Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-06-05
Final Congress Action
Near on Labor Bill;
Observation-Disclosures
BY the Associated Press

SENATORS step up To-Day Tor
their turn at approving the COM
promise labor bill passed over
whelmingly by the House late
yesterday.
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio,
said there was a chance the Senate
ballot might go over until tomorrow.
He said 1t depends on how many
people want to speak and how long.
Once the vote comes, the bill goes
to the White House, where some key
Democrats expect veto.
There is no doubt about Senate
passage. The only question is
whether the vote will turn up a mar
gin indicating that Congress will
override a veto. That takes a two
to-one majority in both branches.
Hartley Is Jubilant.
The House score late yesterday
was better than four to one-320 to
70. Chairman Hartley Of the House
Labor Committee grinned to a re-
porter:
Vt told you sol"
Senator Taft, who heads the Sen
ate Labor Committee, stuck by a
prediction that the bill will become
law regardless of a veto. Senator
Ball, Republican, of Minnesota, said
he also is confident the Senate will
reject veto, If one comes.
But Senator Pepper. Democrat. of
Florida told a reporter it will be
''verv close" on that issue. He said
he looks for some Democrats to
switch over to supporting President
Truman ION the basis of a strong
veto message, the logic of which
would be persuasive"
Such a message also might pull
away some of those who voted in
the House for the labor bill. But
even the Democratic leadership
there says veto will be overridden.
103 Democrats Back Bill.
At yesterdays nose counting,
Democrats backed the compromise
103 to 66, Republicans, 217 to IL.
The one ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, Repre-
sentative Marcantonio of New York,
was against the bill.
The final 320-to-79 tally compares
with the 308-to-107 vote by which
the House passed it's own labor bill
In mid-April.
The compromise, blending togeth-
er the original House bill and an
other approved by the Senate, So to
"a, among other things would:
Ban some kinds of strikes entirely
and give the Government authority
to use court orders to stop ma
tional paralysis" strikes, as in the
coal or steel industry, during 80
days of mediation.
Forbid the closed shop, which
compels an employer to hire only
union workers.
Suits Against Unions.
Allow lawsuits against unions for
breaking contracts.
Bar unions from keeping non
strikers of the job by mass or vio-
lent picketing.
Deny collective bargaining rights
to unions if any official can "rea-
sonably be regarded" as a Com
munlst Or Sympathizer.
Congress has wrangled over such
matters for weeks. The House
wrangled only an hour yesterday
before voting.
The first test was On a final at
tempt to sidetrack the bill. There
were 246 votes against that to SIS
for it.
The last minutes of debate pitted
Majority Leader Halleck against
Minority Leader Rayburn.
The people are relying on Con-
gress for some fair, decent, rea-
sonaple. but courageous legislation"
Mr.. Halleck said.
THAT is exactly what we hay
here" he added.
Mr.. Rayburn called the bill un-
fair and clear as mud Under
it, he said: |
Our friend, John L. Lewis, can
declare every mine in the Unite,,
States unsafe"
The inference was that Mr.. Lewis
coulo keep his United Mine Work
ers' Union out of the coal pits on
such grounds.
Veto Question Discussed.
MIR. Halleck and Mr.. Rayburn also
got into the veto question.
The Republican said the Presi-
dent might have some reason to
think Congress was running over
him roughshod if only a majority
Of Republicans favored the bill. But
he said majority of Democrats
voted for labor legislation six weeks
ago "and they will today"
Mr.. Rayburn pointed up the
touchy problem facing Mr.. Truman.
If the President uses the veto, he
said, people will say he does not in
tend to enforce the bill. If he signs
it and labor troubles develop, Mr..
Rayburn said, they will say he is not
enforcing the law.
If Congress makes it a law over a |
veto, he said, all labor problems will
be on his doorstep.