Evening star., 1939-04-23


lations Act in four particulars, as urged
by Senators Walsh Of Massachusetts and
Burke of Nebraska, Democrats, and
tentatively sanctioned by the Labor
Board itself, is indicated from the initial
two weeks of open hearings before the
Senate Committee on Education and
Labor.
At the same time, lack of unity among
those seeking more extensive rewriting
of the law makes 1t appear that revision
by the present Congress probably will
not 60 far beyond the points on which
the administration has indicated will
ingness to compromise.
In brief, these four points Of relative
unanimity are as follows:
l. To permit employers to petition the
board for certiflcation of employe bar
gaining representatives.
2. To require additional safeguards for
the preservation of contracts between
employers and employees, although the
board is opposing efforts to remove en-
tirely its authority to invalidate such
agreements where coercion is found:
3. To establish additional standards for
the boards designation of the appro-
pirate bargaining unit.
4. To prohibit the holding of hearings
on board complaints in less than 10, pos
sibly IS, days from issuance of such COM
plant.
All incorporated in Walsh Bill.
All Of these, 1t may be noted, are In
corporated in the Walsh bill, sponsored
by the American Federation of Labor,
while all except the second also are in
the Burke measure.
With emphasis at the hearings thus
far being on the minutely detailed and
frequently supplemented defense being
presented by Board Chairman j. War
rem Madden, it is interesting If not of
conclusive significance to appraise the
reactions and the attitude of the 13
committee members.
Chairman Thomas, Democrat, of Utah
Is clearly a friend of the act and quite
probably will lean heavily upon the sug-
gestions Of the board and of Senator
Wagner, Democrat. of New York and
author of the law, for guidance.
Supporting him in resisting any major
revision of the act will probably be Sena-
tors Murray of Montana, Pepper of
Florida, Lee of Oklahoma and Hill of
Alabama, Democrats: Borah, Republican
of Idaho and La Toilette, Progressive, OF
Wisconsin.
Others Favor Rewriting Act.
At the other extreme and plainly IA
voring material rewriting of the law are
Senators Davis of Pennsylvania and
Taft of Ohio, Republicans. while Sena-
tor Walsh and Senator Ellender, Demo-
crat, Of Louisiana have amendments
pending which they presumably will
fight for with vigor. Senator Holt, Dem
ocrat, of West Virginia has indicated
through frequent questioning of Chair
man Madden that he is antagonistic
toward the board and his support for
curtailment Of its powers and impor-
tant revision of the act seems assured.
Senator Donahey. Democrat, of Ohio
and thirteenth member Of the commit
tee, has not yet been present at the
hearings.
AS chairman of the committee when it
reported the present act in 1885, Senator
Walsh placed himself squarely on record
In support of the principles Of the law.
Despite his sponsorship of the A. F. L.
amendments at this time, therefore, it
is by no means certain that he would
lend support to the more extreme pro-
posals of Senator Burke. In this con-
nection the Federation has announced its
rejection, after close examination, of all
other amending suggestions, and the
Massachusetts, Senator presumably will
be guided by this attitude.
It is likewise interesting to observe
that several of the committee members
have appeared impressed by certain parts
Of the very comprehensive defensive pre-
sentation Of the Labor Board. Among
these is Senator Ellender, whose pending
amendment deals with only one issue
that of according fullest possible protec-
ton to unions not afnnated with national
organizations, such as the c. !. o. and
the A. F. Of L. Since the law at present
intends protection to such unions un-
less they are company dominated, there
exists no deep difference of opinion be-
tween the Senator and proponents of
the law.
Strength Not Revealed,
Although 1t Is apparent that the
principal reliance Of friends of the act
is to be in the lengthy report and
testimony Of spokesmen for the Labor
Board, the full strength Of those de-
string amendment has not yet been made
so clear.
Second witness to appear, Senator
Burke, backed up his proposals with a
carefully reasoned explanation and, as
noted, plans to bring on additional wit
nesses. The real weight of amendment
pressure probably will become moro
measurable, however, when the A. F..
Of L. and the business groups take the
stand to urge their separate versions.
To whatever degree these groups can
reconcile their own differences to estab-
lish common front on certain changes
most highly desirable by that much viii
they improve the prospects OF getting
mense tropical territories possessed and
exploited by the democratic states,