Evening star., 1940-09-13
q
1eamsters Reject
'-H
Forced Arbitration,
HeckIe Leaders
Constitution Committee
Authorized to Redroft
Debuted Issue

In one Of the most turbulent ses-
sions ever held in Constitution Hall
the International Brotherhood Of
Teamsters, Chauf1eurs, Warehouse.
men and Helpers today rejected
proposals vesting President Daniel
j. Tobin with broad powers i'll mat
ters OF compulsory arbitration and
supervision over strikes and lock-
outs.
The unions Committee on Con-
stitution had recommended that the
international president, after a
hearing, would have authority to
dissolve or suspend local union, re-
| organize 1t with other officers and
prevent the old ones from again
taking Office if they had previously
opposed an order to arbitrate.
The committee had recommends
| ed, too, that the international pres
ident be given supervision over all
strikes and lockouts, with the pow
er to declare any strike or lock-
out illegal if Investigators decided
the action was not in conformity
with union laws.
Beck's Committee Accused.
Resuming where they left off
yesterday, the nearly 1000 delegates
strongly opposed the compulsory
arbitration proposal. Finally, after
1t seemed the convention might get
out of control, it was voted to have
the Constitution Committee redraft
the compulsory arbitration phrase
This course was followed after the
delegates shouted their disapproval
and accused the Constitution Com
mittee, headed by Dave Beck of
Seattle, Wash, with seeking TO give
the international president "dicta-
| torlal powers"
Taking the platform TO justify his
committees recommendations, Mr.,
Beck was cut off midway in his
speech by charges from the floor
! that he was being given more time
/ to speak than those voiCing oppo-
/ sltlon to the constitution changes.
| President Tobln also was SUBJ
lected TO considerable heckling when
he ignored demands for roll call
vote TO determine whether Mr.. Beck
be allowed to continue. There had
been voice vote which delegates
felt was evidence that Mr.. Beck had
spoken long enough. but which Mr..
Tobln interpreted otherwise.
The suggestion that the president
be given supervision over strikes
and lockouts was stricken from the
constitution by raising vote. This
camte after demands for a division.
President Tobln. before that, had
asked for a voice vote and decided
! after hearing it that the convention
/ favored his being given authority
over strikes and lockouts.
The Constitution Committee re-
ceived a third setback when the
I delegates objected TO a recon-
! mendation that their president be
| empowered to approve or disa pproV(
! all wage scales and bylaws of LOG
/ unions. The original wording o.
| this part of the constitution. pro-
viding that the president assist and
advise locals when called upon, was
reverted to.
Ohcers' Salaries Increased.
The debate on the arbitration issue
started after the convention yeSter-
day had voted to raise the salaries
of President Tobin and Secretary
Treasurer Thomas Hughes from $40
600 to $4,000 annually, making them
the highest-paid officials in union
circles. The convention split on this.
but the raises carried by a vote Of
$50 TO 1856.
The convention also created new
$4,000 position of assistant to the
president; raised the salaries of or
ganizers from $4,000 to SIS 900 and
increased the number of vice presi-
dents from seven to nine.
The convention banquet was held
at the Mayflower Hotel last night.