is vague and devoid of clarity in
purpose, scope and meaning"
Some independent Republicans pre-
ferred the original Wagner labor dis
putes bill, for which the new resolu-
ton Is q substitute.
The bills high spot is a provision
the President to appoint
boards to hold secret workers elections
for collective bargaining in industry
But business centered its attack on
the section giving the board power to
law down such rules as may be
to carry out the provisions
Of this resolution" Hartman said
that meant "the sky would be the
limit"
Drafted as Substitute.
The administration-faced by the
threat Of q general steel strike-drew
the resolution to substitute for the
Wagner bill. Leaders were afraid the
latter measure, surrounded by o storm
Of controversy, would delay adjourn
ment indefinitely.
Senator Borah Of Idaho, independ-
ent Republican, objected to the board
provision, in addition to declaring
generally that the intent Of the reso-
luton would make for trouble rather
than industrial peace" He said Con-
gress should stay in session. and pass
the original Wagner bill.
The regular Republicans, in their
conference consideration Of the reso-
luton yesterday, were reported to
have at first inserted provision def
nftely mentioning the closed shop
argument and then to have modified
it with q subsequent proposal.
The section covering the holding of
secret elections was virtually un-
touched by the committee Of five
Republicans named by their col
leagues TO whip into shape the
The section providing for q $1,000
fine, one year imprisonment, or both,
for violators was changed to insert the
words knowingly and willfully."
The minority party members pro-
posed an amendment to fix the ex-
piration date Of the measure for