Evening star., 1947-01-20
Congress 10 Resume
Work on Labor Bills;
Seizure Plan Offered
BY the Assoeiuied Press

BY the Associoted Press
Congress today moves into its
first big week of work on labor
laws.
The Senate Labor Committee, un-
der Chairman Taft. opens a hearing
Thursday that will last about five
weeks and give the public scores of
different views on the complex is
sues at stake.
The House Labor Committee
headed by Chairman Hartley, holds
its first meeting Wednesday and
probably will start hearings next
week.
After a nine-day lull in the rush
of proposals for changing labor
laws, the introduction of bills be-
gan again today.
-Landis Offers Seizure Bill.
Representative Lands, Republic
an, of Indiana, was ready with a
measure designed to prevent serious
industry wide strikes through a
series of steps climaxed by Gov
ernment seizure.
In a statement which he said he
would deliver to the House late this
afternoon Mr.. Lands called for
Constructive" legislation and said
Most of the labor bills that have
been presented to the. Eightieth
Congress would practically destroy
the labor movement or set It back
to the horse and buggy days"
Representative Landis also said
he would introduce a bill to amend
the Wagner Labor Relations Act
to deny workers the protection OF
that law If they break a contract
or strike for other purposes than
to improve wages, hours or working
conditions.
Bill Differs From Other Plans.
His Government-seizure bill diff
fers from any other proposal yet
made to Congress. He told re-
porter he had worked on it for sc
nights. He said it is about half
way between free collective bar
gaining and compulsory arbitra-
tion."
It would apply to disputes in
Government licensed public utilities
Except railroads. and in interstate
companies affecting national health
or safety. Mr.. Lands includes coal
and steel in that. t.
If collective bargaining failed to
settle such a dispute, the parties
would be given five days to pick
fve-man board to make finding
The board would have two men
chosen by the union, two by the
management and fifth by the
other four.
Then there would be a 6O-day
cooling period while the board
made its finding.
Either Side May Reject Finding.
Either side could reject the find
ing if it wished. But a rejection by
the union would have to be ap-
proved by a majority vote of the
members.
If either side refused to partici.
pate in the board, or rejected the
finding, and if a strike or lockout
resulted, the. President could seizt
the properties. In doing so, hi
would state which side caused thu
stoppage.
If the union caused it the compan,
would continue tt. get the profits ane
assume the risk Of the business. 1
the company caused it the Govern
ment would get the profits and as
sumo the risk, and would be free t,
put wage increases into effect. I
the business lost money for go day
the property would be returned Il
its owner. -+s'
During the war the President coult
seize properties under the Wa
Labor Disputes Act, but he gave ul
that right December 81.
Would Forbid Strikes.
Under Mr.. Lands bill, when tht
Government seized a company, tht
employees would be forbidden te
strike. If they did the Government
could fire them, but no other pen
alties are provided.
Senator Mccarthy, Republican
of Wisconsin was ready to intro
duce a bill to leave the hot "closec