Evening star., 1945-01-22
CLOSED Shop Ban
Is Written Into
Bill
House Military Unit
Rejects Protection
For Form Workers
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

The House Military Affair.
Committee today adopted ar
anti-closed shop amendment tt
the compulsory work bill, and al
the same time refused to write
in specific protection for farm
workers.
Both of these developments ap-
peared likely to stiffen rather thar
reduce opposition to the bill, recon.
mended by the administration tt
step up war production on tht
home front.
Further changes in the measure
were to be acted on this afternoon
with leaders expressing hope thai
a final draft will be completed BY
evening.
The committee was reported te
have accepted by a margin of sew.
eral votes, motion by Represen-
tative Andrews, Republican, of New
York, providing in substance that
no person going to a war job under
the bill, whether as a volunteer OF
by direction of his draft board
could be prevented from joining
a labor union, or be required to
join against his will.
Testimony BY Knudsen.
During the hearings last week
committee members asked 1t. Gen
William S. Knudsen what woulo
happen to a selectee ordered to
work in plant having a closed
shop agreement. The witness said
in such cases the new employe would
have to join.
The committee wrote in amend
ments requiring agriculture to be
consulted, along with labor and in
dustry. by War Mobilization Director
Byrnes before determining where
labor shortages exist, but rejected
two other moves to give the farm
bloc the assurance it has been de-
manding for protection Of the Tyd.
ings amendment of 1912, governing
farm deferments.
One of these defeated farm
amendments sought to list agricul.
ture as critical industry, and t.
direct selective service to clarity 1t!
recent directive to local boards fol
a review OF farm deferments. Mem.
bers of the farm bloc say man.
boards are constituting the directiv.
as signal from Washington to in.
duct able bodied farm workers re.
gardless of the Tydings amendment
and that this course will endangel
the Allied food supply.
Second Amendment Rejected.
The committee then voted down 6
second amendment merely describ.
ing agriculture as an essential in.
dustry.
Another new feature added today
on motion of Representative Kilday
Democrat, of Texas, would give per.
sons ordered into war plants the
protection of the Soldiers and Sail
ors' Civil Relief Act for the post
ponement of debts, and the same
seniority rights for reinstatement ir
their old jobs accorded war veterans
by the Selective Service Act. That
act requires private employers te
take back returning servicemen, un-
less they can satisfy a court tina,
changed conditions make it i'm
possible.
Another amendment adopted pro-
vides that draft boards could com.
pei registrants to go to war plants
only if sufficient volunteers have
not reported for work within a
specified time limit designated by
the board.
Following up its action of last
week, the committee also voted te
substitute fine or Imprisonment a.
the penalty for failure to obey 9
draft board order to 60 to a job, in.
stead of induction into Army labol
battalions. This comedies with ths
decision last week providing civi
penalties instead of induction fol
men who leave a war plant.