Evening star., 1939-01-22
Ry G. GOULD LINCOLN.

troversy over administration OF the
National Labor Relations Act, Sem
ator Burke, Democrat, of Nebraska,
charged last night, in a letter to
j. Warren Madden, chairman of the
National Labor Relations Board,
that "in the entire history of admin
istrative tribunals in this country" i"
it would be impossible to find any
thing approaching the general con-
demnation by the courts" of the
Labor Board.
Senator Burke quoted from opin-
ions handed down in eight out of the
ten United States Circuit Courts Of
Appeals to sustain his charge that
the boards findings are frequently
based on surmise, hearsay, sus-
picion and personal opinion"
The Nebraska Senator took Sc
rious exceptions to a statement in
Mr.. Madden's recent public letter to
Senator Burke, intimating that his
(Madden's) knowledge of what con-
stitutes true democratic government
was superior to that of the Senator.
Conscience Charge Hurled.
Possibly your conscience troubles
you,' Senator Burke said, address,
ing Mr.. Madden, because Of your
responsibility for placing in posi-
tions of high authority men like
DR.. Saposs, leader in the Confer
ence for Progressive Labor Action,
which states its program in these
words:
Its aim is to inspire the work.
ers to take control of industry and
government, abolish the present
capitalistic system and build a
workers republic and an economic
system operated for the benefit of
the masses and not Of the few"
DR.. David Saposs is the chief in
dustrial economist of the Labor
Board.
He was assailed recently in testi-
mony before the Dies Committee on
un-American Activities.
While Senator Burke launched his
new attack on the Labor Board,
there were increasing signs that a
showdown may be expected in the
row over the National Labor Rela-
tions Act and It's administration by
the Labor Board
The American Federation of
Labor is expected to have ready a
series of proposed amendments
some time this week.
Amendments Rushed.
Senator Burke and a group Of
Senators who are aiding him will
prepare for introduction also a num-
ber Of amendments to the Labor Act.
Representative c. Arthur Ander-
son, Democrat, of Missouri has
given notice he will seek to bring his
bill, which would repeal the present
Wagner Act and substitute another,
before the House by means of pc
tition. Such a petition must be
signed by 2l8 members of the House,
a majority. Then the House would
vote on whether the committee-in
this case the Committee on Labor
should be discharged from further
consideration of the bill in question
Majority action would bring the
measure Immediately before the
House for consideration and action
The Anderson bill would change
the functions Of the Labor Board
from those of Judge and jury" to
those Of investigator and prose
cutor," with the Federal courts MAX
ing the decisions in worker-em-
ployer disputes.
His bill also specifies that aliens
and persons who have been convict
ed Of felonies shall not be certified
as representatives of workers in
labor unions. Representative Ander-
son insists that such a provision
would make 1t possible for members
OF a union to free themselves from
the control Of thugs, gangsters and
hoodlums."
Under the rules of the House
Representative Anderson must wal,
80 days before he can place his
petition on the Speakers desk.
Wagner Remains Silent.
Senator Wagner. Democrat, OF
New York, author of the Labor Re.
lations Act, and the White House
have been silent so far regarding
what amendments, If any, they will
agree to for that act.
At the outset of his letter to Mr.
Madden, Senator Burke said:
Your recent public letter to me
rao6c lilo
1t shows the same studied effort
to build up background of preju.
dice against your intended victim, 8
practice for which you have re-
Gently been soundly rebuked by the
courts. Cheap abuse of crit.
les does not advance the public
service"
Then Senator Burke said Chair
man Madden was highly critica
because 1 have consistently urgec
an independent investigation Of
your activities"
You greatly prefer to investi.
gate yourself" Senator Burke con.
tinued. Your anxiety in that re.
spect is readily understandable
However, the experience of Congress.
in permitting w. P. A. and othel
agencies to investigate themselves
has not been such as to recommend
that procedure. If the choice is be.
tween a self conducted investigation
and none at all, the latter is to bs
preferred"
Senator Burke then quoted from
a speech by William Green, presi.
dent of the American Federation o1
Labor, before the Economic Clut
of Chicago in which Mr.. Greer
said:
"The boards administration
shows a complete lack of due proc
ess of law which the American peo
pie consider essential to and ar
integral part of administration by
public officials. The members of thu
board have usurped judicial func.
tions, have shown bias and preju.
dice in their rulings and decisions
have shown a lack of fair play ir
their treatment of parties and per.
sons and 1aye discrininafed he.