Evening star., 1942-04-19
Senate Labor Debate
May Be Deferred 10
Roosevelt MESSAGE
Connolly Bills DeIoy
To Be Sought; Thomos
Urges White House Act
Nv j. A. 0IEARY.


On the eve OF the scheduled
opening OF Senate debate to-
morrow on labor curbing legisla-
ton, there were indications last
night the issue may be post
poned TO await an expected
administration statement of
policy.
Before beginning an informal re-
cess two weeks ago the Senate
agreed to give Senator Connally
Democrat OF Texas, the right of way
tomorrow to move consideration OF
his bill empowering the Government
20 take over war industries when
labor trouble threatens to delay pro-
duction. The measure also would
freeze existing open or closed shop
arrangements for the emergency
but would leave wages open to nego-
tiation.
Chairman Thomas OF the Senate
Education and Labor Committee said
yesterday that request would be
made tomorrow to put off the de-
bate. possibly for week or 10 days
Thinks President Privileged.
Senator Thomas told newspaper
men he thought the President ought
to make n report on the progress
that has been made" and that he
should have the opportunity to sub
NIT II before Congressional debate
starts. The Utah Senator said he
believes the country favors continued
voluntary efforts 10 solve labor prob
lens, and would sustain a postpone
ment OF legislative action until the
President has made a statement on
policy.
Although the Connally bill does
not touch the controversial question
of longer work week without over
time. or restrictions embodied in
other bills. observers pointed out
that whenever any phase of labor
legislation is taken up. amendments
on many other phases are likely to
be offered.
No comment was Forthcoming
from Senator Connally yesterday as
10 what may happen tomorrow on
the question of poStponing the dis
cussion for another week.
BAH Bill Action Due.
The Education and Labor Com
mittee is scheduled TO meet tomor-
row morning to take final action on
modified draft of the Ball bill,
which seeks TO solve labor problems
by mediation and conciliation, and
which Is expected to be offered as
n substitute for the Connally bill
whenever 1t is taken up. The
mediation plan originally sponsored
by Senator Ball, Republican of
Minnesota, was reported to the
Senate in December, but the COM
mittee during the last week has
been considering several changes
In 1t.
The Ball measure would create
three-member arbitration commits
sion to be appointed by President
Roosevelt.
In effect court of last resort
on labor matters, this commission
would be forbidden to approve a
wage increase unless it found it was
justified by higher living costs or
for other good reasons.
1t also would be forbidden to ap-
prove or recommend a contract
making membership in a labor Or
ganization a condition to employ
ment unless there had been a
previous agreement to that effect
or a finding that the employer had
engaged In unfair labor practices.
Labor Against Legislation.
Both the c. /. o. and the A. F.. L.
were actively campaigning against
any labor legislation.
Philip Murray, president of the
c. I. o., conferred with Senator
Thomas at length during the day
and addressed letter to all men,
bers of the Labor Committee. ask
ing them to help the war effort"
by defeating pending labor bills.
His letter said:
will you help national unity?
s,N
testing against dastardly attempts
that are being made to destroy labor
unions In America? viii you join
with labor in lending every possible
support toward the early effective
winning Of the war? Let's crush
Eitler-not American labor"
In radio address last night Will
liam Green, A. F. l.. president. de-
clsred that minority in Con-
gress" was trying TO crack the whip
over the backs of Americas loyal
workers"
Cites RooSevelt'S Position.
Adding that the only way to Judge
any legislation was on the basis
Of whether il would help win the
war, Mr.. Green said the pest Judge
of that question was President
Roosevelt as Commander in Chief.
What does he Say?" Mr.. Green
asked. He has publicly opposed
every one of these anti-labor pro-
posals as unnecessary and harmful
to the war effort
Heads Of all war agencies, Mr.
Green added, had also opposed any
labor legislation.
Meanwhile, the question OF war
time profits, closely allied 10 labor
legislation in Capitol discussion was
raised by the National Association
Of Manufacturers which maintained
in a statement that the Government
should be thinking of the effect Of
the war on the ability Of manu-
facturerS to meet postwar read
justmentS instead Of being unduly
concerned about the possibility OF
war mlllionaires
Document Made Public.
The statement was contained ii
a bulky association document or
The Record of Manufacturing
Profits" made public by Repre-
sentative jenkins, Republican, OF