Evening star., 1946-01-18

than attempting to conciliate
the wage dispute, the Govern
ment's direct participation in
the case was over until fact
finding begins.
CUDAHY PLANT HERE picketed:
D. c. meat supply cut one-half
Page "A
BY the Associated Press.
The meat situation looked
oleaker today, with no sign that
Government efforts would bring
a quick settlement in the three
day-old strike of 263,OO0 meat
packing workers.
A Federal fact-fnding board
opened study on the strikes wage
issue, but its report is not due
until February l6-29 days hence.
The fact-f1nders promised, how
ever, to act promptly on any agree
ment possibility that would bring a
settlement in the walkout before
that date.
Secretary of Labor Schwellenbach
who invited all sides to Washington
in connection with futile effort to
avert the walkout, ended four hours
OF conferences last night.
Talks Called Exploratory.
But the talks with packers, CIO,
AF'L, and unaff1liated union rep
resentatives, were exploratory, F." Mr..
Schwellenbach told newsmen, with
each presenting his position.
Edwin E. Witte, chairman of the
fact-finding panel named by the Sec
retary yesterday, took up the con-
ferences today. Mr.. Witte indicated
they would be concerned largely
with procedure to be followed when
formal fact-finding hearings begin.
His associates on the panel, Clark
Kerr, chairman of the War Labor
Board Meat-Packing Commission,
and Chief Justice Raymond w.
Starr of the Michigan Supreme
Court, are not due in Washington
until tomorrow, Mr.. Witte said.
The fact-flnders are under Mr..
Schwelienbach's orders to study the
dispute and report by February Is.
Strike End Not Asked.
But Mr.. Witte left the door open
for an earlier settlement, declaring
that any time the fact-finders saw
possibility of agreement they
would attempt to obtain one.
Both company and union officials
reported after last nights sessions
that Secretary Schwellenbach did
not request an end to the strike dur
ing the fact-finding procedure.
AFI representatives said they had
not modified their demand for a Is
cents an hour wage increase; CIO
spokesmen declared their demand
remained at an immediate increase
OF 17k cents, with an additional 71a
cents to be negotiated later. Com
pany spokesmen reiterated that any
wage adjustment must be tied to a
price increase.
Object to Brotherhood.
Both unions objected at the open
ing OF the meetings to the presence
of officials of the National Brother
hood of Packinghouse Workers, an
unafhliated union. They said the
brotherhood is not on strike and
therefore not eligible to attend.
Don Mahon, brotherhood presi-
dent, told reporters, however, that
his union plans to file 3O-day strike
notice if Federal conciliation efforts
fail. Mr.. Mahon said the brother
hood represents $4,000 packinghouse
workers.
Agriculture Department officials
fear that the meat strike, if it lasts
many days, will cause an acute
shortage of livestock feed.
This, in turn, they say, would
threaten future supplies of meats,
milk, poultry and eggs.
An early result may be to force
the Government to cut down on the
small quantity of grains now being
allotted for whisky making.
Forced to Use Feed.
Officials said that every day the
meat strike lasts farmers are forced
to keep-and feed-thousands of
head OF hogs and cattle which are
ready for the slaughter market.
The supply of corn-the major
livestock feed grain-is the smallest
IN i've years and of poor quality
due to early fall freezes.
The department reports that Iowa