Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-09-23
Bills 10 Curb Strikes
Held Back 10 Allow
SchweIIenbach 10 Act
BY GOULD LINCOLN.

ny JOULD LINCOLN.
As reports of additional thousands
OF workers on strike rolled into
Washington, members of Congress
yesterday professed willingness to
give Secretary of Labor Schwellen-
bach and his new departmental set
up every opportunity to halt this
growing industrial war.
Nevertheless, they expressed be-
lief that eventually Congress would
have to step in with legislative aids,
particularly for long-range indus
trial peace. This was the view of
Democratic Senators Hatch of New
Mexico and Mcmahon of Connecti-
cut, both sponsors of labor bills now
before the Senate Labor Commit
tee.
The two Senators temporarily are
withholding demands for hearings
on their bills to avoid embarrassing
Mr.. Schwellenbach in his efforts to
END strikes that are holding I'D re-
conversion Of industry. But they are
ready to move at any time, If and
Wnen 1t becomes necessary.
Minimum Wage Hearing.
The Senator Labor Committee
will open hearings Tuesday on the
Pepper bill to increase the minimum
wage from 40 to IS cents an hour
under the Wage and Hour Act. This
measure is In line with the demands
of organized labor. President Tru-
man in his recent message to Con-
gress recommended Substantial
increase" in the statutory minimum
wage. level
Secretary Schwellenbach, Secre-
tary Of Commerce Wallace and OPA
Adpinistrator Bowles will be among
the first witnesses. Others will be
Gov. Nav of Utah, Mayor La Guar
dia of New York, Ira B. Mosher
president of the National Associa-
ton OF Manufacturers; William
Green, AFL president; Philip Muir
ray, CLIO president, and A. F. Whit
ney, president of the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen.
The Hatch bill, which also Is
sponsored by Republican Senators
Ball of Minnesota and Burton of
Ohio, newly appointed associate JUS
tlce OF the Supreme Court, has been
assalled vigorously by organized
labor. 1t would amend the National
Labor Relations Act, place greater
responsibility on labor organiza-
tons, set up new methods of seek
Ing industrial disputes adjustments
and provide for compulsory arbi-
tration in strikes or lockouts In in
dustrles particularly affecting the
general public, such as milk deliv-
cries and public utilities.
Mcmahon Bill Less Drastic.
The Mcmahon bill, sponsored also
by Democratic Senators Hayden of
Arizona, Thomas of Utah and. Tun-
nell of Delaware, is much less dras-
tic, in the opinion of labor.
The Mcmahon bill makes no ef-
Tort to amend the National Labor
Relations sAct. 1t undertakes to
strengthen agencies for Cancellation,
mediation and arbitration in in
dustrial disputes and establishes a
division of mediation and concilia-
tloin in the Labor Department. It
would free the department from
salary restrictions of the Classical
ton Act in hiring experts, and
would set up as an independent
agency a United States Board of
Arbitration, to which disputauts
may appeal. Arbitration would be
ordered only if both sides ask for
1t. But once they agreed to submit
a dispute to arbitration they would
have to abide by the findings of
the arbitrators. Appeals may be
taken, but only on certain grounds.
Senator Mcmahon does not be-
heve compulsory arbitration in
management-labor disputes is either
proper or feasible. Both manage
ment and labor, he said, would re-
sist such law, the former fearing
what Government arbitrator might
decide If labor were in the ascend
ency in the administration.
No Shotgun Marriages"
There are no shotgun marriages
between labor and management pro-
'A"td W my oili, TIC Sdlu. I1OW -
ever once there has been volun-
tary marriage through voluntary
arbitration, there is no provision for
easy divorce. The Arbitration
Boards awards have the force of
law"
The Senate Labor Committee has
been slow to act on proposed labor
legislation in recent years. However
the fact that the Mcmahon bill is
sponsored by two Democratic men,
bers of the committee, seems to
give 1t better than even chance
of consideration-unless the more
ardent supporters of labor feel that
1t would be advisable not to bring
forth any legislative proposals.
If the Mcmahon bill should be re-
ported to the Senate, undoubtedly
efforts will be made to amend ii
by adding various provisions of the
Hatch bill, or even by offering the
entire Hatch bill as substitute.