Evening star., 1939-12-20
BY JAMES E. CHINN.


Scene of the investigation of the
National Labor Relations Board by
special House committee will shift
to Detroit early in the New Year
it was disclosed today by Chairman
Smith.
Detroit is a hotbed of labor
troubles; that's where we are going
he said
The committee, however, plans to
spend a week or two in Washington
tightening up on loose ends of the
inquiry before taking to the road
a trip that will eventually wind up
on the West Coast.
Public hearings in Washington
will not be resumed until January S.
In the meantime program will be
worked out not only for continual
ton Of the hearings in Washington,
but those to be held in Detroit and
other cities to be visited by the COM
mittee in its quest for information as
to whether the Wagner Labor Rela-
tions Act has been administered
fairly and impartially.
Chairman Smith, Virginia anti
New Deal Democrat, said he be-
leved the committee would conclude
its inquiry in Washington within two
weeks after new series of hearings
starts January S.
About $4,000 Remains.
The committee so far, he said. has
spent about $50 600 of the $50 900 the
House appropriated out of its con-
tingent fund to finance the investi-
cation. The remaining $4,000, he
explained. should be sufficient to
finance the committees proposed
hearings outside of Washington.
The initial hearings lasted eight
days.
Edmund NJ. Toland, chief COM
mittee counsel, took occasion to
compliment. his staff for its assist
ance. And Representative Smith. In
the spirit of the occasion, said he
was very gratified" with the way
Mr.. Toland conducted his part of
the inquiry.
A committee of the National Asso-
citation of Manufacturers declared
today that the Wagner Act and its
administration by the Labor Board
are "a menace to the national
welfare
recommending sweeping changes
the committee said the act was based
on false assumptions. which "have
frequently been magnified and &C
centuated by one-sided and biased
administration"
The manufacturers statement
described as definitely encouraging
the work of the House Committee
investigating the board.
Steel Strike Activity.
The final session of the COM
mittee before the Christmas holi-
days was marked by a disclosure
that Nathan Witt, secretary of the
N. r. L. B.. had proposed a plan to
c. I. o. officials for expediting a
board decision in the so-called little
steel strike" in the Pittsburgh area
in 1887.
Evidence was introduced showing
that Mr. Witt. acting on the boards
orders, flew to Pittsburgh during
the strike to confer with Philip Muir
ray, chairman of the Steel Workers
Organizing Committee &C. I. o. and
Lee Pressman. general counsel of the
labor group, and discussed with them
plan to bring the warning factions
together in peace.
Committee Counsel Toland sug-
gested the incident constituted a
conspiracy between the board and
the S. w. o. C. But this suggestion
was stricken from the official record,
at the direction of the committee.
Wrote to General Counsel.
Mr.. Witt, the testimony showed,
went to Pittsburgh for the confer
ence with the c. l. o. officials June
/, 1887, and two days later wrote a
memorandum to Charles Fahy, gen.
eral counsel of the board, in which
he said. in part:
Il suggested that the quickest
way of getting a decision is for the
S. w. o. c. to modify its approach
on the ajority question and instead
of asking bargaining for its members
only, ask for exclusive bargaining on
the basis of its claim to majority
representation"
Mr.. Witt pointed out that although
no charges had been filed in the case
when he held the conference, he
expected they would be, and that
ultimately they were made against
the Inland Steel Co., one of the three
companies against which the strike
was being directed.
Representative Healey, Democrat.
of Massachusetts, brought out that
while the law provides a charge
must be made before complaint is
issued in a case. there isn't anything
in the statute or the boards regula-
tions which precludes consul
tation" in advance.
But shortly afterward Representa-
tive Murdock, Democrat, of Utah
asked:
do you know of any other
agencies of the Government that
confer with people who might be
litigants against the Government
and worked out with them plan of
strategy or even a complaint"
Mr.. Witt said he knew of none.
Manufacturers Proposals.
The proposals offered by the Man.
ufacturers' Association included:
Protection of employees from un-
fair labor practices, whether prac-
ticed by employers, labor organiza-
tions or fellow-employes."
Reasonable limitations" on the
right to strike.
A ban on the "closed shop" and
"check-of." The former prohibits
non n-union workers from being en-
ployed by a company. Under the
latter union dues are deducted by
employers from wages.
Elimination or modification of
the majority rule" in employe rep
resentation.
Safeguarding freedom of speech
by clear and appropriate language"
in the Wagner Act.
A ban on compulsory multiple