The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-06

CHARMED. II mas learned mucN, |
changed its views greatly.
What of its legislative gains?
/. It had forced the La Guardia-
Norris yellow dog contract law on
the statute books before Roosevelt
was elected.
2. 1t has forced enactment of the |
Wagner Labor Disputes Act. This
act gives labor right of self-organ-
ization and collective bargaining |
through its own agents. Under NRA
this right was contingent on the eX-
istence of a code. Now it is put into
the law. Certain unfair labor acts
are declared unlawful. Employers |
can not set up, finance, dominate, or
encourage company unions. They |
can not discriminate against en-
ployes for joining unions, can not
encourage or discourage them to
join any union, can not fire them
for making complaints to labor
boards.
Employers must deal with single
labor agency determined by maj or-
ity representation and can not split
labor into numerous groups by the
sO-called proportional representa-
ton plan. Secret ballots, summon
ing witnesses, ETC., are all provided
for and a Labor Relations board is
set up to administer the act. En-
ployers have practically announced
that they will ignore the act and
fight it in the courts as unconSti-
tutional.
3. The National Security Act is
considered a victory for organized
labor. 1t provides tor old-age pen
sions, unemployment insurance,
benefit payments for the blind,
cripples, children, maternity cases,
health and other activities.
The government says it will cover
26,800,000 ultimate benefciaries and
that there are 100000 ready TO
receive its fruits when effective. But
no one will collect anything under it
until 1942-seven years from now.
Old Age-Employes will be taxed
Y per cent on pay rolls, the amount
increasing yearly after 1889 until it
is 3 per cent. Employers, too, will
be similarly taxed until they pay 3
per cent? per cent tax on pay rolls
in all. The government will pay
SIS, but all payments are contin-
gent on states passing proper laws.
About 33 states have done this so
far.
Unemployment-The act provides
for unemployment insurance. This
will be built up out of taxes on en-
ployers alone based on pay rolls,
per cent in 1886, 2 per cent in 1888,
3 per cent in 1899. But no govern
ment funds will be paid to any per-
son unless his state passes the re-
quired legislation. Few states have
done this. Many have practically
said they would not do so.
The act is criticised by leftwing
critics because benefits are to be
built up out of taxes on pay rolls
rather than profits, and by many
economists because of the accumu-
-Uion of reserves. In any case it
is a beginning, putting the United
States on the road entered by lead
ing European countries over fifty
years ago.
4. The work relief hill providing
for $4,800000,O00 for public projects
is a measure sponsored and urged
by organized labor since the begin
MING Of the deOrpSSiOn
5. Congress has authorized the
government to send members to the
International Labor Organization.
This body is attempting to bring
about some equality in labor stand
ards throughout the world. This
and a sterilization of currencies
would do more to revive interna-
tional trade than any other possible
course
Now for the losses. l. The Su-
preme Court declared the Railway
Compulsory Retirement Act and its
pensions unconstitutional. Labor in
duced Congress in its closing hours
to re-enact this law to get around
the Supreme Courts objection, but
it must still face another court test.
2. The Supreme Court declared
the MIRA unconstitutional. This was
a serious blow to labor. Loss of
NRA itself was in reality no loss to
labor, rather a gain. But the
ground on which the decision partly
rested was serious. The court held
that Congress could not make laws
regulating industry unless it was
part of interstate commerce. but it
made such a narrow definition of
interstate commerce that one Won
ders if the Federal government can
reach any Of these great labor and
industrial problems by any means.
Will the security act stand up?
All this seems to mean that labor
will be driven to take a militant
stand for an amendment to the
Constitution to arm the national
government to reach its labor prob
lens.