Evening star., 1946-02-06
NewPricePoIicy
Expected Today
I0r Tomorrow
Directive Outlining
Increases for Steel
Also Awaited
By JAMES Y. NEWTON.

wage disputes and a directive
specifically the price
increase it has been decided to
grant the steel industry.
Official quarters still have high
hopes of settling the steel strike and
possibly other big disputes by the
end of the week. officials were
working hard to get out the new
policy, which it is hoped will release
industry from reconversion-c Grip
pling disputes, before nightfall, but
those who know Government pro-
cedure said it might not come until
later.
The White House announced that
President Truman would hold a
news conference at 1920 am. to-
morrow, and it was held possible
the new policy would be revealed
at that time.
The policy statement will make pro-
vision, it was understood, for those
industries caught in a squeeze be-
tween price and justifable demands
OF workers for higher pay, The di-
rective applying directly to steel is
being drawn up by Sterilization Di-
rector J. G. Collett and probably will
be issued by the White House Office
of Reconversion Director Snyder.
Meat Pay Figures Decided On
Meanwhile it was learned that
the Federal fact-finding board for
the meat industry dispute had de-
cided to recommend wage increase
of 16 cents an hour for workers in
the Nations meat packing house in
dustry. About 248, 900 CIO and AFL
workers in big packing plants over
the country struck three weeks ago
for higher wages and the Govern
ment subsequently seized about half
the industry.
The board, headed by Edwin z.
Witte, found that the packers could
absorb only about 5 cents of the
suggested increase from current
earnings, it was understood. The
remaining IL cents would be made
up to the industry either by in
creased Federal subsidies or direct
price relief officials were hopeful
that the problem could be worked
out without raising the price o.
meat to consumers.
CIO United Packing House Work
'ers, representing the vast majority
of employees involved in the dispute,
originally demanded a pay raise of
Is cents an hour. They scaled It
down just before the strike, saying
they would accept is cents immedi-
ately ION account" and negotiate .
remaining 5la cents an hour. In
dustry leaders contended all along
they were unable to raise pay ap-
preciably without price relief.
Report Withheld.
The packing house decision was
tied directly to the general revision
of administration price-wage policy.
SO the fact-finding board withheld
its report pending the expected
White House announcement.
Mr.. Synder worked yesterday on
the revision in price policy with Mr..
Collet and Price Administrator
Bowles. They were reported to have
made good progress toward working
out differences existing between
them.
The size of the price increase in
steel still was described as slightly
in excess of 81 a ton. The industry
has stated it must have greatly in
excess" of $6.25 a ton to meet the
CIO United Steel Workers latest de-
mand for a wage boost of 1914 cents
an hour and to raise company earn
ingS to prewar levels.
officials were uncertain whether
the contemplated change in price
policy would necessitate issuance of
a new stabilization executive order.
Bowles' Appearance Delayed.
Mr.. Bowles was scheduled to
testify on the requested extension
of the Price Control Act before the
House Banking Committee tomor-
row, but the committee announced
later his appearance once more had
been postponed, this time until Mon
day. The move was made to allow
time for the price policy change,
The act expires June 80 and the
administration has requested exten-
sion of a year.
Lending weight to belief here that
a major break is due in the strike
situation, Philip Murray, CIO presi-
dent, sommoned a strategy confer
ence tomorrow between leaders of
the CLOS big three" unions auto
mobile, electrical and steel workers.
These together represent 1,125 900
striking workers and have adopted a
stick together" policy in consider
ing wage settlements. Mr.. Murray
insisted last night, however. that
there was nothing significant" in
the Thursday meeting.
Shipbuilders May Vote.
Echoes of the hree-week-old steel
wage deadlock were heard yesterday
in an announcement by John Green,
president of the CIO Shipbuilding
Workers, OF strike vote within his
organization. The steel industry
has a heavy stake in the Nations
shipyards.
Since last December 4 shipbuild-
ing management and labor. with
Government representatives partici-
pating, have been unable to agree
on wage increase for 100000 AFL
and CIO civilian shipyard workers.
Conferees say the deadlock could be
resolved If the steel industry set the
wage pace.
Mr.. Green said the union Execu-
tive Board would meet Friday 'to
map action in this crisis He de-
clared he would recommend the
strike vote IF the employers MAIN
tanned their sitdown" against Cow
ernment-sponsored wage increase
recommendation Of Is cents hourly.
The Shiphuilding Sterilization
Committee, which acts on wage
questions affecting the industry, viii