Evening star., 1938-04-14
c. |. 0. TOEXPAND
AID FOR JOBLESS
Program Calls for Heavy
Federal and State
AIIotmentS,

IN contrast to its intense organizing
and collective bargaining activities of
last summer. when emphasis was on
expansion and increase of power, the
Committee for Industrial Organiza-
ton will devote its principal atten-
tion in the coming six months to
holding its position through service
to its unemployed, 1t was evident to-
day from a scrutiny of developments
attending two-day conference of
G. I. o. leaders here.
To accomplish this service to the
needy. it was evident much depend
ence will be placed upon the gener-
osity of State and Federal govern
ments in providing funds and admin
istering programs of direct and work
relief
Into such programs the c. I. O..
plans to integrate its own efforts to
assure its unemployed members Of jobs
at adequate wages, its facilities for
checking on the whereabouts and the
needs of its members, and its influence
in seeing that socially necessary and
productive' projects are chosen for the
relief programs.
Urge Congress to Act.
To insure that the Federal Govern
nent will do its part in meeting the
acknowledged unemployment emer-
gency, the c. 1. O. yesterday called
upon Congress to remain in session
until action is taken on "work-relief
appropriations, housing, wage and
hour regulation and the Wagner bill
extending collective bargaining to Gov
eminent contracts"
In addition, separate resolutions
were adopted urging approval of the
Ramspeck version of the Wage-hour
bill and urging passage of the Wagner
bill now pending before the Senate
Committee on Education and Labor.
Regarding the latter legislation,
which would require observance of the
labor relations law by all firms holding
contracts or receiving grants or loans
from the Federal Government, Chair
man John L. Lewis angrily charged
yesterday that systematic sabotaging"
Of the labor relations law has been
undertaken by several Government
agencies, prominent among them be-
ing the Works Progress Administra-
ton, the Procurement Division of the
Treasury and the War and Navy De-
partments. All have entered into
contracts with fragrant violators of
the law, he said
Condemn Maritime Commission.
Shifting its battling with Federal
group also adopted resolution in
condemnation of labor policies of the
Maritime Commission, charging the
agency with consistent antagonism to-
ward organized labor.
A resolution indorsing the stand of
railroad labor brotherhoods in oppo-
sltion to wage cuts also was passed
Carrying further their obvious in
tentions to make the c. l. o. per-
manent body of American labor, the
group authorized committee COM
posed of Philip Murray and Sidney
Hillman to fix the time, date and
other arrangements for a national
convention, to include representation
from all of the 80 national and inter-
national unions now affiliated with the
c. I. O.
At that time, Mr.. Lewis said, q con-
stitution and a permanent name will
be chosen for the organization.
Following yesterdays session, it was
learned that Julius Hochman, repre-
senting the International Ladies' Gar
ment Workers, did not vote on the
question of convention and estab-
llshment of a permanent labor body.
1t has been reported that the I. L. G.,
one of the original c. I. o. unions,
would withdraw if the Lewis group
should take decisive action to become
q permanent structure in opposition to
the American Federation of Labor.
For months it has been we'll known
that the division of c. I. O.-A. F. L.
sentiment in the garment workers
Union was very close.
Reports on organization progress
and unemployment relief activities
were received yesterday from John
Brophy, director, and from Ralph
Hetzel and James Carey.