Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1945-12-28

finding legislation, will die ir
initiation of a counter-attack
Wayne Morse (R., Ore.) Mors
ate Labor Committee that
when it reconvenes in Janu-
ary for hearings on the Ball
Burton Hatch and fact finding
bills, it will investigate whether
big business is using the tax
cutbacks voted by Congress to
fight organized labor.
Morse On Taxes
Il think we should find out
what the facts are" said Morse,
about the allegations that some
employers are taking advantage
of the improved tax position
given them by Congress to fight
organized labor. I'm satisfied
from what I've heard that there
are some employers who are
using this opportunity to fight
it out with labor, with the pub
lie footing the bill out of the
tax savings voted them in good
faith by Congress.
Labor opposition to the entire
crop of anti-labor bills is credit
ed as the major reason for Con-
gressional reluctance to vote
them through. Another reason,
and perhaps a clinching argu-
ment for many representatives,
is that a completely new House
will be elected in November
1946, and organized labor, when
it goes TO the polls, will un-
doubtedly vote in terms of how
Congress has dealt with full en-
ployment, unemployment, com
pensation, the Murray-Wagner-
Dingell social security bill and
other labor backed legislation.
Unions Oppose Truman
Union opposition to the Tru-
man demand for fact finding
legislation found encouragement
in the complete confusion that
surrounded the power of the fact
finding panels. Echoing labor's
pessimism the N. Y. Journal of
Commerce predicted that fact
finding will prove futile in solv-
ing the General Motors strike.
The boards now have absolutely
no authority to subpoena com
pany records or financial ac-
counts.
Both union and Engagement
spokesmen predict failure of the
fact finding groups unless they
are authorized to investigate
profits and ability to pay. GIN
and other company representa-
tives, however, have made it
repeatedly clear that they will
not open their books to public
scrutiny unless Congress com
pels them 10 by law.
Management Fears President
Management frankly fears
that the President could, if he
wished, use his authority under
the Second War Powers Act to
give legal authority to the fact
finding panels both in auto and
oil to seize and examine com
pany records. Also, 1t was
pointed out that the President
could issue orders giving the
panels access to the records of
various government agencies
that have listed production costs
and profit figures.
William NJ. Leiserson, former
chairman of the National Media
ton Board and former member
of the NLRB, declared in Balti-
more that the fact finding idea
would not solve the problem Of
labor unrest.
Compulsory arbitration ap-
piled by the War Labor Board
during the war years failed, he
pointed out, as both employers
and workers revolted against
the formulas of government of
ficials. In 1914 we had the
greatest number of strikes on
record; and the number of peo-
pie involved in strikes was
greater than any other years ex-
cept two, 1919 and 1912. This
experience and the present ma
tion-wide strikes in Australia
that have psralyzed It's three
major industries, surely should
be a warning that the remedy
does not lie In the direction OF
outlawed strikes and govern
ment determination of the labor
bargain"
Among the several bills which
are expected to die in the Senate
Is the union-smashing Hobbs
(anti-racketeering) bill passed
last week by the House.