Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-12

ASS1AAfS Pei Aoa.
Most observers were of the opinion
that Mr.. Truman intended that fact
finding procedures be enacted into
law as permanent machinery for
handling labor disputes. Questioned
about this, Mr.. Schwellenbach said
that he had not discussed the ques-
ton of permanency with the Pres
ident.
He admitted to the committee
that it would be very difficult for
a commission to investigate dis
pute of the magnitude of the Cen
eral Motors strike or the threat
ened steel strike within the time
prescribed by the bill.
Questioned on Green's Charges.
The secretary was questioned
closely about the charges made by
Mr.. Green that the fact-finding
bill would nullify the Norris-La
Guardia Act by opening unions and
their Offices to civil damage suits
and permitting application for in
functions to halt strikes. He said
he was doubtful if such penalties
could. be invoked against labor I'M
der the Truman plan.
Senator Ball, Republican, of Min
nesota was sharply critical of Mr.
Schwellenbach's conciliatory efforts
in the recent oil strike. He said the
Secretary's proposal that the oil
companies and the CLIO union arbi-
trate the difference between the
companies Is per cent offer of wage
increase and the workers 30 per
cent demand had done great harm
to the collective bargain process"
The oil companies rejected the
arbitration offer, contending that
their offer of Is per cent should
not be considered in such arbitra-
ton. Mr.. Bail said he agreed that
the Secretary definitely was siding
with the union in that case.
Flow of Goods Needed.
Mr.. Schwellenbach told the Sen
ate committee that the current
wave of strikes and industrial I'M
rest resulted from the inability of
labor and management to redis-
cover the instrumentalities of COL
lective bargaining" since their war
time working agreements were die
tated by Government policy and
Government boards.
He said that some means of min
imizing work stoppages is necessary
IF we are to avert imitation by the
equalization of production and de-
mand" which he said could only be
done by assurance of an abundant
and unceasing flow OF consumer
goods"
1.-THE national interest, therefore"
the Secretary said, demands that
the emergency legislation which is
now under consideration by your
committee be enacted at the earliest
possible moment"
One Change Suggested.
Mr.. Schwellenbach suggested one
change in the bill which has been
introduced in both houses of Con-
gress. He said that a section which
requires the Secretary of Labor to
designate the employer or en-
ployers involved in the dispute, the
groups or units of employees
and representatives of such en-
ployes" invaded the territory of the
National Labor Relations Board
whose legal duty it is to designate
representation.
Il recommend that this provision
be eliminated from the BILL" he said,
adding that it would encourage
employers to adopt time wasting
technique"
Mr.. Green also pointed out that
the provision for preliminary Ger
LITIGATION of representatives in a
dispute by the Labor Department
was contrary to the National Labor
Relations Act. He charged that it
enabled employers to question at
any time whether union repre-
sented majority of workers in a
plant.
Mr.. Schwellenbach said that labor
docs not have anything to fear
from the 30-day period which
would be prescribed by the bill dur
ing which no work stoppage, wheth-
Ter in the form of strike or lock-
out, would be lawful"
The House Labor group also was
to hear Ira Mosher, president of
the National Association of Manu-
| facturers
Pressure Taken Off.
The House in stormy session
yesterday refused, 200 to 1872, to con-
sider bill written by. the House
Military Affairs Committee, but its
supporters said they might attempt
to bring it up again next week i.
the Labor Committee fails to act
on fact-finding. The military groups
bill would repeal the strike vote
/ Hill Hl