Evening star., 1941-03-26
Probe OF Excessive
Union Fees Asked at
Meade and BeIvoir
Men Eoeer to Work
Are Kept From Jobs,
House Groups Told

Broadening of the Hoffman reso-
luton for investigation of charges
of excessive labor union fees on
defense projects in the District to
include such work in Maryland and
Virginia was urged today by mem
berS of the House Rules and Judici-
| airy Committees during a hearing
on the resolution before the rules
! group.
1t was pointed out this would
permit the special committee con-
templated in the resolution to in
vestigate employment practices at
Fort Belvoir, Va. and Fort George
G. Meade, Md.
Representative Smith, Democrat,
of Virginia, asked also that the
scope of the resolution include a
study of how much such practices
have interfered with and delayed
essential defense preparations.
The Hoffman resolution was fa-
vored generally both by members
/ of the committee and other members
/ of Congress, but the committee
did not complete its hearing. Mr..
Hoffman, Republican, of Michigan
asked that his resolution "be
broadened and sponsored by some
majority member so we will have
chance to get it through
! Clutches on Labor.
Representative Walter. Democrat,
/ of Pennsylvania, appearing IN sup
! port of the resolution, said he did
mot want to see American labor
commit suicide" He emphasized that
'all types of undesirables have got
ten their lcentious hands on o.
ganized labor" and that they have
prevented men eager to work from
getting off relief rolls and helping to
carry forward defense jobs, desper-
ately needed"
Representative Michener. Repub-
lican. of Michigan, a member of the
Rules Committee. said that in the
frequent strikes there have been
partial concessions in favor of the
strikers. encouraging a repetition
of strikes and turmoil in connection
with the national defense produce
ton.
He, with several other members of
the Judiciary Committee, said that
committee does not consider the
Hoffman resolution as an interfer-
ence with the labor investigation
now in progress before the Judiciary
Committee, and approved the pro-
posed fee investigation.
Representative Halleck, Repub-
| lican. of Indiana, member of the
Rules Committee, said that aroused
| public opinion would be most ef-
fectiVe in correcting the situation.
Feared They'd Be "Gypped."
Representative Hoffman said that
at one gathering of carpenters a
speaker declared. Lets pull the job.
If the Army is going to fight us and
gyp us out of our living. then we'll
fight them" He told the Rules Com
mittee that Chairman Vinson of the
Naval Affairs Committee and Repre-
sentatives Starnes. Democrat. Of
Alabama, also desired to be heard
in support of his resolution.
He said that at Fort Belvoir some
500 or 900 carpenters are eager TO
take jobs, but are between two un-
ion groups. one of which wants to
take in all they can TO get the fee
charged for membership and the
other desiring to hold down the
number of workers so that those en-
ployed may get time and half pay.
He quoted several illustrations of the
practice of selling work permits.
: Representative Halleck explained
that the Government has given
these contracts to contractors who
have a voluntary closed shop con-
tract with the union men" The
strike at Walter Reed Hospital was
cited as an illustration of how con-
tractors who desire to fulfill their
contracts with the Government are
prevented because they cannot get
: supplies through the union picket
lines. Mr.. Hoffman said that Con-
greSS was at fault because it had not
changed the N R. A. law which is
the father of the closed shop" ~
= Representatives Halleck and Hof
man agreed that it was A F. of L.
unions that have been charging
excessive dues for work permits.