Evening star., 1946-06-01
SenateApprova|
Puts Strike Bill
UptoConferees
PorIey Will Decide
On Final Form of
Truman Measure
ByJ. A. OLeory

oyJ. n. ~ leory
The final shape of President
Truman's emergency strike con-
troll bill, which passed the Sen
ate in battered form early today
will be determined by conferees
from both houses.
After another all-evening debate,
the Senate approved the measure at
1890 am. by a vote of 81 to 20, but
only after it had knocked out the
following teeth:
Authority to draft workers who
remain on strike after the Govern
ment has taken over an industry.
A provision that would have
placed in the Treasury any net
profit during the period of Govern
ment operation, after allowing the
owners just compensation.
A section which would have de-
MED seniority rights to strikers in a
seized industry.
Truman AssaiIs Senate Bill.
Mr.. Truman, in Chestertown, Md,
to receive an honorary degree from
Washington College, commented
that the Senate's action had emas-
culated the legislation.
When Mr.. Truman asked for the
legislation last Saturday, the House
passed it in less than two hours with
all of these powers included, and
by the overwhelming vote of BOG
to 13.
Left in the Senate's boiled-down
version are these features of the
original bill:
Reaffirmation of the Presidents
power to- seize strike-bound facili-
ties, and then negotiate wages and
working conditions, power the
Senate upheld 54 to %.
A requirement that union leaders
take affirmative action to call off
strike following the Presidents S
proclamation that the operation of
the industry is vital to the national
economy. Penalties for failure to
take such action could run up to
$1,000 or one year, or both.
Authority for the Attorney Cen
eral to invoke injunction proceed
ings to halt strike after the Gov
ernment has stepped in. An effort
to eliminate the section failed, 81
to 10.
Labor Draft Rejection Seen.
All of the provisions, whether
knocked out or left in by the Sem
ate, are still subject to retention or
compromise in conference, since
they were all in the bill as it passed
the House Even if the conference
should put back the labor draft Sec
ton, it is doubtful If the Senate
would reverse the 10 to 13 vote by
which it tore that provision out sew
eral days ago.
The President still has on his desk
the permanent Case bill, placing new
obligations on labor unions, and it
is not likely Congress will reach a
final verdict on Mr.. Truman's
emergency powers until it is known
whether he intends to sign or veto
the long-range labor bill.
House and Senate at Odds.
Eliminating Sundays and holidays,
the Today period allowed the Presi-
dent to study the Case bill will run
until June II. The House may not
even get around to naming it's con-
ferees on the emergency bill before
Thursday, and it is safe to assume
the emergency bill could be held in
the legislative mill another six days
after that.
On this issue of drafting workers
who strike after the Government
takes over, the House once more
finds itself in the position of having
rushed to the Presidents support,
only to have the Senate go the other
direction. During the war the same
thing happened on the question of
manpower controls to get vital work.
ers into essential industries.
The general feeling on Capitol Hill
is that Mr.. Truman will veto the
Case bill If that happens the only
alternative for Congress probably
would be to reach some middle
ground on their differences over the
emergency bill and send that to the
White House.
The two bills, however, have
entirely different objectives. The
emergency measure is limited to one
year, and could be repealed sooner.
1t is designed to prevent the whole
Nation from being tied up by strikes
in key industries during this period
of reconvertion.
The Case bill, on the other hand,
sets up new permanent machinery
for reducing labor disputes by Great
ing new Federal Mediation Board;
requiring a 60-day cool-off period
while this board negotiates; making
unions liable to damage suits if
they break contracts; prohibiting
secondary boycotts against concerns
not directly involved in a labor dis
pute, and banning racketeering
violence.
Senate leaders decided to remain
In night session and dispose of the
bill, after the opposition failed by
the narrow margin of two votes to
sidetrack the measure for the time
(see STRIKE CONTROL, Pg. A-8.)