Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-04-06
The Political Mill
Advocates Of Changing Wagner
Act to Get Hearing Tuesday

peace negotiations with the G. I. o.
accomplish anything. The older Or
ganization does not intend to let
itself be caught in a jam again if 1t
can help it.
The Changes Sought.
The Federations amendments
have been sponsored in the Senate
by Senator Walsh of Massachusetts.
a member of the Committee on Edu-
cation and Labor. One of the prin-
cipal amendments would abolish the
present board of three men and sub
stitute an entirely new board COM
posed of five members. That, the
Federation holds, is sine qua non.
Other amendments advocated by the
Federation would define company
unions more clearly and prohibit
them. would eliminate "prejudicial
delays" by the board, would give the
right to labor unions-alone-to ap-
peal in representation cases decided
by the board, would compel the
board to base its findings on credible
and substantial evidence.
The American Federation of Labor
Is backing only its own amendments,
it insists. 1t is certainly not favor
ing those advanced by the Chamber
OF Commerce of the United States.
Nor does it support those introduced
by Senator Burke of Nebraska, ex-
cept in so far as they coincide with
the Federation S own amendments.
Whether the critics of the National
Labor Relations Board and the
Wagner Act can get together on a
series OF amendments remains to be
seen. Unless they are willing to do
SO, the result may be no amend
ments-at least for the time being.
An effort is going forward, however,
to obtain, if possible. concerted &C
ton in favor of at least a limited
number of amendments. Generally
speaking, all critics are inclined 20
demand the elimination of the pres
ent board and the substitution OF a
new and less prejudiced one-preju.
diced in the opinion of the critics.
Chambers Proposals.
A report Of the United States
Chamber of Commerce recommends
that employers be given the right
to petition for certification of bar
gaining agencies; that the right OF
freedom OF speech between employ
ers and employees" be guaranteed; ;
that coercion from any source
unions included-be prohibited; that
labor organization representation be
limited to its own members in COL
lective bargaining; that the closed
shop proviso be repealed, and that
the N. L. r. B. be restricted to de-
termlning facts, and that its judicial
functions be transferred to the
courts or some other appropriate
agency While there may be justice
in some Of these recommendations,
they will be strongly opposed by or
gained labor.
Senator Burke proposes a new
labor board, but composed of three
members, one representative OF
labor, one of employers and one of
the public. He would make it impos-
sible for the board to destroy unions
without the relief of prompt court
review. He would prevent the board
from compelling employees to accept
as representatives those selected by
a minority of workers. He would
protect the rights of craft unions.
He would permit either the employees
or the employers TO petition for an
election to determine representation,
and an election would be made man
datory within 20 days after receipt
of the petition.
The Nebraska Senator has other
important amendments also. cover
ing a number of the points en-
phasized in the report of the Cham
Der of Commerce.
When the hearings begin next
week. Senator Wagner, author of the
act. will be given An opportunity
first to discuss the law and its adj
ministration. Senator Walsh will
then advance the American Fedora
ton amendments. Whether or not
the proponents of other amend