The Wilmington morning star., 1945-06-25
Study And Planning
BY ARTHUR KNOCK

scented populated largely by HdHQSnaKlng
politicians with only superficial knowledge
of the problems on which it must legislate.
That was the attitude of the New Deal ex-
ecutive assistants during large part of the
previous Administration On this concept they
brought legislative drafts to the Capitol for
which they asked passage without material
change and to get the necessary votes they
were disposed to use patronage and other
strictly political pressures as the arguments
Congress- could best comprehend.
There are members of Congress who fit this
concept But in far greater numbers are Sc
rious Woodworking men and Women-quite as
capable OF understanding these problems as
executive officials-who have insisted on max
ing original Investigations. These legislators
cvershadowed for many years of the last Ad-
ministraton, have been swiftly coming to the
fore during more recent years; and now mem
bers of both House and Senate recognize that
they, too, have experts all the issues that
confront government. The Republicans have
organized study groups which have made sug-
g.stions that in some instances have bettered
those produced by the Executive. Individual
Representatives have gained recognition as
authorities such problems as China Repre-
sentative judd. monetary policy (ex-Repre-
sentative Dewey, intragovernmental pro-
cedure Representative Kefauver), economy
and efficiency (Senator Byrd, and there are
many others.
An example of this intellectual emergency
of Congress was provided today when Senators
Hatch Ball and Burton-one Democrat and
two Republicans-brought forth proposed la
Dor policy for the Government, which has
been extemporizing in this field for many
years. And their preparation of the bill they
introduced today is typical of the best trad-
tons of planning.
They formed a volunteer committee of thir-
teen persons headed by Donald R. Richberg
himself an expert in labor relations and the
Author of numerous labor statutes, including
the Railway Labor Act which is the best
product of its kind. His colleagues were also
men of the same experience, and with the
bills sponsors they held many conferences
until they had worked out the projected legis-
lation. The task occupied many months and
TO miracle, was approached from the view
point of the public interest instead of those
of labor and management specifically. Par
tisans of these groups will be given every
opportunity to express their opinion of the bill
an. make suggestions during hearings which
will be an adequate forum for all qualified
witnesses. But they were not included in the
drafting committee.
This is in striking contrast to the methods
OF preparation of the Wagner Act (Which oper.
ates unilateraly and the compUlsions of which
are directed entirely to management and of
most of the other labor relations laws in recent
times 1t is also in contrast to the background
of measures written in a spirit of vexation
and reprisal such as the Smith-Connally law
the consequence of great provocations from
labor and a labor-swayed Executive, but as
full of faults as of remedies.
What moved these Senators to their careful
study was deep understanding of the post
War problem that is posed-for returning vet.
Grams, among others-by the unsettled indus.
trial labor relations that now exist in the
United States, and comprehension of the
necessity to give these a sound foundation
The Senators and their committee examined
the causes carefully and then set out to devise
solutions. They did not achieve their goal OF
putting all the Federal labor agencies under
one tent; they cannot by legislation weld at
one the split in the ranks of organized labor
which is the source of many strikes and other
disputes; and C1O and AFL spokesman will
| pro bly, unite to oppose some of the soundest
provisions in the Bill. But the three Senators
| hav made an excellent beginning they have
applied the materials for an informed national
de tie from which great improvement could
emerge, and they have demonstrated again
that thinking and planning are not outside the
capacities OF Congress
Labor and management were not asked to
assis' in the drafting of this legislation. But,
as Senator Ball pointed out in his explanatory
speech today, the convictions which animated
| the study and took form In the product were
the result of many discussions with members
OF both groups. Employers told him that, tn
less the unilateral compulsions of the Wagner
Act fairly spread Can equitable adjustment
which its author has never really tried to
make), and unless there is clear Govern
ment policy, small business will find it too
risky to attempt expansion in the reconversion
period And they might also have cited such
Supreme Court decisions as in the Hutchinson
case.
Spokesman of labor told him of their fear
that management may repeat its postwar eff.
fort after 1920 to destroy their unions and to
amend or repeal existing laws, not to restore a
fair balance between employer and employe
but to remove merited and necessary protec.
ton to labor that are furnished by these laws
There is some basis for the apprehensions
rhe answer is to eliminate them by legislating
a labor policy based on equal justice for both
groups but with the public interest paramount
That is the objective of this bill, and the
sponsors have not lost sight of it in any section
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