The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-04-03
Michigan in
Washington
Esther Van Wagner Tufty

A % per cent absenteeism was
noted on the House vote on the
manpower bill to cut absenteeism
in war plants.
The absenteeism in the Michigan
delegation added up 10 five out of
II members. Republicans Black
ney Of Flint, Bradley Of Rogers
City. Dondero OF Royal Oak. Hoff-
man OF Allegan and Democrat Les
inski of Detroit.
No Michigan member, either Re-
publican or Democrat, voted for
the patched-up manpower bill, call
ed the strongest compulsory man.
power bill ever TO come to the vot-
ing stage in Congress.
The bill gives even more power
to the assistant president, James
F. Byrnes. He can freeze work
ers in their Jobs. He can tell
any worker what Job he or she
may accept He can impose en-
ployment ceilings on any plant.
He can impose any regulations re-
garding hiring, rehiring, and &C
ceptance OF jobs. He can put
violators. either employer or en-
ployee, in jail or impose a sl0,0O
fine.
II the House manpower bill pass
es the Senate Congressman Frank
Hook threatens to offer an amend
ment TO the conference report
drafting capital, industry, and
property to such an extent that we
will abolish all profits, put all gov
ernmental and non governmental
activities under, complete govern
ment control, so that we may take
all profits out OF war" Hook says
he sees no reason why free labor
should be forced into enslavement
for private profit OF employers"
II was Mlchigan's 1t. General
William s. Knudsen, Army produc-
ton director. who urged a compul-
sorry labor draft because the rate Of
absenteeism in war plants Is now
7 or s per cent, instead OF the per
cent he said should be the normal
rate in wartime.
incidentally, the General, who is
credited with many American war
production miracles, says he will
resign shortly after V f day. He
is Sc years old.
Now the Senate Is worried about
its own absenteeism as it struggles
with the manpower "absenteeism'
bill.
The Labor Department has com
piled data on the impact OF the war
on employment in 70 war centers.
Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids are
included.
It's the kind OF background city
fathers and local manufacturers
need when the time comes TO re-
convert from war to peacetime pro-
duction The figures show the mag
nitude OF the changes the war has
brought to individual communities.
In the Grand Rapids area. includ-
ing Kent County. the last four
years have brought great employ
ment upheavals. The number of
workers in manufacturing has
jumped from 10000 TO $4,000. CT
william employment in non.agricul-
tural establishments has advanced
from $1,000. to 73,bO0 workers.
Meanwhile. there has been a de-
cline in other non-agricultural es
adjustments.
In selected industries. such as
aircraft. parts and ordnance a mere
handful OF a hundred workers has
been increased to 10000 and in ma.
chine Jobs from 400 to 5000 work.
ers.
The bureau Is now engaged IN the
preparation OF more accurate esti-
mates OF employment by states and
as a by-product OF such studies
will be able to revise the estimates
/ Of many areas.
In the days before the war, the
opening OF the Great Lakes was
not worth n news release by the
Washington powers that be, but
so great is the Importance OF open
waters to war shipping. that the
0DT hailed the event with an Of
fetal announcement The first two
ships to pass thru the 500 straits
we're OF Canadian registry the Cap
tain c. d. Secord and the Shaugh-
messy.