Evening star., 1943-03-24
Murray
CONTINUED From First Pag

down. the farm workers and the
Industrial workers will be the great
est sufferers. He also declared that
If the War Labor Boards little
steel wage formula is discarded
there will be no chance of stopping
enactment into law of the Pace bill
to include labor costs in the COM
putation of farm parity payments.
Murray Backs Pepper Plan.
Mr. Murray told the committee he
agreed that manpower legislation is
needed. but urged passage of the
Pepper -Kilgore-Tolan voluntary in
ducement plan, as against the Aus
tin Wadsworth bill for compulsory
assignment of workers
He also advocated fiat increases of
30 many cents an hour to keep wages
up with living costs as q substitute
for the War Labor Boards percent
age formula. He contended there
had been rank discrimination" in
increases awarded last year, under
the Little Steel" formula.
Before Mr.. Murray testified, the
committee had issued a mandatory
subpoena to John L. Lewis, head OF
the United Mine Workers, to appear
Friday to give his views on how
war production can be increased.
The subpoena was issued after Mr..
Lewis had indicated uncertainty as
10 whether he could be here Friday
In New York. Mr.. Lewis press
representative, x, e. Adams, said
the union leader had made plans to
come here even before hearing Of
the subpoena
Mr.. Lewis will appear before the
Truman Committee on Friday" he
added.
Norman Thomas Hits Plan.
Norman Thomas, Socialist leader,
also objected today to legislation for
a civilian draft. calling it an "ex-
treme assertion of totalitarian
power
Mr.. Thomas told the Senate Mill
tary Affairs Committee that the
intent Of the Austin w adsWorth bill
Is TO give to the President power TO
place men and women at work, not
of their own choosing" in war in
dustry and agriculture.
This is to establish a form OF
slavery and involuntary servitude, as
these terms have been defined in
America 1t is difficult or impossible
to imagine more extreme assertion
Of totalitarian power than that
embodied In total conscription.
Mr.. Murray told the committee
1t had been increasingly evident
that there exists today no CO.
ordinated planned program on the
basis of which American workers
can know precisely what is expected
of them. The time has long passed
when we can afford to think Of
manpower agency as a sort OF frs
department emergency squad"
He added. however. that the CIC
Is necessarily and unalterably op-
posed to the Austin WadSWorth bill.
1T will. he continued accom-
plish nothing except TO inject the
basis for diSsension and disunity anc
freeze chaos. whereas what we nov
need are concrete legislative step
for the accomplishment Of tots
mobilization, thereby assuring the
forging OF an unshakable nations
unity.
The Pepper Kilgore Tolan pro
poSal would create an ONCE Of Wai
Mobilization, with $500 900 900 fol
loans or grants to cover subsistence
and transportation Of workers anc
their families to essential Jobs.
Lack of Facilities Cited.
The Senate only last week votet
down q motion by Senator Pepper
Democrat. Of Florlda emDodying tn,
main features OF this plan. whet
he offered it as A substitute for I'M
Bankhead bill to defer farmers from
military service.
Green Is Witness.
Application OF the 48-hour weei
throughout industry, and wider dis
trioution of contracts 10 areas Whcr
msnpoWer and machinery are avail
able were recommended by MI
Green as two definite ways 10 IN
crease war production
Both MIR. Green and Mr MulTa
found fault with the War Labo
Boards method OF trying 70 ssablh2
wages. MI Murray Conle0oed tn
fat Is per cent Little Steel tormuI
worked 70 the disadvantage OF tn
50-cent- AN hour man as agalnS
the $50 worker
M. Green said the lack Of al
integrated war economy and lh
"haphszard operation ol our Prjce
control system have had the ffec
Of shacRlinE wage earners hand an
foot