Evening star., 1945-12-16
Truman Radio Appeal
On Labor Bill Hinted
As House Marks Time
By JAMES Y. NEWTON.

BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.
J The House Labor Committee
decided yesterday to continue hear
ings into next year on President
Truman's proposal for establishment
of public fact-f1nding procedures ir
major labor disputes, as it was in
dicated the President may take his
case for labor legislation to the
people
Rebuffed again by Congress in his
request for early action, Mr.. Tru-
man was reliably reported to be con-
sidering a radio speech in which he
would outline his views on dispute
settling machinery, tieing to it an
appeal for the type of full employ
ment legislation he wants.
One official explained that the
radio report to the Nation was not
definite, while another said that
II the President does decide to make
the speech he will "mince no words"
In placing responsibility for many
reconversion troubles on Congress
failure to act on his legislative pro-
gram.
Hearings Postponed.
The House committee voted unan-
mously to postpone hearings on the
Truman plan until after the Christ
mas recess, following rejection, by
. 10-to-6 vote, of motion to begin
consideration tomorrow of amend
ments to the bill, with a view to
reporting it to the House floor.
The committee also decided to
broaden the scope of the hearings
to include investigation of the entire
labor-management relations picture.
Acting Chairman Ramspeck said it
appeared the hearings would "go
son for long time"
Rep Fisher, Democrat, Of Texas,
moved that the committee consider
reporting the bill to the floor, and
the motion to call additional wit
nesses was made by Representative
Kelley, Democrat, of Pennsylvania,
p committee aide said. Mr.. Fisher
said the purpose of his motion was
s"to get a definite expression from
the members on their stand" He
added that he got the informa-
tion."
Opposition Noted.
{ Mr. Ramspeck, who contended
the group got all information nee
essary on fact finding in the past
week of hearings, commented that
neither management nor labor
wants the bill in its present form,
50 we didn't have much to go on.
All we had was the request of the
President"
Secretary of Labor Schwellenbach
was the only committee witness to
give unqualified Endorsement of the
bill, which provides for presiden-
TALLY appointed boards to investi-
gate major disputes with labor and
management forbidden to strike or
lockout during the prescribed 80
days of investigation.
Leaders of major labor organiza-
tions bitterly opposed it, while rep
resentakyes of the National Asso-
citation of Manufacturers and the
United States Chamber of Com
merce suggested major changes.
Senate Delays Action.
The Senate Labor Committee
earlier had killed all hope of get
ting action on the plan until we'll
Into 1916. The group decided to
hold four additional weeks of hear
ings after Congress reconyenes in
January. The committee will also
consider a more comprehensive dis
pute handling plan which Senator
Ball, Republican, of Minneapolis
proposes as substitute. Effect of
the repeal Of excess profits tax on
labor relations likewise will be in
vestigated.
There appeared only one possibil-
ity of action on the Truman plan
in the House before Christmas.
Some members of the Military At
fairs Committee have said they
might attempt to attach the legis-
lation to repeal of the Smith
Connally War Lab-r Disputes Act.
Tentative plans call for Congress
to recess next weekend and to
reconvene January IA.
A Federal labor official said that
the General Motors strike should
: be settled by that time, but the
situation in the steel industry prob
ably will be very critical. CIO United
Steel Workers have scheduled 9
general strike for January IA. The
official said there was danger we
might not have the authority to
patch up the situation and Congress
will be moved to take some drastic
step-give us some legislation we
do not want"