Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-07-09
Lille Steel
Case Mayed
To President
Provides Test for All
Wage Demands
BY PAUL MALL0N

Nv ~ NoNNs Hbh iihN' ~
lately probably emanated from
closed sessions of the War Labor
Board trying to decide, in seclu-
sion, the question of wage
increase in Little Steel"
This dominant current eco
nomlc issue has brought out the
hottest in the members of the
board. They Immediately be-
came deadlocked as soon as the
doors we're closed.
Reading aloud the report of
the preliminary panel board,
stating the facts of the case,
was the first order of business.
At every other sentence. the
industrial and labor members
-four each) jumped up TO make
challenges or levelcd their re-
taliatory fingers at those who
did.
ONE of the public members.
" Wayne l.. Morse. from the
Oregon University law school.
indicated by his attitude that he
was in favor OF granting the 81
day wage increase demanded
by the union, but the other
three public members, who hold
a balance Of power. merely shut
fled their feet. scratched their
heads and attempted TO look
non-committal.
These doubtful three included
Board Chairman William II.
Davis, as well as George Taylor,
the University of Pennsylvania
professor, and Frank Graham of
the University of North Carolina.
The argument centered en-
tirely around the question of
whether the union should have
the 81 a day or nothing. But ii
was quite evident that the
boards attempt to solve this
most vital point in the govern
ment's war-economicS policy
would have to be taken TO MIR.
Roosevelt in the end for a COM
promise solution, either publicly
or privately.
THE panel board passed the
Il buck to the Trembling
Twelve by concluding the cost of
living had increased 1873 per
cent in steel cities between April
!, 1941, and March, 1912, the
period Of the last contract. In a
way, this really suggested more
of an increase than the union
demanded, as boost of 81 day
works out to about 1912 per cent
increase.
But. AS every one knows, such
an increase. or any part of II.
will break the whole structure
which the administration has
loosely erected against initiation.
attempting TO hold present
wages in line with present
prices.
The Little Steel case is.
therefore, a test not only for
General Motors. Chrysler and
other similar cases now pending
before the board, but for all
wages.
WITH a political campaign
w coming on, however, few
expect the administration TO de-
fend its current price-Structure
firmly by denying any increase,
as that stand might have labor
repercussions in congressional
elections.
A compromise that will keep
labor quiet and preserve some
Semblance of an orderly anti
initiation policy. therefore. is OBJ
viously forecast by the circum-
stances.
Even so, the question of how
long this whole loose anti-infla-
ton technique can continue 10
have general effect already is
being raised, in view of the va
riety of agitations in the con-
greSSional farm bloc, the two
back-trackingS by Leon Hender-
son (under congressional pres
Sure), and the coming period of
scarcity of consumers goods.
TIIE talked-of national gas
rationing step cannot pos
Sibly be taken this month. or
very soon, on a scale such as is
being imposed in the east. Pub
LEGATION and distribution of
nearly 20 million books would
require several months. OPA
has not yet started 10 print
the books on the required
scale.
But distributors rationing
program, limiting the supplies
TO dealers. could be put into
operation without any advance
preparation. except toward edu-
cation of the public as TO the
necessity. Consumption outside
the east could thus be limited
as much as IS per cent without
any disastrous effects. At least
no hardShips were experienced
when such a method was tried
first in the east.
The latest authoritative inn
preston Git has changed often
in recent weeks is that some
such program OF control ra-
tioning may be attempted be-
fore the elections. Anything
more drastic could logically be
expected 10 wait until after the
r,riptipu iS dOne and perhapS