Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-03-13
Labor Seen FIoutinq
Low on Price-Fixinq
BARGAINING on Output Costs
Called Unjust by Writer
BY David Laurence

BY David Laurence
Strange things appear in the news
from time to time, but none stranger
this week perhaps than the announce
ment that, after q years investigation,
the prosecuting branch of the Govern
ment has secured the indictment OF six
companies making bah bearings because
they allegedly conspired to fix prices in
violation Of the antitrust laws.
Maybe they did fix prices and should
be prosecuted-though an indictment
isn't proof of guilt-but has any one
heard of the same prosecuting branch
OF the Government indicting any labor
union this year for fixing prices or any
employers for participating in. such
conspiracy under the guise of collective
bargaining?
In the last few weeks national labor
unions have fixed 1871 cents an hour or
whereabouts as the amount that wage
costs must be increased Every one
knows that the wage item directly in
fiuences the making OF price. In fact,
the Government itself has conceded
this and the Once Of Price Admins
tration is every day oficially recogniz-
ing these wage increases as a justifica-
ton for price rises.
Prejudiced Tangent.
In many industries the wages paid
are the biggest factor in the making
of prices. Yet, when several labor
unions acting together engage in a
Nationwide movement to get an 1877
cent increase per hour which results in
the fixing of prices, the prosecuting
branch of the Government is silent and
inactive. One reason given is that the
antitrust laws do not cover such cases.
This is fallacy. What is really meant
is that the Supreme Court Of the United
States, being packed" with judges with
preconceived notions Of how legislation
should be written, have construed the
antitrust laws as immunizing labor
unions from such laws. Even when .
labor union engaged in violence snd
forcibly prevented the shipment Of
goods out Of = factory-in the so-called
Apex Manufacturing Co. case-the Su-
preme Court majority closed its eyes
to the violation of the antitrust laws
and held that this was merely q labor
dispute and that the antitrust laws
didn't cover It,
Usually when the Supreme Court goes
OF on a prejudiced tangent. Congress
is importuned to correct the error. But
not single provision of law has been
adopted to prevent violence by labor
unions and they are free to stop or re-
strain interstate commerce at will just
so long as their alleged objective is to
promote labor union purposes.
Congress, of course, has shown it
self timid about writing any legisla-
ton to strengthen the antitrust laws
against any and all forms of con-
spiracy to fix prices. Labor unions.
to be sure, have right to demand
increases in wages in their relations
with particular companies, but do they
have a right to form Nationwide COM
bines which, by conspiracy with one
another, fix rates Of pay and hence
the prices not only in one industry
but in other industries that use the
materials of the first industry?
Equal Rights for An":
There was an acknowledged consulta-
ton between the steel unions and the
automobile workers recently concern
ing the wage increases to be demanded,
and the specific references to price
policies sought to be imposed have ap-
peared in the press from time to time.
1t could even be publicly announced
for that matter by the national unions
involved-the Department of Justice
wouldn't take notice of 1t.
All this does not make faith in de-
mocracy or in representative govern
ment stronger. The politicians in Con-
gress are fond of quoting Thomas
Jefferson's slogan: Equal rights for all,
special privileges sfor none" Yet the
reverse is true today. There are no
equal rights as between employers and
unions and there are plenty of special
privileges for unions. Even the Su-
preme Court Building, with its Equal
Justice Under Law" carved across its
front, produces many a smile from
tourists these days. Not only the spirit
III viz 10" odt tAC lCttCI no well Is
being abused by the evil influences Of
political favor and class bias.
Some day the employers may form
labor unions, too, and demand the
same rights. Only recently the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board provided
an entering wedge. 1t ruled that fore
men are entitled to take concerted ac-
ton as labor unions. Maybe the man.
ayers in American industry also have
right to combine as labor union and
enjoy all these privileges and immuni-
ties as against stockholders. The situa-
ton could not be worse confused than
it is today. while we boast abroad about
the fairness of our democratic institu-
tons.
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