The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-11-11
Ball Studies Strike Curb Legislation
 Hopes to Outflow
 Big Tieups Which
 Hamper Economy

WaShington. Nov. n - tUPD - Sen. Joseph H. Ball, CR., Minn.) {, said today he may introduce a bill In the new Congress to outlaw any ndustry-wide strike which could eopardize the national economy.
 Ball said his study of the problem vas not complete but that the ans- yer might be elimination of indus try-wide collective bargaining in uch basic industries as steel, coal, oil and railroads. A general tieup of any one industry could be avoided. he said, if unions bargained with only portion of it at any one time.
 Industry wide bargaining is dan- yerous and intolerable when it leads Q industry-wide strikes" he said.
 Controls Junked
 Balls statement came as industry and labor shook of the last Gov ernment controls and moved back into a period of unrestricted collec- live bargaining to settle their prob- ems. The war-born controls went put the window over the weekend on President Truman's orders.
 The only exceptions are plants, mines or facilities seized by the government to end labor disputes. tn these the government can fix wages and working conditions by negotiating with the workers.
 Some quarters feared the decon- rol of wages and prices would lead she giants of industry and labor in- 10 a test of strength that would bring a wave of strikes and a legis- ative Stalemate between the Pres dent and the Republicans Control ed Congress on how to deal with Ealkouts.
 MT. Truman described his decon- Hol order as a step toward in reaSed production and fewer work Hoppages." But the next 90 days plainly will be critical in labor management relations
 Test May Come From Lewis
 Union officials and Government economists believed the first result d decontrol would be price rises which would add to the pressure for rage increases, They saw the big lest immediate danger spots in soft oal mining and building construc- ion. both dominated by A.PL. Inions.
 But a more formidable test is ex- )ected within 60 to 90 days when pig GIG. unions move in a united ront for cost of living adjustments basic industries of steel. rubber 1il. meat packing. electrical manu- 'aeturing, automobiles and farm equipment.
 Powerful independent and AFL. lnions will be moving about the anne time toward reopening of ontracts in the telephone and rail- oad industries.
 Trouble between Mir. Truman and he new Republican Congress may develop fast if the bitter warfare of last winter occurs again this year. The new Congress is almost certain to pass new labor legislation and may precipitate veto battles with the White House.
 No Omnibus Bill Expected
 Senator Ball predicted the GlOP.- controlled Congress will send labor !egislation to President Truman's desk piece by piece rather than in an overall omnibus bill.
 That wouldl be too hard on the President" he said. He would have 70 veto all or nothing"
 Bail believed Senate Republicans gere in a position to "go pretty fast on labor legislation on the basis of the Case Bill, passed and vetoed by President Truman in the last session Of Congress. He said bills providing for equal responsibility for unions and man- agement and regulation of union welfare funds probably will be in- troduced soon after Congress con- Yenes. Revision Of the Wagner Act is pretty much overdue Ball said, but legislation to correct its fault wiil have to await intensive study by the Senate Education and Labor Committee. You can't cure in a day what has developed over the last 20 years" he said.