Evening star., 1945-02-10
AFL Council Takes Up
World Labor Affairs;
Lewis Reply Awaited
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON,

MIAMI, Feb. 1O.-The AFL Exec
utive Council today turned atten-
ton to international labor affairs
while awaiting answer from John L.
Lewis to overtures to reaffiliate his
500 900 mine workers with the Fed
Grafton.
President william Green was ex-
pected to make public reports on in
ternational labor meetings in Lon
don, submitted by Robert j. Watt,
AFL international representative.
Mr.. Watt attended the recent
meeting of the International Fed
Grafton of Trade Unions in London
and observed initial sessions of the
current World Labor Conference
there. AFL declined participation
in the latter because Of the pres
ence OF representatives OF Soviet
labor. which, it contends, is not
free"
A definite answer from Mr.. Lewis
regarding his opinion of new terms
of reinstatement in the AFL was not
expected before Monday. The coun-
Gil sent letter to Mr.. Lewis offer
ing membership to the United Mine
Workers If he would agree to set
tlement Of jurisdictional questions
by the council.
May Balk Over Council.
There was some concern among
Mr.. Lewis friends here that tht
mine leader might ba1k at prospect
Of having the council iron out thu
differences between them. He /.
said to favor establishment Of spe.
cial committees to do the job, ap.
parently fearing the council might
take away all of his District so, ir
which he has organized workers OF
diverse trades.
A major reason for desiring the
Mine Workers back in the AFL is a
belief voiced by many leaders here
that Mr.. Lewis would be able to woo
strong segments of the CIO. Fed
Grafton men point out that Mr.
Lewis founded and built the CIO tc
a strong position and that he still
has many friends there.
Following a short session on in
ternational labor affairs, the coun.
Gil today was guest of the Navy or
a sea patrol trip.
| The AFL yesterday wrote Chair.
man Doughton of the House Way.
and Means Committee urging early
enactment of amendments to ths
internal revenue code designed L
speed up tax refunds to business 81
it may have more working capital Il
supply postwar jobs.
I'VE have been advised" the let
ter stated, that many companie
will be unable to reconvert to peace
time operations and full employ
ment because of lack of working
capital due to the fact that the,
have been compelled to use thei
tax reserves for current operations
Early Refunds Held Necessary.
eve understand that one of tn
purposes behind the carry-back an,
postwar refund provisions was t,
furnish such companies with sufh
cient working capital to enable then
to reconvert and carry on.
"This purpose may well be defeat
ed If, due to the delay in repayment
of these sums because of the enor.
nous amount of clerical work re-
quired. These companies are forces
to liquidate and thus are eliminated
as possible sources of employment.
The CIO has used efforts to pusf
through legislation for early tax re.
fund to business as an argument fo,
raising the ceiling on workers hour,
ly wage rates.
The council also heard a petition
OF representatives of 10000 Yves
Coast cannery workers for either al
international charter or permission
to affiliate with the Seafarers' In
ternational Union. The Teamsters
Union requested jurisdiction owe
cannery workers engaged in ware
housing operations.
Final decision was postponed un
| til next week.