Evening star., 1938-06-15
C.. |. 0. Leader Tits
With Bankhead
After Call.
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

Speaker Bankhead fatty refused to-
day a personal appeal from John L.
Lewis to allow amendments to the
Walsh h-Healey Public Contracts Act
to be brought to vote on the House
floor.
1t was the second time in less than
48 hours that the c. I. O. chieftain
had gone to Speaker Bankhead's
office to exert pressure in behalf Of
the amendments. His first visit Mon
day, when he used the Speakers
office as headquarters while he sought
support for the legislation, had re-
suited in warm resentment by many
members of Congress and others.
The Speakers uncompromising
stand today was taken during a con-
ference in his Office with Mr.. Lewis
and other officials of the Committee
for Industrial Organization.
Explaining his action later Speaker
Bankhead said he had reminded the
labor delegation that not only had
there been minority reports opposing
the legislation and refusal of the
Rules Committee to grant it preferen-
eral unnamed members of the House,
whom he described as friendly to labor,
had advised against considering the
amendments this session.
For these reasons" Mr.. Bankhead
said, II told Mr.. Lewis would not
recognize motion for suspension of
the rules to consider this measure.
That is still my determination"
Scathing Attack by Lewis.
Emerging from his conference with
the Speaker, Mr.. Lewis delivered a
scathing attack on the Rules Com
mittee for its action yesterday, de-
scribing it as "notoriously friendly to
corporations and antagonistic to
labor"
There is no question:" Mr.. Lewis
continued, but that the Rules Com
mittee has been acting under the COR
porate lash this session. We think
the action Of the Rules Committee not
only was cowardly but pusillanimous.
I'VE think the Democratic House
organization should do something
about this condition, We have SO told
the Speaker and he stated he would
give further consideration to the mat
ter"
Questioned about this reference 10
further consideration, Speaker Bank
head admitted later that he had prom
ised further consideration" but re-
afarmed his determination not to
change his mind about recognizing q
motion to suspend the rules.
Misunderstanding, Says Speaker.
Asked If Mr.. Lewis might have
meant that further consideration"
was to be given the attitude Of the
Rules Committee, the Speaker said he
Gid not understand that he was being
requested to do anything about the
Rules Committee.
Mr.. Lewis said the C. I. o. delega-
tion had advised the Speaker they
were representing millions of Ameri-
can citizens who believe they have
the right to know how their paid Rep
resentatives VOTE"
!. We don't think the Rules Commit
tee exercised its proper legislative
function" he said. The committee
constituted itself a super Legislative
agency to deny the House a vote on
measure that passed the Senate and
stood examination on its merits by the
House Judiciary Committee.
We hold that Congress has the
right to vote on that measure. In a
short time Congress will adjourn and
many of its members will be asking the
support of labor in their reelection
campaigns. We want to know how
good friends they have been. It is a
cowardly thing to hide behind the
Rules Committee.
Cites Wage Hour Precedent.
Recalling the action of the Rules
Committee in blocking wage-hour Leg
tslation, which later was brought out
by petition and enacted, Mr.. Lewis
predicted the same result would at
tend the present legislation if time
permitted
e The c. I. O. chieftain was accom-
panied by Philip Murray, vice chair
man OF the C. I. O.; Lee Pressman,
counsel to the c. l. O.; Sidney Hill
man of the Textile Workers Union
and Gardner jackson of labors Nom
Partisan League.
During his announcement of the
decision to reporters, Speaker Bank
head was accompanied by Majority
Floor Leader Rayburn and Chairman
O'Connor of the Rules Committee.
Neither Mr.. O'Connor nor Mr.. Ray
burn added to the Speakers remarks.
The Speaker declined to identify
the House members who, he said, had
advised against considering the
Walsh -Healey amendments, other