Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1944-08-11

job and wage security.
The Senate Finance Coz
over on the Senate Military
Affairs Committee. Senator
Walter F. George d., Ga.)
chairman of the Finance Com.
mittee, brought before his com
mittee and obtained its unan-
imous approval of his bill to
take the question of unemploy-
ment compensation of Iaid-oft
workers out of the field of fed
eral jurisdiction and leave it en-
tirely to the states. except that
the Federal Government would
back up state jobless funds.
Moving fast, the states-rights
bloc, headed by George, has an
nounced they will call up their
bill on the floor of the Senate
on Tuesday of next week.
Backed By Labor
1t was "a hours after Senator
George beat them to the punch
that the Senate Military Affairs
Committee met to begin it's de
liberations on the Kilgore Bill,
which has the unanimous, sup
port of organized labor.
The bill introduced by Sen
ator Harley M. Kilgore d.,
w. Va.) is an overall war-to-
peace transition measure which
would give to a proposed di-
rector of war mobilization and
adjustment jurisdiction over the
entire program of war produc-
ton, transition and demobiliza-
ton. On the subject of displaced
war workers the Kilgore Bill
would authorize uniform .unem-
ployment compensation rates
throughout the nation, with pay
ments ranging from a minimum
of $12 to a maximum of S35
a week. Under the Kilgore Bill,
the United States Treasury
would reimburse the states for
above state rates.
The Senate Military Affairs
Committee, whose chairman is
Senator R. Reynolds (D.y N. c.,
opened its sessions last Thursday
with a two-hour discussion be-
hind closed doors. The interest
Of the war and navy politicians
in the Kilgore Bill was evil
denced by the fact that they
requested the secret sessions
and by the numerous uniformed
officers who constantly came
and went through the afternoon.
KiIgOre Makes Statement
At the conclusion, Senator
KiIgore told the press that the
only got as far as
agreeing that an Office Of War
and Adjustment
should be esta blished. The SEN
ltor said optimisticaliy that he
loped to see the whole bill ap-
proved and reported out of COM
nittee by Saturday so that 1t
could be brought up on the floor
If the Senate at the same time
IS the George Bill, which would
wipe out the time advantage of
he latter.
But Senator Reynolds, COM
nittee chairman, dashed cold |
water on this hope by saying |
le doubted whether the Kilgore
Bill could be reported out by |
AS a second line of strategy, |
was intimated by reliable
ources that if the Kilgore Bill
S not reported out of committee
" Tuesday then Senator Ril-
ore will attempt to spike the
.uns of Senator George by NOV
ing on the floor of the Senate
or substitution of his bill for
he George Bill.
The battle spearheaded by
senator's George and Kilgore
made it clear that the issue at
take was primarily over the
mount of unemployment COM
and only secondarily
yer the issue of federal versus
tates rights. 1t is foreseen by
abor leaders here that as soon
S the war ends or as soon as
allow workers to re-
urn from war to peace industry, /
management drive will begin
, drive down the level of all
rage rates. A high unemploy-
lent compensation rate, it is
ointed out will hinder such a
rive. A low unemployment
ompensation rate will help
lch drive.