Evening star., 1942-10-07
McNuh Aides Meet
10. Map Compromise
On Labor Draft Law
Monpower Commission
Chief Reported to Have
RooseveIt's Approval

AS compulsory mobilization of the
Nations workers developed as the
No. home front issue, now that
the anti-inflation program has
started rolling, five members of the
Management-Labor Policy Commit
tee of the War Manpower Commits
sion met today to try to reach a
compromise that would satisfy or
ganized labor's objection to the
compulsory labor legislation drafted
by the commission.
Informed sources said Paul v.
McNutt, war manpower. chairman,
already has received White House
approval Of the legislation and that
he Is anxious to have all kinks in
his proposal removed by both man
agement and labor before present.
ing it to the President.
Meanwhile, because of reported
chaotic labor conditions in several
sections of the country, the Man.
power Commission has decided, as
stop-gap measure, pending the
enactment of some compulsory labor
law, to press for an opinion from
the Attorney General on renego-
tlation of Army and Navy contracts
to force employers to cease their
so-called labor pirating" practices.
War, Navy Departments Object.
The commission is said to have
discussed the proposal to obtain ad-
dltlonal authority direct from the
President by executive order. The
War and Navy Departments are
reported to have objected, contend
ing it was not feasible to renego-
tiate all existing contracts to in
clude provision that contractors
and subcontractors shall abide by
the directives handed down by the
commission.
Attorney General Biddle will be
asked for an interpretation.
With respect to the commissions
legislation, the Management-Labor
Policy Committee was reported in
opposition because voluntary pro-
cedures have not been given a fair
trial. However, the issues are re-
ported to be more numerous than
was first indicated.
Labor Demands Listed.
Organized labor, informed quar-
tiers reported today. is insisting on
more adequate workmen's compen-
satlon, unemployment insurance and
health provisions in the legislation.
Labor spokesmen also contend the
McNutt draft does not contain
adequate unionization. strike and
wage yardstick provisions.
AS the subcommittee, composed
OF Frank P. Fenton, AFL director
of organization; Clinton S. Golden.
assistant to the president, United
Steel Workers, CIO; r. Randall Ir-
win, director of industrial relations,
Lockheed Aircraft Corp: R. Conrad
Cooper, vice president of the Wheel
ing w. VaD Steel Corp. and Arthur
S. Flemming, member of the Civil
Service Commission, was preparing
to go into session, one member said:
Il feel that we haven't scratched
the surface Of voluntary co-opera-
ton in dealing with the manpower
problem. People who are compelled
to work are not free. The less
compulsion. the more work American
workers will do"
Job Insurance Factor.
| This member declared success of
voluntary efforts to transfer workers
from non-essential industries into
war jobs depends greatly on the In
stitution of adequate workmen's
compensation, unemployment insur-
ance and health programs in all
States.
You can't expect workers to leave
State where the unemployment
insurance provisions may be $18 a
week and transfer to a job where
the benefits are only $6 a week."
he explained.
Similarly, the problem of the in
adequacy of many State compensa-
ton and health programs must be
solved"
The Full Policy Committee will
meet again Friday. But it is not
expected to take any action on the
national service issue.
"Work or Fight" Hearing.
IT suppose the draft could be
pulled out of the committees hands,"
one committee member said. But
the War Manpower Commission is
disposed to work right along with
the labor management group and