Evening star., 1946-01-29
Senate Hearinq
off, Ear|yStee|
Decision Hinted
Philip Murroy Cancels
Appearance Before
Labor Committee
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON,

A scheduled appearance of
Philip Murray, CIO president,
before a Senate committee was
Cancelled suddenly today, in
creasing speculation already
rampant here that an important
decision bearing on the eight
day-old general steel strike
might be near.
Mr.. Murray came here from the
United Steel Workers strike head
quarters in Pittsburgh, ostensibly to
testify this morning on President
Truman's labor disputes fact-find-
ing bill before the Senate Labor
Committee. Just before the hear
ings were scheduled to start the
committee announced the session
was postponed indefinitely.
CIO spokesmen maintained tight
Tipped silence as to the reasons for
cancellation, referring all inquiries
to Senator Murray. Democrat. of
Montana, committee chairman.
Trend Toward Settlement.
There has been a trend in the
last few days toward settlement of
these strikes and we did not want
to persist that Mr.. Murray appear
today" Senator Murray explained to
reporters. He added that he did
not want ''to interfere in any wav
with the possibility of these strike
negotiations.
Apparently, the committee was
concerned lest any verbal blasts
loosed by the CIO leader at the steel
industry might upset the delicate
maneuverings of Federal officials to
end the strike.
Mr.. Murray told reporters he had
no appointment at the White House
or with other Government officials.
There was no indication where
Federal officials might be holding
meeting in a new attempt to
end the strike. Charles G. Ross,
White House press secretary, told
newsmen there were no new de-
Velopments and that he saw none
in prospect.
Federal officials radiated optimism
over the possibility of ending both
the steel strike and the To-day Cen
eral Motors Corp. walkout this week.
but maintained close silence when
pinned down to the basis for their
steel peace hopes. There was little
tangible evidence to support their
enthusiasm in steel.
The best prospect in weeks for
labor peace apparently was due to
the following developments:
1. The presence in the city of Ben
jamin F. Fairless, president of
United States Steel Corp, for wage
price talks with officials, one of
whom repeatedly was Reconversion
Director Snyder. Neither Mr.. Fair
less office nor Mr.. Snyder's office
would confirm or deny any meetings,
however.
Dewey Named GIN Mediator.
2. appointment by Secretary of
Labor Schwellenbach of James F.
Dewey, veteran labor trouble shoot.
er, as mediator in the GIN automo-
tive strike and the acceptance of the
conciliation by both the company
and the CIO United Auto Workers
Union, representative of the 175,0o0
strikers.
Mr.. Fairless arrived here YESTERDAY
afternoon and Immediately went
underground" He was seen enter
ing his hotel, but all efforts to reach
him there were futile. His office
said he was here for conferences,
but with whom they professed not
to know. MIR. Snyder was equally
as impossible to reach and other
officials were silent as to his activ-
tiles. There was report that the
two had met in the steel executives
hotel suite.
A high official of the Labor De-
partment said, meanwhile, that he
expected both the GIN and steel
strikes to be terminated within a
week. This would send nearly a
million workers back to their Jobs.
Near Truman Figure.
Presumably any wage settlement
between the industry and the CIO
United Steel Workers would be made
near the figure recommended by
President Truman-an 181a cents
an-hour increase to the workers.
Price discussions with the steel
industry, it was said, still revolved
around a 81 per ton increase. most
of which the OPA figures is due the
companies to bring their earnings to
the 1936-1939 levels prescribed by
the Sterilization Act.
John D. Small, head of the Civilian
(See T,AROR page A-47