Evening star., 1946-01-08
$3.50 q Ton More
Seen; Industry
Seeking 81
By JAMES Y. NEWTON.

he expected TO see some increase
in steel prices as Federal off,
cials looked hopefully for a
"break" that would avert the
Nationwide seel industry strike
set for Monday, probably in the
form of a wage increase offer
from the United States Steel
Corp. to its workers.
Mr.. Truman would not give any
figure but he told his news con-
ference he though the increase was
probable after figures for this quar-
ter come in. Reports were circu-
lated that OPA would approve
price increase of $3.50 a ton.
Asked, in view of his strong anti
imitation stand how he thought that
a steel increase would relate to the
overall price structure, Mr.. Tru-
man said he could not comment at
this time but that he would have
statement when the time came.
Series of Conferences.
Conferences were held all day
yesterday and were to continue to-
day in and out of the White House
by top officials searching for a way
to stretch" Government wage-price
regulations that would permit set
tlement of the steel strike threat.
CIO United Steel Workers have
called on 100000 members to walk
out Monday in support of its de-
mand for 81 day wage increase.
Officials were working on the
theory that if settlement can be
reached in the giant steel industry,
disputes in other industries such as
automotive, electrical appliances and
meat packing will ''topple auto
matically"
Bowles COnfers With Truman.
They were convinced that unless
United States Steel does come
through with wage offer to the
CIO union this week the whole
industry will be shut down. The
problem was to induce the giant
corporation to offer higher wages
by making concessions on prices
to it.
Price Administrator Bowles con-
ferred with President Truman and
was reported to have told him that
OPA can grant no more than about
$3.50 per ton price rise on steel
products without seriously menacing
the entire price control structure
The industry has asked 81 a ton
to put current operations on a
profitable basis. Steel people say
even higher prices must be obtained
if wages are to be increased.
The fact-finding board appointed
by the President to investigate the
steel dispute delayed the calling of a
meeting TO set up procedures for
hearings pending outcome of the eff
forts to settle the controversy
through price and wage concessions.
Federal labor officials, aligned
against the OPA in the price matter,
were insistent that controls be
stretched to the point where the dis
pute could be settled. They held that
prevention of general strike was
SO important that the Government
should take a chance on a break in
price controls
They held that the answer to all
of the Nations reconversion labor
troubles rested on settlement of the
steel dispute. So far, neither United
States Steel nor any other major
producer has made an offer to the
CIO union.
At his news conference, where he
discussed steel prices, Mr.. Truman
also said he did not think anything
would be accomplished by suggest
ed modification of his plan to set up
fact-flnding machinery for indus
trial disputes.
He said the question of raising
steel priceS was still in discussion
and that he could not comment in
detail on it now.
Report Not Confirmed.
There was one report that Philip
Murray, head of both CIO and the
Steel Workers, would get together
with Uniped States Steel in Pitts
burgh either today or tomorrow for
a resumption of wage talks, but
there was no confirmation of this.
Meantime, the first break" al
thoughta small one. occurred in the
steel wage battle. Lehigh Foun-
dries, Inc, of EaSton, Pa, announced
settlement of wage differences with
the union through an interim agree
ment increasing wages from II to 81
cents an hour.
On another part of the labor
front, the fact-finding board con-
cluding hearings in the CIO Oil
Workers wage dispute with about 20
companies planned to hear living
cost figures from the Bureau of La