Evening star., 1946-01-15
Labor
Continued From First Page)

and the ONCE of Economic Stab1Il-
zation, was to be today's witness be-
fore the committee of which Senator
Murray, Democrat, Of Montana is
chairman. The committee looked
for short hearings with a view to
getting early action on the measure
in the Senate.
Meanwhile, operations in the
steel industry moved toward nor
NAL Attention of the industry was
directed toward the White House
and new wage talks tomorrow be-
tween CIO President Philip Murray
and Benjamin F. Fairless, president
of the United States Steel Corp. A
general steel strike was postponed
until next Monday at the Presi-
dents request.
The Government is ready at
moments notice to cancel all pri-
critics on steel-military as well as
civilian-if there is strike, John
D. Small, civilian production ad-
ministrator, has announced.
Officials here were keeping quiz:
any plans for seizure Of the W al
meat industry in event concilis' ion
fails to halt the walkout. 1t had
been reported that the pe king
houses would be seized In Advance
OF a strike in order to keep intact
the Nations food supply. One high
official said, however, the Govern
ment might allow the stoppage to
run day or two before taking over.
Packinghouse workers, who orig
inally demanded wage increase of
25 cents an hour, later scaled down
the figure to an immediate 17h
cents, and officials believed the strike
could be averted if the packers
would offer 1872 cents. Best packer
offer to date called for ia cent
raise.
Consumers Wouldn't Pay.
In an effort to induce an accept
able wage settlement Federal ofii-
cials in Chicago were said to have
proposed to the packers a slight
advance, less than a cent pound
on meat at wholesale. Under the
new plan this would not be passed
along to consumers, but would be
either absorbed by retailers or or
set by increased subsidies.
Il Edgar L. Warren, head of the
Labor Department Cancellation
Service, was the leader of the Fed
eral delegation in Chicago, but he
was reported returning here. He
expressed the hope that an agree
ment reached by nine smaller pack
ing houses, providing for a wage
increase of Is cents an hour, might
lead to settlement with the big
packers.
Officials hoped to compromise botf
wage and price demands now with
the promise of review of the in.
dustry's whole price structure withir
six months.
Would Hit 13s Plants.
In event of a strike, CIO unior
spokesmen said, 1t will be directes
against 139 plants of the majo
| packers. These include the four Chi
cago firms, Swift, Armour, Cudah,
and Wilson; John Morrell Co., OF
tumwa, Iowa: Cudahy Brothers Co
Cudahy, Wis: Rath Packing Co
Waterloo, Iowa; Kingan Packing
Co., Indianapolis, and Tobin Pack
ing Co., Fort Dodge, Iowa.
Two other big packers, HORNED o
Austin, Mimi, and Upgrade Foo
Products Corp, Chicago, have agree,
to wage increases and further nego
tiations and will not be affected b.
strike
Despite postponement of the gen
eral steel strike, nearly 10000 work
ers were reported idle in six State
because of so-called local" differ
ences brought to head by the pre-
carious national situation.
The American Iron & Steel Insti
tute estimated steel mills will op
crate at 76.5 per cent capacity thi
| week, as compared to 81 per cen
! last week.
11,000 Idle at Bethlehem.
. Biggest walkout was at the Beth
. lehem plant, at Lackawanna, N. Y
where 1900 have been idle sine
/. Friday.
Two members of the Senate Labo
Committee, a Republican and
Democrat, forecast quick action o
President Truman's request for
l fact finding" measure.
I II think We can have the fact
! finding measure ready after brie
3 hearings" Senator Ellender, Demo
\ crat, of Louisiana said. TT may
4 even stronger than the Presider
! asked"
\ Senator Aiken, Republican, of Vel
\ mont said he was willing sto NAL
\ the hearings short and sweet" ado
! ing in an interview, II think Cor
! gress is entitled to have vote q
8 this question"
: Some lawmakers, however, said Il