Evening star., 1946-06-11
The tert OF President Trunann's
message uetotng the Case labor
disputes bill folloUs..

, am returning herewith, W1thOu
my approval, HR 4908, entitled "Al
act to provide additional facilitie
for the mediation of labor dispute.
, and for other purposes"
The outstanding domestic prob
lem confronting this country toda
is the maintenance and increase O
production. We must have produc
ton, or the effects of ruinous infla
tion will be felt by every one of gu
citizens. Strikes and lockouts ar
the greatest handicaps to attainin
vital production.
1nasmuch as the solution of ou
present-day labor problems consti
tutes the key to production, thi
present bill must be judged in tn
light of whether it will assist in re
ducing labor strife in the Nation.
l have given careful study to tn
Dill. I have not considered it from
the standpoint OF whether it favor
or harms labor, or whether it favor
or harms management. 1 have con
sldered it from the standpoint O
whether or not it benefits the public
which includes both management
and labor.
In the determination of the uues
ton of whether or not the grea
majority of our citizens will be bene
fitted by this bill, the question pre-
sented is whether it will help to stor
strikes and work stoppages and pre-
vent other practices which ad
versely affect our economy.
Welfare of the Nation.
have reached the conclusion tina,
it will not.
have tried, as the representative
Of all the people of our Nation, t
approach this problem objectively
free from the emotional strains O.
the times, and free from every con.
Isideration except the welfare of ou
Nation and OF the world which il
so dependent upon our recovery t,
full peacetime economy
This bill was undoubtedly passee
by the members of the Congres
in the sincere belief that it woult
remedy certain existing condition
which cause labor strife and pro
duce domestic turmoil. I canno
agree with the Congress with ref
erence to the results that would b
achieved by it.
/ l trust that there will bo n
confusion in the minds of the mem
bers Of the Congress or in tn
minds of the public between thi
bill and my request on May 25tl
for emergency legislation.
At that time l requested tempo
rary legislation to be effective onl
for period Of six months afte
the termination of hostilities an,
applicable only to those few in
dustries which had been taken owe
by the Government and in whicl
the President by proclamation de
clared that an emergency had arisel
which affected the entire econom,
of the country
1t was limited to strikes aeains
the Government. 1t did not appl
to strikes against private employers
Such emergency legislation is nov
before the Congress, and l again
make the request that it be passed
H. r. 1903 is utterly different fror
my proposal of May 25, in kind an
in degree. Its range is broad, deal
ing with a wide variety of subject.
some of which are, wholly unrelate
!. to the subject of settling or pre-
/. venting strikes. 1t covers strike
i. against private employers. 1t
permanent y legislation" operativ
even after the reconversion perio
is entirely over, And it applies nc
{ to a few selected and vital indus
| tries, but to every dispute. no mat
ter how Insignificant, if the disput
affects interstate commerce.
Long Range Labor Policy.
At the same time, May Is, I ais
requested permanent Legislation
leading to the formulation of
long-range labor policy designed t
prevent the recurrence of sue
, crises. and generally to reduce wor
stoppages in all industries. I fur
ther recommended the immediat
creation by the Congress of a join
committee to study the entire ques
ton and, within six months, to brin
in its recommendations for appro
pirate legislation. I again rene,
the recommendation that a join
committee be appointed to make
study of the whole subject of labo
relations, and to suggest permanen
long-range legislation.
The fact that we are faced witt
an emergency which does justif,
the passage of temporary emergenc,
legislation does not, in my opinion
Justify us in the adoption of per
manent legislation without the stud!
that such permanent Legislation
needs. The bill is actually a collec
ton of separate unrelated measures
and is not an overall solution o
this most important problem. W.
must not make false start. W.
must not approach the problem OF
piecemeal basis as this bill does.
!, 1t is suggested that the bill merel
constitutes a beginning. that j
should be placed upon our statut
| books, and that we can then pro
ceed with the study of additiona
Legislation. I cannot agree with thi
| thesis. This bill is not permanen
; solution Of our difficulties: and
: it should become law, I fear tina
it may possibly result in being tn
| only permanent legislation we woul
obtain.
We are not faced with a decision
Of choosing between this Legislation
f and no legislation at all. 1t is NOR
properly choice between this par
. ticular bill and a more adequat
and more inclusive solution of tn
problem
The proposed measure. although
described as a mediation law, i
divided into two unrelated part.
The first six sections contain pro
visions relative to the mediation q
labor disputes, postponement Q
strikes and fact-f1nding. The re
.. naming sections consist of provi
, sions relative to robbery, extortior
unauthorized welfare funds, prohi
/, bitions against the organization Q
supervisory employees, union nabilit
in the courts and provisions estab
| l..