Evening star., 1947-04-14

0pee0S Jersey leH OF
Utility Aniistrike Law
BY the Assoeia,sd Press
NEWARK, N. j., April 14.-Court
test Of New Jerseys drastic new
antipublic utility strike legislation
sped to the grand jury stage today
at two-minute court hearing Of
the defendant union officials Of the
States $4,000 striking switchboard
operators.
Counsel for Mrs Mary Hanscom,
president OF the Traffic Telephone
Workers Federation of New Jersey
tNFTW affiliate), and Mrs. Virginia
Wigglesworth, vice president, waived
preliminary examination before Es-
sex County Judge Richard A. Harts-
horne and asked that the charges
against the women union leaders be
sent to the grand jury.
There was possibility, court off,
cials said. that the grand jurors
might receive the case later today.
Excused for Honeymoon.
Absent from todays hearing was
Mrs. Pasquale Siciliano, secretary
treasurer of the union, who was ex-
cused by the court last Friday to
permit her marriage yesterday and
honeymoon this week. Judge Harts-
horne observed with a smile today
that her name would have to be
changed in the records of the case
from Miss Elizabeth Ryan.
Today's court hearing and the an
nounced intention of the union to
seek Federal Court injunction to-
day restraining the State from en-
forcing the new penalty provisions
OF the antistrike law came as New
Jersey labor leaders scheduled a
conference at Trenton to discuss q
proposed Statewide general strike
for one day as a protest against the
statute. ..
However. Lewis M. Hermann
chairman of a special labor commit
tee, said an announcement of a one
day stoppage had been the result OF
a misconception of the original labor
union statements. Mr.. Herman, a
member of the State Legislature
and an AFL union official, said there
would be no general walkout.
Van Ripper Threatens Suit.
In Trenton Attorney General WAL
ter D. Van Ripper announced today
that he will file a suit for $4,000
against the Telephone Workers
Union of New Jersey, which ordered
its members to leave their positions
to respect the switchboard operators
picket lines. +
At the same time, Mr.. Van Ripper
said that other suits against the
unions involved in the current tele-
phone strike would follow ANY day"
He said that the complaint will
be served on John j. Curtin, pres
ident of the workers union, tomor-
row morning in Newark.
The Federal injunction, which the
Telephone Traffic Workers Fedora
tion of New Jersey. said it would
seek to make imperative the new
utility strike legislation is a rarely
used procedure, and although the
application for an injunction may
be made to a single Federal court
Judge, three judges must decide the
issue, a member of the State Law
Department said.
Must Establish Three Points.
He said the Federal courts are re-
luctant to interfere with the State
courts and that before an injunc-
ton is granted it must be estab-
lished:
/. That the 18th amendment (the
due process clause has been vio-
lated.
2. That "irreparable damage" has
been caused.
3. That there is no recourse to the
State courts.
The proposed Statewide tieup,
scheduled for Friday, was planned
by a newly formed group which an
ilOulCcU ltScll as LaOOT JOlQC
Legislative Committee.
officials of AFL and CIO unions
were represented on the body,
formed to combat the anti-strike
law which was rushed through
the Legislature last week in an at
tempt to force the return of striking
telephone workers at the State
seized properties.
About 10000 telephone operators,
however, still remained away from
work today after week end of
conferences and consultations which,
all parties agreed, appeared to make
no progress.
State Mediation Board Chairman
Walter T. Margetts conferred in
Washington last night with Joseph
A. Beirne, president of the National
Federation of Telephone Workers,
but Mr.. Beirne announced after the
that the New Jersey strike
would continue until the dispute is
settled "or until the courts have
determined the constitutionality"
Of the State law.