Milford chronicle., 1943-05-28

e
been instrumental In forcing a ma
tional labor policy out of the welter
of confusion on the manpower
front. Plant seizure, stabilization,
union behavior, wages, working
conditions, strikes, slowdowns,
fines, and Imprisonment, subpoeiias,
cooling off, financial responsibility,
secret ballots, the 4S-hour week,
and other phases of the problem
are receiving consideration.
Interest centers around the Sem
ate-approyed Connolly Bill Is. 1861
to amend the plant-seizure section
of the Selective Service Act. The
House Military Affairs Committee
now has this measure and is PLAN
ming speedy action.
Some sentiment also has been
expressed among Committee menu
bers for substitution of the Anti
Strike Bill reintroduced at this
session as H.R. 2124. There is some
doubt, however, whether the Sen
ate would be willing to accept this
measure as a substitute for the
Connolly Bill at this time; but
some members Of Congress believe
the House can add some improving
provisions to the latter measure
which would be acceptable to the
Senate and perhaps to the White
House.
According to the WPB Planning 1
Committee everyone will suffer 1
loss or, at best. discomfort" in 1943 |
because of a Is TO 20 per cent cur
tailment in goods and services for
civilians. The Committee suggests
a program involving extension of
consumer rationing. siphoning off
of manufacturing activity in labor
shortage areas, curtailing of less
essential goods and services, stan
dardization, and consumer. educa-
tion.
A new peak of $7OS,OOO, 900 in
lend-lease activity reached during
March sent the cumulative total of
all lend-lease aid to $10,319, ,51S,000.
While Congress on all previous
occasions has vigorously opposed
a ny extensive business subsidy I
program and has refused to appro- ;
pirate any funds for the purpose,
the question is again an important
Congressional issue. New develop
ments indicate that the Administra-
ton will make a renewed demand
for extensive subsidy legislation as
a result of OPA's plans. to force I
roll-backs on food prices-action g
sought by labor unions and prom i
ised by government officials. t
On Monday, May "a, public hear S
ings will begin in Congress on /
plans of various government i
agencies to change established in S
dustriaI and business practices. a
The hearings and investigation will t
be conducted by special seven {
man House Interstate Commerce
Subcommittee headed by Repre-
sentative Lyle Boren Of Oklahoma. f
The Senate Finance Committee, C
after less than three honrs of de- C
voted 13 to for the Il
of the Ruml Plan to abate II
1912 taxes completely and put all u
taxpayers on fully current basis. D
This Committee acion seems likely D
to upset the House-approyed CI0- il
sponsored Forand Bill which would il
have abated only the 6 per cent v
normal tax and the 1S per cent first e
bracket surtax.
Every time the administration n
sets up an imitation barrier some G
one comes along and knocks it Ii
down. First it was the Little IL
Steel" formula. Then came the ir
hold the line" order which begins m
10 resemble a sieve. To a great r
body of legislators the present sit al
nation is shaping itself into an b,
other imitation spiral. Ii
With labor clamoring for raises d.
and getting them, and the farm r
forces out to get theirs 90, there Il
is little question of the weakness ci