Evening star., 1940-02-24


nay since December. Committee
Is charged ,Dith recommending
any changes in Wagner Labor
Relations Act ,phich it may con-
slider necessary.
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.
A broader inquiry into all the
effects of the Wagner Act, as ad-
ministered by the National Labor
Relations Board, was seen today,
after the House approved yesterday
q second $5O,0OO to defray the ex-
penses of the special investigating
committee authorized last July.
The House allowed the additional
money without a record vote and
without debate. Afterward Chair
man Smith said to neWspapermen
that the sum would enable the COM
mittee to carry out more completely
the purposes of the resolution Gre
ating it. He had asked for the
authorization, by direction OF the
committee, after the original $50, 1000
appropriation was nearly exhausted.
Preliminary Report in Prospect.
With the hearings adjourned from
early yesterday afternoon until next
Wednesday, the committee planned
to hold executive sessions from time
to time in an effort, it was under
stood, to agree~on a preliminary
report to the House, in the hope
that some amendments to the Wag-
ner Act might be considered by both
branches of Congress at the pres
ent session.
The committees legal and inves-
tigating staff, meanwhile, assured of
sufficient funds to carry on for some
time, made plans to widen the probe.
Thus far the testimony and docu-
mentary evidence developed by Ed
mund M. Toland, general counsel of
the committee, has been confined
largely to the boards methods of
procedure and to charges of par
TALLY in intralabor disputes-in the
feud between the A. F. of L. and the
c. I. O.-and to assertions of in
competence and lack of experience
among the boards personnel A
mass of evidence along these lines
has been introduced.
General Effect Asked.
But the empowering resolution of
the House also charged the commit
tee with determining what effect,
If any, the said National Labor Re-
lations Act has had upon increasing
or decreasing disputes between en-
ployer and employe; upon increas-
ing or decreasing unemployment and
upon the general economic condition
of the country"
These broad questions have been
barely touched on to date. They
are expected to be gone into more
thoroughly as the hearings con-
tinue.
The committee has heard consid-
cradle evidence bearing on another
point in the resolution-"wheth
the - board has by interpreta-
ton or regulation attempted to write
into said act intents and purposes
not justified by the language of the
act"
Western Trip Unsettled.
There was talk, early in the in
quiry, that the committee might
hold hearings in Detroit and posi-
bly, on the West Coast. This matter
has not been settled, it was learned.
If the committee makes prelimi-
nary recommendations at an early
date, these will cover matters
brought out in the testimony. Any
other changes in the law or its ad-
ministration that later evidence may
point to would be to reserve for pres
entation at some time nearer the
close of the investigation.
Though no announcement was
made, it was believed that the COM
mittee took the Friday-to-Wednes-
day recess in hearings in a further
effort to get together on a prelimi-
nary report before the end of the
month. How the five members feel
about the evidence brought out
u,hother mo iorjtv fLiy,kc op,e,,d