Evening star., 1943-06-12
Anti-Strike Bill
From First Page J

the Utah Senator, chairman of the
Education and Labor Committee.
AFL and CIO leaders have worked
to put down suddenly walk
outs and are entitled to commenda-
ton, Senator Thomas said, then
added:
If the bill becomes law, we move
one step farther away from the VOL
untary system for labor and indus
try in this country"
The Senate Cancelled a Saturday
recess in the hope of completing
congressional action on the legis-
lation this week.
Marking the first time in many
years that any restrictive labor bill
has approached enactment. the
measure was given sudden momen-
tum by the dispute between John
L. Lewis United Mine Workers and
the coal operators, but it would
cover threatened work stoppages in
any factory or mine producing
essential war materials
AS opponents of the bill made a
last ditch fight in the Senate, the
belief grew in well-informed con-
gressional circles that President
Roosevelt will sign it in its final
form. Features of the bill include
1t fortifles the War Labor Board
with the power of subpoena in it's
efforts to settle disputes. and pro-
vides that failure of any party to
appear at hearings shall not affect
the boards decision.
The measure defines the power al
ready exercised by the President to
have the Government take over
mines or factories threatened with
work stoppage. This move may be
made before or after the WLB be-
gins mediation efforts.
The handspring Of thes bill, how
ever, is the provision that, once the
Government has taken possession
OF plant, 1t becomes a criminal
of1ense for any one to induce or en-
courage either strike or lockout.
The penalty for violation would be
a $4,000 fine, or year in Jail, or
both.
1t would be unlawful for any one
to provide funds for a strike or lock-
out, or to make strike unemploy-
ment or other benefit payments.
The original Connally bill, which
old not contain the cooling of
period or secret ballot. passed the
Senate originally. 63 to 16. Sup
porters of the bill expect a closer
result on the compromise bill worked
out with the House, but they still
predict substantial majority for
final approval.
Senators La Toilette, Progressive,
OF Wisconsin and Dsnaher, Repub-
lican, Of Connecticut also are ex-
pected to speak against the con-
ference report today, but Senator
Mead, Democrat, of New York
strong administration adherent, OBJ
served:
The bill may be passed without
some Of our votes, but apparently
it is going to be passed"
In yesterdays debate in both
houses, hackers of the bill argued its
purpose is not to injure labor, but to
insure continued production of sup
plies needed by the men on the
fighting fronts. They emphasized
also that it is temporary war legis-
lation. Nevertheless, it marks a
sharp change from the congress
sional situation of few years ago.
The House, late in l94l, passed the
Smith labor control bill, but the
Senate took no action. Some of the
provisions of the pending measure
were advocated by Representative
Smith. Democrat. of Virginia.
Closed Shop Bar Seen.
One of the controversial points in
the debate on the conference report
is whether the bill will prevent the
War Labor Board from issuing
closed shop, or maintenance of
membership orders.
Representative M cant o N o,
American-Laborite. of New York
contends it will prevent such orders,
because it requires the WLB to keep
within the terms of the National
Labor Relations Act. Mr.. Smith
agreed with Mr.. Marcantonio that
it would prevent closed-shop orders,
but said he did not see how the
WLB lever got any power to order
any company to enter into an agree
ment which they did not agree to"
He argued that maintenance of
membership orders conflict with the