The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-02-27

He declined further comment.
 however, pending a study of the decision.
 Officials of the Weirton Steel Company were hesitant to discuss the case in the absence of Ernest T. Weir, chairman of the National Steel Corporation board, who was reported in New York.
 Government Lawyers Prepare Washington. February 27 -- (UP) - Administration lawyers today considered plans for expedit- ing appeal of the governments de- feat in the Weirton steel case,
 which was regarded as having a vital bearing on the New Deals labor policies.
 Federal attorneys were reluctant to discuss their strategy pending study of Judge John P. Neilds' opinion, but 1t was believed they would attempt to carry the case directly to the supreme court and avoid going through the court of appeals.
 Observers believed the govern ment would find 1t necessary to ob. tain the earliest possible supreme court ruling because of the affect 1t would have on legislation to ex- tend MIRA.
 Legislation must be passed by June 16 unless MIRA is to die then. It would be extremely difficult for congress and the administration to determine what form this legislu. ton should take unless a supreme court decision on Section "A would be obtained by then.
 Organized labor, riding high in the senate row. would be strongly opposed to any MIRA extension measure that did not carry collec- tive bargaining provisions as least as strong as those contained in "A, pending also is the labor bill of Senator Robert F. Wagner, democrat, N. Y, which would and more explicit.
 The administration in several recent cases has sought and ob- tained supreme court permission to carry important issues directly to 1t, rather than awaiting cir cult court ruling. Awaiting argu- ment in the supreme court now IS the Belcher Lumber Code case testing power of the government to regulate hours and wages through MIRA.
 Justice Dept to Act
 Washington, Feb 27--(UP) -| Justice department officials today said they probably would appeal the Wilmington fed- cral court decision in the Weirton Steel case holding section "A os the National Recovery Act could not be applied to the steel cont pany.
 The decision of Judge John P. Yields that the Weirton company was not engaged in interstate com merce apparently would destroy of Section "A, the col- lective bargaining guarantee sec tion of the recovery act, to 6 ma jor part of American business.
 Officials said Attorney General Homer S. Cummings and his aides probably would meet this afternoon to decide their course in carrying the case to a higher court.
 IL was believed the government would ask the supreme court to take immediate Jurisdiction in or- der to hasten q final ruling. Other- wIse the case would have to be de- cided first in the circuit court of appeals.
 A definite ruling on the Wcirton case was considered imperative be- fore congress attempts to pass legislation extending MIRA, which | expires June 10.
 The government had asked for an injunction against the company to restrain 1t from alleged inter- ference with it's employees in se- lection of representatives for col lective bargaining. The government attacked the so-called Company unions" formed at the Weirton plants.
 Judge Yields refused to grant | teh injunction. He held that "com- rany unions" were legal under the act when they do not affect inter- state commerce.
 The ruling was a defeat for the government and organized labor as 1t has been charged that the company union" at the Weirton plants had been forced on workers instead Of allowing them to join the Amalgamated Association of Iron. Steel and Tin Workers.
 The government contended that the employees representation plan at the Weirton mills was in viola tion of section "A of the NRA in that 1t required workers to join the company union or lose their jobs and that they could not voice thelr bargaining opinions through Ia union group of their own choosing.