Evening star., 1939-05-10
Wagner Act
Continued From First Page.)

without considering the effects On
the whole structure"
Mr.. Leisersons appearance. not
announced in advance, followed
decision by the committee and by
the American Federation of Labor
that completion of the latter's case
in favor of its pending amendments
should be deferred at least until
Monday in order that some progress
might be reached in the surprise
conferences initiated yesterday be-
tween the Labor Board and the
A. F. L.
Farley Idea Not Premeditated.
AS today's session opened, Joseph
A. Padway and Charles Fahy, gen.
eral counsels for the A. F. l.. and
the N. L. R. B., explained Jointly
that yesterdays conference between
their groups had developed spon-
taneously out of chance conversa-
ton between the two and Nathan
Witt, board secretary, during the
noon recess.
There was nothing sinister and
nothing improper about what hap
pened," Mr.. Padway explained in
refutation of overnight charges by
the c. I. o. that the federation
spokesmen were attempting to save
their faces" through a compromise
simultaneously, Lee Pressman,
counsel for the c. I. O.. made public
q letter to Committee Chairman
Thomas characterizing the confer
ences as exceedingly unfair" to the
c. I. o.
Mr.. Pressman asserted that sug-
gestions for compromise in the con-
troversy between the board and the
A. F. L. over amending the act were
being suggested before the C. I. o.
had chance to testify in opposition
to any of the various proposed
amendments.
John P. Frey, president of the A.
F. L. Metal Trades Department and
one of yesterdays conferees, was to
appear before the committee today
but he suggested from the stA
that his testimony be deferred pend
ing further conferences. He said he
would be prepared to talk Monday
if it seemed that the off stage dis
cussions were not being productive.
Parley's Exploratory.
Both Mr.. Frey and Mr.. Padway
emphasized that the negotiations
were exploratory" in nature and
Mr.. Fahy emphasized that the board
is not desirous that the committee
hearings of other witnesses be post
poned because of the discussions
with the Federation.
Senator Burke, Democrat, Of Ne
braska, author of a bill of amend
ments, said he would be prepared to
bring some witnesses Monday if the
Federation people desire further de-
lay in their testimony.
In his detailed discussion of the
pending amendments today, DR..
Leiserson divided the six Senate
bills into two groups, one of which
would change the objectives of the
law by relaxing or abolishing en-
ploye projections, while the other
would merely change procedure.
In the first category he placed
two bills introduced by Senator
Burke and one by Senator Holman,
Republican, of Oregon. In the sec
ond he grouped the proposals of
Senators Walsh, Democrat, of Mas
sachusetts, and Ellender, Democrat,
of Louisiana.
In his opposition to most OF the
proposals the witness was particu-
larly critical of that of Senator
Burke as being a complete reversal
of the present national labor policy.
Burke Bill Scored.
"If the purpose OF the bill is to
provide equal treatment" he de-
clared, then associations of employ
ers, Chambers of Commerce, ETC.,
should be put in juxtaposition to
labor organizations; and if employees
are to lose their property rights be-
cause of activities of labor organiza-
tions then employers should equally
be denied protection of their prop
erty rights by the laws and courts