Evening star., 1940-04-03
Labor Board
Continued From First Page.)

asked Mrs. Norton, that this bill
includes all the changes which the
committee feels should be made in
the Wagner Act at this time?"
Il do," the New Jersey Repre-
sentative replied. 'The committee
feels that it meets most of the valid
objections. against the act without
weakening the law. In fact, we
feel that these amendments will
strengthen the law"
The maneuver of seeking the
drastic parliamentary device of pas
sage under suspension of the rules
was intended by the committee to
head of certain efforts which pro-
ponents of the Smith amendments
would make to substitute their bill
should the Norton bill reach the
floor under an open" rule. Under
suspension procedure, debate is
either shut of or limited to 20 min
utes on a side. and no amendments
may be offered.
Mrs. Norton to See Bankhead.
Mrs. Norton said she would see
Speaker Bankhead as soon as posi-
BILE about the suspension of rules
motion. If he consents to recog-
nize the Labor Committee chairman
on the next suspension day, which
is a week from Monday. she will
present the motion at that time.
The process calls for single vote
on suspending the rules and passing
the bill, but a two-thirds vote is
required.
The severer critics of the Labor
Board, opposing the milder Norton
amendment and favoring the more
drastic Smith amendments, pre-
dicted the effort to pass her bill
under gag rule" would fail.
The Smith bill was referred to
the Labor Committee, and appar-
emily, lacking some parliamentary
manuevers on the floor by which
it could be substituted, the only way
1t can be brought before the House
Is by petition of a majority of the
membership. Advocates were max
ing plans to launch this procedure
some time this week.
Final Amendment.
The Labor Committee had ap-
proved the five-man board amend
ment and two other proposed
changes-the craft-union provision
and the clause allowing employers
to petition for settlement of dis
putes within unions the
meeting today. The final amend
ment adopted just before the bill
was reported provides that:
Whenever an employer has en-
tered into a contract with the rep
resentatives not established, main
tanned or assisted by any action
defined in this act as an unfair labor
practice) of a majority of his en-
ployes as the exclusive represent
ative of all his employees. in an ap-
propriate collective bargaining unit
the loss by such representatives of
their majority or the change of
their afflliation shall not impair the
validity of such contract, but such
contract shall continue to be ef-
fective until terminated or until the
expiration of one year from the date
on which it went into effect, which
ever occurs first"
The Smith amendments, which the
Labor Committee has refused to
sanction. would abolish the present
Labor Board and substitute another
three-man board: separate its judi
cial and prosecuting functions by the
appointment of an administrator to
file complaints; limit back pay of re-
instated employees to six months and
prohibit reinstatement of those con-
victed of "willful violence" and take
away from the board authority to
select union bargaining units, leav-
ing it to the workers themselves to
settle inter union disputes. There
are other amendments
Indications are that the Smith
committee will resume hearings
within the next week or 10 days.