Evening star., 1943-06-04
HouseSupport
Grows for New
No-StrikeB Bill
Compromise Plan
Nay Be Speeded for
Use in Coal Crisis
BY the Associated PresA.

BY the Associated Presa.
Strong support gathered in
the House today behind an ad-
ministration move to aim new
labor legislation directly at the
coal mine strike.
Drafted by Democratic Whip
Ramspeck of Georgia as a substitute
for the more far-reaching Smith
Connally bill, the administration
proposal would confront leaders OF
strikes in Government operated in
dustries. such as the coal mines
with a fine of $4,000 and year in
prison.
While it would apply to any in
dustry operated by the Government
Representative Ramspeck said, ii
was directed particularly at the Goa
strike. Settlement of that walkout
he added, would not remove the
need for it's enactment.
The measure would not interfere
with the right of an individual tC
leave his work or to refuse to return
to it. but it would provide a fine and
Imprisonment for anyone instigat-
ing or inducing an interruption OF
work in a Governments seized plant
aiding in lockout or strike giving
direction or guidance in walkout
or lockout, or furnishing funds for a
continuance of a work stoppage.
The Ramspeck bill. support for
which is headed by Majority Leader
Mccormack. is similar in most pro-
visions to the Senate-approved Con-
nally bill, for which the House Mill
tary Affairs Committee substituted
it's own legislation.
The Ramspeck bill retained
porvisions of the Connally bill
strengthening the powers of the
War Labor Board and undermining
the authority of the President te
seize strike bound plants. 1t de-
leted a Connally bill clause giving
employees of Government-operatet
plants the right to seek wage in
creases through the board.
Unlike the Military Affairs Com.
mittee measure, the RamSpeck bill
did not contain requirements for
3O-day cooling off period before {
strike could be called, secret bal
lot of workers before a strike coule
become effective, or registration o
labor unions
First to be voted on today will b.
a substitute for the committee
measure, offered by Representative
Harness, Republican, of Indiana.
strikes from the committee bill al
sections dealing with the War Labo
Board and with bans against pick
citing or jurisdictional strikes ant
sympathy strikes.
Mr.. Harness assailed Mr.. Ram
speck's bill as "a subterfuge and {
backdoor approach to labor legis
lation" and characterized it as IAN
other move in the adminiStrati ton
program to socialize industry ant
labor and encourage radicals ant
Communists to foment labor trou
BILE so the Government will TAX
over industry"
Administration leaders were re
ported to be driving for passage o
the Ramspeck measure today so tn
Senate could concur quickly and tn
bill be on the Presidents desk by tn
end Of the week for possible use il
dealing with the coal strike. Blu
leaders of both sides said there wa
a possibility that the final decision
might not be reached before Mon
day.
Urging its passage. Mr.. McCormacl
pleaded with the House yesterda
not to "legislate in anger" by en-
acting general labor legislation bu
to meet the present situation"
The committee bill. he argued
would "legislate against all of labo
when the vast majority are limo
cent"
Chairman Norton of the Labol
Committee led an attack on tht
Military Affairs Committee for re.
porting the bill without public hear
ings and for demanding speedy
action.
IF we adopt this bill today" sht
declared, I'VE are committing {
greater crime than John L. Lewis i!
guilty Of" She called the measur.
IAN insult to millions of American
workers who are contributing every
ounce of energy they possess to helE
win the war"
John L. Lewis was linked with
"Hirohito, Hitler and Mussolini" b,
Representative Morrison, Democrat
of North Carolina. who told tn,
House that if he we're President HI
would seize the mines and "any on,
who dared to interfere with thei
operation" would be court mar
tailed and shot"
Four Hours Of Debate.
A move early in debate by Rep
resentative Celler, Democrat, of New
York to kill the committee bill out
right through deletion of the en-
acting clause failed on a standing
vote of 1873 to 81.
Four hours of heated debate yes
terday failed to produce vote or
any Of the several pending meas
ures and left the House in a parlia
mentary snarl that finally forcet
adjournment.
So involved was the parliamentar.
situation that members clamored t,
know what they were being callet
to vote on and demanded that fur
their action be postponed until the,
could read the various proposals.