Evening star., 1940-02-17
Quick Labor kct
Urged
By Probe Chairman
Committee Boiling Down
Revision Proposals
For Recommendations
BACKGROUND-

0ANA0tOON0-
A special House Committee in
pestigatt1g the National Labor
Relations Board has been holding
hearings since December. Much
testimony concerning the opera
tton OF the board, internal dis
sef,ston and alleged faporitisnt has
been Otuen to the committee,
ohich Is considering Dhat
changes, II any, should be made
in the Labor Act.
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.
Chairman Howard w. Smith Of
the House committee investigating
the National Labor Relations Board
fayors swift recommendations Of
amendment to the Wagner Act, he
said today, following q long execu-
tive meeting Of the committee yes
terday.
Mr.. Smith said that, speaking for
himself and not the committee, he
hoped whatever amendments the
group might indorse would be re-
ported to the House Labor Com
mittee within two weeks.
The Virginia Representative would
not easy which Of the many pro-
posed amendments he or q majority
Of the committee favored, but he
did stress the need for quick action
II any change is to be made In the
National Labor Relations Act at the
present session.
With the committees public hear
mgs adjourned from Wednesday
until Tuesday, executive sessions
were held Thursday and yesterday,
but the chairman said no definite
method Of procedure was worked
out.
leo Amendments Suggested.
Something like 100 amendments
have been proposed to the committee
at one time or another, Mr.. Smith
pointed out, indicating that the
group Of i've Representatives was
trying to agree on essential changes
In the law which they might feel
the future enforcement Of the Wag-
ner Act requires. Other members
OF the committee withheld COM
ment.
From sources close to the COM
mittee 1t was said these were among
the outstanding amendments which
were being considered:
l. Abolition Of the present three
man Labor Board and its replace
ment bysa new flve-man board.
2. Complete separation Of the
prosecuting and judicial functions
Of the board, which, according to
evidence brought out at the hear
mgs, often have been entwined.
3. Removal Of the boards authori-
ty to settle disputes among rival un-
ions, such as the feuds between the
American Federation of Labor and
the Congress Of Industrial Organ
izations which have caused so much
bitterness in the last few years.
Some members of the committee
regarded these as the most i'm
portant proposed amendments,
though there were many others
which had been suggested.
mOEe hearings Forecast.
Mr.. Smith emphasized that there
was no intention Of closing the hear
tngs at this time. There is a mass
Of evidence affecting the board and
Its methods Of enforcement which
has not been touched by the COM
mittee, he indicated.
The committee could draft q pre-
liminary report and present its find
ings In the form Of q bill while con-
tinuing the hearings. The bill would
60 to the Labor Committee of the
House. In the event this committee
refused to report 1t out, after the
measure had remained before it
80 days, petition could be circu-
lated to take the bill away from the
committee and bring it before the
House directly. Some observers pre-
dicted this method would be fol-
lowed In the event the Labor Com
mittee did not act promptly.
While the special committee rep
resents wide, variety of views, the
impression grew today that the
members would be able to agree ON