Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-21
Fact-Finders GET
Powerto0ut|ine
Price Controls
Oil Case Settlements
Believed Near; GIN
Reaction Awaited
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

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The Government today gave it's
fact-finding panels investigat-
ing labor disputes authority to
suggest broadening of Federal
price and wage controls if that is
necessary to enable employers
to meet wage increases which
the boards believe should be al
lowed.
This action was accompanied by
the following developments on the
labor front.
/. The fact-flnding board inves-
tigating the three-month-ol oil dis
pute adjourned hearings until jan
uary when 1t was indicated that
several of the major oil companies
were about to settle wage differences
with the CLIO Oil Workers.
2. General Motors Corp. officials
and the CLIO United Auto Workers
resumed their wage negotiations
here this morning after which the
parties agreed to meet again in
Detroit next Wednesday in an eff
fort to work out their wage differ
ences.
3. President Truman ruled that
his fact-flnding boards should con-
slider company profits and prices
and should be allowed to 60 into
employers books if necessary to get
the information needed to make a
wage finding.
GIN Attitude Awaited.
Meanwhile, the fact finding board
investigating the GIN strike will re-
sumo its hearings later in the after
noon. There still was no definite
word as to whether the corporation
would follow through with its threat
to withdraw from the hearings If
the board insists on considering
profits and prices in arriving at
a wage decision.
Rules which will govern all Fed
eral finding panels were read
at this mornings oil hearings by the
board chairman, Frank P. Graham.
They were in the form of a memo
randum from Secretary of Labor
Schwellenbach outlining how far the
boards could go in recommending
wage settlements and stating that
boards must consider company
profits and prices in arriving at Its
wage findings.
Adjournment of the oil hearings
was agreed to before the companies
had opportunity to state whether OF
not they would be willing to con.
tinue in view of the Presidents de-
cision that prices and profits are
relevant. The oil companies, like
General Motors, have commended
that an employers ability to pay
higher wages should not be consid-
cred in the sitting of facts behind
wage disputes.
,, oil Companies Optimistic.
Three major Oil companies ex-
pressed optimism that their wage
differences with the CLIO union
might be settled soon. These were
the Standard Oil Co. OF Ohio, So.
cony- Vacuum and the Atlantic Re.
ming Co. Mr.. Graham read tele.
gram from the Shell Oil Co. stating
that it believed that negotiations
now in progress will dispose of oul
disputes"
Spokesman for the oil workers
also said they were hopeful of max.
ing wage settlements with a mum.
Der of the companies.
Mr.. Schwellenbach's memorandum
on the authority of fact-findine
boards, made in consultation with
sterilization officials, said the board.
could recommend increases within
the framework of current Fedora
sterilization regulations The par
which allowed the board to suggest
broadening of regulations to NEE
particular needs stated:
IF the panel believes after a con.
sideration Of the entire record, thai
the existing standard for approva
of wage or salary increases for pric,
purposes should be broadened, it i!
free to suggest to the sterilization
administrator, through the Secre.
tary of Labor that he consider tax.
ing such action ="
A sentence attached to the ruling
of DR.. Graham's board stated thai
''the panel would consider such 8
course only in the light of most
compelling reasons"
| For a great majority of cases
(See LABOR, Page Aid