Evening star., 1938-12-21
0. 10 Renew
Fight 10 Revise
Contracts Act
WoIsh-HeoIey Law
Tops Legislative
Objectives
By JOHN C. HENRY.

John L. Lewis and the Congress
of Industrial Organizations served
notice today of intention to reopen
one of the most widely publicized
legislative battles of the last session
of Congress in renewal of efforts to
amend the Walsh-Healey Govern
ment Contracts Act to compel COM
pliance with the labor relations law
as condition of bidding for Gov
eminent business.
Approved by the Senate during
the last session, measure to this
effect was defeated by action of the
House Rules Committee after Mr..
Lewis and several of his associates
in the c. I. O. personally visited the
Capitol to urge support of individual
House members.
In announcing their decision to
make this measure mo. l" of their
legislative program. Lee Pressman,
general counsel of the c. I. O.. ex-
planned today that it is aimed at
forcing such corporations "as Beth
lehem Steel, Electric Boat and
Douglas Aircraft and many others
now profiting from fat Government
contracts to obey the law, and will
apply to any loan. subsidy or license
or purchase of gold and silver by the
Federal Government"
Other Fights Planned.
Although the Government con-
tracts measure tops the legislative
desires of the labor organization, a
fight also will be made, 1t was an
nounced, to gain approval Of the
following:
/. Legislative prohibition of use
OF National Guard units in labor
disputes, through curtailment OF
Federal grants.
2. Strict regulation of private
strikebreaking agencies and the sale
of munitions for strike use to pri-
vate concerns.
3. Increased appropriation for the
Senate Civil Liberties Committee
and establishment of some such
agency on permanent basis.
4. Anti-lynching legislation.
5. Abolition of State poll taxes.
6. Extension of the social Sc
curity program, the w. P. A., c. c..
c. and National Youth Administra-
ton.
7. A Federal health program along
lines indicated by the special COM
mittee named by President Roose-
welt to study this question.
Rights Sought for Seamen.
8. Maritime labor legislation, to
include extension of the system of
union hiring halls and further guar
antees Of collective bargaining rights
for seamen.
8. Extension of civil service status
to a greater proportion of Federal
employees.
10. Increased funds for Federal
Housing program.
State aff1liates of the c. I. o. will
press for comparable legislative pro-
grams in the State Assemblies, it
was announced.
With regard to the labor relations
law. Mr.. Lewis today reaf11rmed the
determination of the c. I. O. to de-
fend 1t against any revisions at this
time, position in contrast to that
decided upon yesterday by the
American Federation of Labor in a
legislative conference which that
group held here.
Seeking two important changes in
the labor relations law, the A. F. of
L. also will fight this winter for ex-
tension of the social security pro-
gram and for some changes in the
wage-hour law.
In addition, the Federation will
support congressional efforts to aid
the Nations railroads. a reason
able" national defense program, and
will press its efforts to prevent Sen
ate confirmation of the reappoint-
ment of Donald Wakefield Smith
to the National Labor Relations
Board.
Federation proposals with regard
to the labor relations law are the
same as have been announced pre-
vlously, namely, to deprive the board
OF discretionary authority to desig-
nate whether bargaining units
should be on craft or industrial
basis and to curb the boards au-
thority to invalidate contracts be-
tween unions and employers.
William Green, president of the
Federation, told reporters his or
ganization would not join with any
other group in efforts to weaken
the law.
I'VE stand now as we have always
stood-for the act" he said. Our
complaint is against the maladmin-
istration of the act"