Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-11-14
|WLB Future in Doubt
After Three Members
|0ffer designations

-
The future OF the War Labor
Board was a question mark to-
day after three Of the four
public members announced their
designations had gone to Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
Chairman William H. Davis, Vice
Chairman George w. Taylor and
DR. Frank p. Graham, who have sat
on the tripartite tribunal since it
was established shortly after Pearl
Harbor to smooth labor troubles In
the mushrooming war industries.
told newsmen yesterday afternoon
that they had asked to be relieved,
thereby starting immediate specula-
ton as to what the President would
do about continuing the board.
Robert ]. Watt, an alternate labor
member and international represen-
tative Of the American Federation
Of Labor, expressed the opinion that
Mr.. Roosevelt could fill the three
key vacancies and that the agency
could carry on with but little inter-
ruption.
Might BE Reconstructed.
There has been a suggestion,
however, that the board might be
reconstructed, either as a labor
industry group, or as an all-public-
membership unit, and the departure
Of the three public representatives
would afford an opportunity for re-
organization.
Chairman Davis has frowned on
the idea Of an all-public agency, and
has said the ultimate goal should
be the creation of labor industry
setup. A factorn OF to be overlooked
in the latter alternative, however,
Is that not infrequently the industry
AMI labor members are deadlocked
on an issue, and with a third
group - the public represented,
there is chance for a decision.
John P. Frey, president of the
Metal Trades Department of the
AFL, called in New Orleans speech
last night for Washington clear
ing house" to replace what he de-
scribed as ''chaos and confusion In
labor Matters note sounded fire.
quently IN the recent presidential
campaign by Gov. Dewey, the Re-
publican candidate
Would Stay by Policy Decision.
Chairman Davis. DR.. Taylor and
DR.. Graham left the date Of their
leaving the board at the convenience
of the President, but told newsmen
they desired to remain through the
deliberations involving a
possible change in the administra-
tons entire wage sterilization policy.
These three, with the fourth pub
lie member, Lloyd K Garrison,
voted against making any recon-
mendations to the President on
breaking the present wage ceilings
which for months have been under
fire from the CLIO and AFL.
The board is preparing a report
to the President on the status of the
wage Garner in the face of increased
living costs, and determining scores
of other demands of more than g.
600 900 workers, mostly CLIO men,
bers.
Both AFL and CLIO have urged
the board to recommend abandoning
the Little Steel" formula, its own
creation, which limites general wage
increases to is per cent above the
level Of January /, l941. The labor
groups insist that living costs have
scared as much as 45.3 per cent.
designations Offered Week Ago.
The board decided in October it
would not make any recommended
ton and the two AFL members re-
fused to participate further in those
particular discussions.
The members proposing to leave
said their designations were sub
mitted weeks ago, with personal and
business reasons being advanced in
each case.
In the meantime, the right of the
board to act without interference
by the courts was reaffirmed yes
terday by the Supreme Court which,
for the second time, refused to re-
view proceedings challenged by an
industry.
Without comment, the tribunal
turned down an appeal of Mont
gomery Ward g. Co. from ruling
by the Court of Appeals here which
held that WLB actions are admin
istrative and at most" simply ad-
visory to the President.
The WLB, In case its orders are
disregarded, turns cases over to the
President for action.
The mail order firm commended the
WLB exceeded its statutory powers
in issuing orders involving union
maintenance, dues checkoff and
grievance machinery for CLIO en-
ployes at four Ward stores in De-
troit and one each in Jamaica, N. Y.
and Denver.
The Supreme Court previously at
this time had rejected an appeal by
a group of trucking companies from
a similar decision by the Court of
Appeals.
B. & O. Express DeruiIed
CINCINNATI, Nov. IA (P,-The