Evening star., 1942-04-16
Senate Labor
Unit 10 Act on
Curb Bill
More Constructive
Measure Sought
For ConnoIIy's
BULLETIN.

A Senate labor subcommit-
tee today approved amend
mentS to the labor bill of Sem
ator Ball. Republican, of Min
nesota, which would have the
effect of freezing existing
closed shop agreements and
give the Government veto
power over increases in wages
and salaries.
The Senate Labor Committee
agreed today to attempt to re-
wise and offer in the Senate Mon
day measure by Senator Ball,
Republican, of Minnesota freez-
ing open and closed shops and
providing for stabilization of
wages in war industries, but not
affecting the 40-hour week.
Senator Hill. Democrat. of Ala
bama said, however. the committee
had rejected a move to substitute
the Ball bill for a more drastic meas
ure by Representative Smith, Demo-
crat, of Virginia, passed by the
House several months ago.
Concurrently, the Labor War
Board, composed of A. F. of L. and
c. l. o. officials, informed Presi-
dent Roosevelt that labor is unani-
mously and uncompromlsingly op-
posed to the freezing of wages.
Ending a long period in which a
majority has opposed enactment of
any restrictive labor legislation, the
Senate Labor Committee directed
subcommittee headed by Senator
Hill to meet later in the day and
revise the Ball bill, reported favor
ably to the Senate before American
entry into the war
More Constructive Bill.
Chairman Thomas said that If
Senator Hills group agreed on a
new version of the measure, the
full committee would meet to act
on 1t Monday morning. If approved,
the bill then would be offered as
a substitute for measure by Sem
ator Connally, Democrat, of Texas,
which the Senate will consider tax
ing up then.
The committee felt" Senator
Thomas told reporters, that it
ought to draft bill that it believed
was more constructive than the Con-
nally bill and offer it as a substi-
tute"
The Connally measure would per-
NIT the Government to take over
strike-bound industrial plants,
freeze labor conditions in those
plants and permit the adjustment
of wages by special board.
President, Labor Chiefs Meet.
Action was also in prospect by the
House Naval Affairs Committee on a
bill by Representative Vinson, Dem
ocrat, of Georgia to establish 48-
hour week with regular pay in war
industries, to freeze the status of
open and closed shops, limit union
fees and curb war profits.
Senators Ball and Taft. Repub-
liCan, of Ohio told reporters they
hoped, with some strong Democra-
| tic backing, to pave the way for
final congressional action on a "rea-
sonable" war labor policy.
That the views of labor on wage
freezing had been communicated to
President Roosevelt was disclosed by
William Green, president of the A.
F. L., after a board meeting with
the President.
We are Jointly and unanimously
opposing without compromise the
freezing of wages" Mr.. Green said,
We already have a War Labor
Board which is the court of last
resort if there is a disagreement
between employers and employees on
wages. In such cases the question
reaches the War Labor Board for
adjustment.
Labor is the only group subject
to such control. For example, there
is no board passing on farm in
/ come We object to a double check
by the War Labor Board and by
a freezing order from the Presi-
dent. Labor is prepared to make
: sacrifices on an equality with other
/ groups-farmers or businessmen"
Labor FavOrs Miss Perkins.
/ Philip Murray, c. I. o. president
/ who is also a member of the board
said that the question of rigid wage
controls will be discussed at greater
/ length by the Labor War Board
before there is any action.
+ Mr.. Murray also told reporters
that the man power mobilization
program had been discussed today
but that further announcements
must await the working out OF
/ agreement and details between the
/ A. F. L. and c. l. o. for labor S
! participation. He said guide rules
/ for labor standards, training and
wages are yet to be worked out
! Mr.. Murray said mobilization of
woman power is to be included in
the overall program.
The c l. o. head would not dis
cuss the question of who is to be
administrator for the mobilization
project. Both labor groups have in
dicated their preference for Secre-
tary of Labor Perkins, but several
other prospective administrators
have been mentioned.