Evening star., 1943-09-05

istration will determine labor re-
Quirements for essential agriculture
and is directed to distribute agri-
cultural labor throughout the West
Coast according to manpower
needs"
THE War Manpower Commits
sion" the program directs, will aid
the War Food Administration in
obtaining manpower for peak sea-
sonal requirements, including, where
necessary, release of nonagriculture
workers for farm work, importation
OF foreign workers and ALLEGATION
of prisoners of war and in emer-
gencies United States Army units"
Mr.. Byrnes said in a statement
that the program was not one "to
investigate and report" He added:
1T is a program which provides
for the setting up of operating ma
chinery for the flexible and con-
tinuing adjustment of manpower
and production in accordance with
the changing needs of our strategy.
Mr.. Eastman's letter to all rail-
road executives and railway labor
organization heads said he would
call a. series of emergency man.
power conferences within the next
few days" to discuss the proposals.
Time will not permit extended
elaboration and debate" Mr.. East
man wrote, Il am sure you realize
the Importance of quick and de-
cisive action. The problems must
be met now by the joint and collec-
tive action of management, labor
and the Government to the end
that no part of our war activities
shall be hindered through any fail
ure of the railroads because of in
adequate manpower."
Criticism Held Exaggerated.
Mr.. Eastman's proposal for sus-
pending the regulations, which crit
les call feather bedding" or make
work systems, comes within six
weeks after he reported that IT
think there is a gross exaggeration
in the criticisms" of these railway
He said last night the Interstate
Commerce Commission is empoW-
cred to suspend any full-crew rule
or train and engine mileage limita-
ton, whether they are State laws or
agreements between railway man.
agement and labor. Or, he said, la
bor and management could mutually
agree to it.
There is evidence that as a re-
suit of continued mileage limita-
tions on some railroads substantial
numbers of train and engine men
are not yet working the number of
hours which can be reasonably con-
sidered to be full time under pres
ent conditions" Mr.. Eastman COM
mented.
Other Recommendations.
Other recommendation in his 13-
point plan were:
That Mexican citizens be obtained
to do maintenance work along rights
of way and that the War Depart
ment assign prisoners of war for
such work wherever practicable.
Expansion of the program for
the service of women in
railway jobs and the establishment
Of flying squads" or regional pools
Of highly trained railway labor for
Joint use of all railroads in any
area of serious labor shortage.
That all railroads file with Sc
lective Service replacement
schedule" which would, in effect,
constitute agreement between the
railways and Selective Service as
to which and how many employees
may be inducted and the dates after
which they will be available to call.
He promised that ODT will ask
Selective Service to grant a 60-day
on induction to those
railroads which signify intention of
submitting a replacement schedule.
Establishment of labor manage
ment committees, training programs
with pay, Government aided recruit
ing drives for railroad labor, extern
sion of overtime pay to include
maintenance workers, provision for
reporting personnel shortages to
Government authorities, high labor
priorities in recruitment of railroad
workers in areas of critical labor
shortage and improved housing and
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