Evening star., 1947-01-06
Congress
Continued From First Page.)

gressive program of home construc-
ton.
Fourth, the balancing of the
budget in the next fiscal year, and
the achieving of substantial sur
plus to be applied to the reduction
of the public debt.
Fifth, protection of a, fair level
of return to farmers in postwar
agriculture.
Terming jurisdictional strikes "in-
defensible," Mr.. Truman said that
Legislation to prevent such strikes
is clearly desirable"
Boycott Ban Qualified.
The check on secondary boycotts,
he amplified, should be directed only
at those which are productive of
such abuses as furthering juris-
dictional strikes or the forcing Of
employers to violate National Labor
Relation Board orders.
1 mot all secondary boycotts are
unjustified," he emphasized.
J. In another corrective measure, the
President suggested legislation to
set up machinery under which un-
settled contractural disputes might
be referred to final and binding
arbitration"
Complementary to this, the Presi-
dent said that the facilities within
the Labor Department for assisting
collective bargaining should be ex-
tended, and that the program of
social legislation "to alleviate the
causes of worker insecurity" be
[broadened.
In asking a study of labor rela-
tions, the President was repeating
suggestion made at the. time of the
rail strike last May.
He suggested that the survey be
conducted by a 20-member board
from Senate, House, labor, manage
ment and the public, and that its
first report with specific recommen-
dations be made not later than
March IS.
Better Bargaining Methods.
He said this commission should
seek ways OF settling or preventing
nationwide strikes in vital indus
tries affecting the public interest
without endangering our general
democratic freedom" adding that
upon a proper solution of this prob
lem may depend the whole industrial
future Of the United States"
Improved methods for collective
bargaining and the underlying
causes of labor Encouragement dis
putes" also should be studied. the
President said.
To alleviate" cause of workers
insecurity, Mr.. Truman proposed
legislation that the last Congress
stalled off-broadening Of social Sc
curity; comprehensive national
health program and provision for q
fair minimum wage. He also urged
anew the creation Of Department
of Public Welfare.
1--WE must remember in reviewing
the record of disputes in 1916 that
management shares with labor the
responsibility for failure to reach
agreements which would have
averted strikes" the President said.
For that reason, we must realize
that industrial peace cannot be
achieved merely by laws directed
against labor unions"
Monopoly Curbs Urged.
That, obviously, was the Presi-
dents answer to the Republican
drive to re-enact the Case bill-with
odifications-that he vetoed at
the last session.
In connection with his labor
management program, the President
urged also that industry "hold the
line" on prices and make cuts
where possible, and that labor ere
frain from pressing for unjustified
wage increases that will force in
creases in the price level"
Next in Importance to adjust
ment of labor management rela-
tioas, President Truman placed the
need for curbing monopolies.
Declaring that the Capitalization
of business control was accelerated