Evening star., 1947-01-06

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! STRIKES DECLINE TO POS
Schwellenbach's announcement
since VI day-both from ste
work stoppages, involving only
in effect made idle $4,000 wol
an eighth as great as during
Dor or management resorts to eco
nomic force without exhausting thu
possibilities for agreement through
the bargaining process. Neither tn
parties nor the Government have
definite yardstick for determining
when and how Government assist
ance should be invoked. There il
need for integrated governmental
machinery to provide the successive
steps Of mediation, voluntary arbi-
tration and-ultimately In appropri.
ate cases-ascertainment Of tn.
facts OF the dispute and the re.
porting Of them to the public. Sucf
machinery would facilitate and ex.
pedite the settlement Of disputes.
Broadened Social Laws
To Aid Workers Desired.
Point number three is the broad.
ening of our program of social legis-
lation to alleviate the causes o1
workers insecurity.
On June II, 1916, in my message
vetoing the Case Bill, ] made COM
prehensive statement Of my views
concerning bor-management rela-
tions. I said then, and I repeat
new, that the solution Of labor
management difficulties Is to be
found not only in legislation deal
ing directly with labor relations, but
also In q program designed to re-
move the causes of insecurity felt
by many workers in our industrial
society. In this connection, for ex-
ample, the Congress should consider
the extension and broadening Of our
social security system, better hous-
ing, a comprehensive national health
program, and provision for a fair
minimum wage.
Point number four Is the appoint
ment of a temporary joint COM
mission to inquire into the entire
field Of labor-management relations
7 recommend that the Congress
provide for the appointment of q
temporary joint commission to un-
dertake this broad study.
The President, the Congress, and
MANAGEMENT and labor have a con-
tinuing responsibility to cooperate
ID seeking and finding the solution
Of these problems. / therefore rec
ommend that the commission be
composed as follows: Twelve to be
chosen by the Congress from the
members Of both parties in the
House and the Senate, and eight
representing the public, manage
ment and labor, to be appointed by
the President.
The commission should be charged
with investigating and making rec
concentrations upon certain major
subjects, among others:
First, the special and unique prob
lem of Nation wide strikes in vita
industries affecting the public in
terest. In particular, the commits
sion should examine into the ques-
ton of how to settle or prevent such
strikes without endangering Our
general democratic freedoms.
Nations Industrial Future
Hinges Upon Problem.
Upon q proper solution OF this
problem may depend the whole in.
dustrial future Of the United States
The paralyzing effects OF a Nation
vice strike In such industries as
transportation, coal, oil, steel or com.
munications can result In nationa,
disaster. We have been able to avoid
such disaster in recent years, only
by the use of extraordinary wal
powers. AL those powers will soor
be gone. In their place there mus
be created an adequate system anc
effective machinery in these vita
fields. This problem will require
careful study and a bold approach
but an approach consistent with thu
preservation of the rights Of oul
people. The need is pressing. Th'
commission should give this 1T
earliest attention.
Second, the best methods and pro-
cedures for carrying out the col,
Ilective bargaining process. Tht
should include the responsibilities
| of labor and management to nego'
tiate freely and fairly with eacf
other, and to refrain from strike!
or lockouts until all possibilities O
negotiation have been exhausted.
Third, the underlying causes O
labor management disputes.
Some of the subjects presented
here for investigation involve long
range study. Others can be con-
sidered Immediately by the commits
sion and its recommendations car
be submitted to the Congress ir
the near future.
I recommend that this commits
sion make its first report, includ'
ing specific Legislative recommend
ations, not later than March Is
1947.
Restriction Of Monopoly
Is Second Major Policy.
The second major policy I desire
to lay before you has TO do witt
the growing concentration Of eco.
nomic power and the threat to fres
competition Ia private enterprise
| In I94l the Temporary Nationa
Economic Committee completed Z
comprehensive investigation into TIT
workings Of the national economy
The committees study showed that
despite half century of antitrus1
law enforcement, one OF the grav-
est threats to our welfare lay u
the increasing concentration o.
power in the hands of small num-
Der Of giant organizations.
During the war, this long-stand'
ing tendency toward economic con.
centration was accelerated. As {
consequence, we now find that to
greater extent than ever before
whole industries are dominated b.
one or q few large organization
which can restrict production In tn
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