Evening star., 1937-04-05
BYRNES BRCADENS
BILL AMENDMENT
ON SIT" STRIKES
Substitute Directed Spe-
officially at "Stay-|ns" in
All Industries.
ROBINSON OPPOSED
TO NEW PROPOSAL
Says Issue Should Be considered
on Merits Apart From
Coal Measure.
b the Associated Press.

o5 CIt HSSUCldltu FItSS.
Senator Byrnes, Democrat, of
South Carolina today withdrew his
controversial anti-sit-down strike
amendment to the GuffeyVinson coal
bill and offered substitute directed
specifically at sit-doWns
Byrnes' new proposal would add to
other declarations of labor policy
in the bill a statement that 1T is
the sense of Congress that the So
called sit-doWn strike is illegal and
contrary to public policy"
The first amendment has been di-
fected technically only against sit
downs in the coal industry.
The new one, broader in scope,
would have the restriction that Con-
gress ''only presumes to speak for
strikes in industries" within the juris-
diction of the Federal Government.
Applied to Coal Industry.
The amendment which Byrnes Of
fered last week and which resulted
In prolonged debate when an effort
was made to send it to committee
did not specifically limit the anti
sit-down declaration to industries
within Federal jurisdiction, but was
applicable exclusively to the coal in
dustry.
It did not mention the sit-down di-
rectly, but would have made it
against public policy for a coal en-
ploye to remain on his employers
property after having ceased to work
there and after having been served
with written notice to leave.
Byrnes acted after leaders had pre-
dicted, over the week end, that the
Senate eventually would vote a
sharp denunciation of the new strike
technique.
Robinson Seeks Withdrawal.
Majority Leader Robinson imme-
diately sought withdrawal OF Byrnes'
new proposal, arguing that the Sit
down issue ought to be considered on
its merits" apart from the coal con-
troll bill
He promised that if the two issues
were separated he would support de-
bate Of the sit-down question as soon
as the coal bill was out of the way.
Robinson declared "laWlessness is
not confined to the employees alone"
and that ''employers also have resort
ed to practices not founded in law or
sound public policy"
ANY declaration We may make
should consider these facts" he con-
tended, adding that some employers
were now following "well-knoWn'
practices which ARE not calculated to
promote peace in the labor world"
Bill Offered in House.
While the fight over this question
was getting under way in the Senate,
Representative Hoffman, Republican,
Of Michigan, introduced in the House
q bill to make illegal all sit-down
strikes in interstate or foreign COM
merce.
He would force all unions in inter-
state or foreign commerce to register
with the Secretary Of Labor elect their
officers by popular vote and submit
financial reports yearly.
The unions also would be subject
to execution of judgments and be
denied any right to seize property.
Hoffman proposed a maximum
penalty of $1,000 fine or one year in
Jail, or both, for violations
At the same time, he issued a
statement charging Gov. Frank Muir
ply, of Michigan. with standing be-
hind the lawless element in the
strikes" Murphy served as an arbiter
in Michigan's automobile sit-down
strike.
Explains Substitution.
Byrnes, explaining his substitution
action in the Senate, said he offered
the new amendment to meet objections
Of Senators who wanted condemnation
of sit-doWns to apply to all inter-
state industries, rather than to coal
alone.
Robinson warned the Senate il
Byrnes refused to withdraw his new
amendment he, himself, would vote
against 1t. He said, there has been
fair progress in establishing peace in
(See SIT-DOWN, Page A-2.)