Evening star., 1947-05-14

MCS. hyle LulSef.
Before I knew 1t, she and my
granddaughter, Carol Sue, S. were
pinned underneath" Mrs. Wake
field related, adding she rushed
over and broke through the side Of
the trailer to pull them out" They
were bruised slightly.
I Labor
Continued From First Page)
and the Federal District Court in
Detroit, which earlier had held the
Mount Clemens workers entitled to
pay, ruled out their claims under
this Supreme Court principle.
The legislation prohibits gener-
ally both existing and future claims
for portal-to-portal pay unless the
claims are covered by contracts, or
recognized as valid by traditions or
practice. It also throws other re-
strictions around portal-pay claims.
In analyzing the provision of the
measure covering existing claims,
the President prefaced his comment
by explaining that fears had been
expressed as to the effects on the
wage-hour law standards generally.
Other Claims Not Invalidated.
He said he understood that Con-
gress sought in this section to meet
only the problem raised by the por-
tal-to-portal claims, ''but not to in
validate all other existing claims" :"
He added that the plain language OF
the section preserves minimum
wage and overtime compensation
claims based on activities which
were compensate in any amount
under contract, custom or practice" I"
As to future claims, the President
said, the Congress intends that
workers are to be compensated "for
any work of consequence performed
for the employer no matter when
the work is performed.
Mr.. Truman also ana1yZed other
sections which had come under fire,
expressing the belief that they
would be interpreted in a manner
to avoid abuses. .....yss..-s,..s--......-
While the portal claims originally
arose under the so-called Wage and
Hour Act, which is the Fair Labor
Standards Act OF 1888, the new leg
islation will have its effect on both
the Walsh-H -Healy Act and the Davis
Bacon Act, which relate to Govern
ment procurement and construction
work.
Group Claims Restricted.
Among other restrictions in the
new law Is one prohibiting the filing
of group claims by one worker un-
less a written order is obtained from
each worker involved. Another
clause releases employers from lia-
bility on past claims II "any Gov
ernment agency" had by order, reg
ulation or Interpretation approved
of the wage paid.
The legislation was tackled short
ly after Congress met in January
and the ultimate version was q
compromise approved after month
long study by Senate and House.
Labor Bills Face Conference.
: Meanwhile, new Senate and House
labor disputes measures went to
conference committee for compro-
mise.
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio
said the Conference Committee will
get together as soon as possible, but
that 1t may be two weeks before
a compromise Is reached on the
widely differing House and Senate
bills.
The Senate passed its, measure
yesterday by q vote Of 68 to "A,
more than the two-thirds majority
required to override a possible veto.
The House, too, rolled up nearly
q three-to-one margin In passing its
labor bill April II by a count of
308 to lot.
Senator Taft, who heads the Sen
ate conferees, told reporters his
group intends to fight for acceptance
of the Senate measure without
major change.
Representative Hartley. Repub-
lican, of New Jersey, chief Of the
House conference delegates, indi-
Gated that the Senators may not run
into too big scrap on this. He said:
My disposition is to go along
pretty much with the Senate bill"
g., Room for Trading.
Mr. Hartley added that there is
plenty of room for trading" piece
of strategy House members had in
mind when they approved a
tougher" bill than the Senate's.
Two of Mr.. Hartley's fellow con-
ferees, Representatives Barden,
Huffman, Republican, Of Michigan
indicated to reporters they will try
to get in as many as possible Of the
tough" House provisions.
However, Representative Lands,
Democrat, of North Carolina and
Republican, of Indiana said he would
take the Senate bill "as is'' If 1t were
left to him. and Representative
Lesinski. Democrat, OF Michigan,
who rounds out the House commit
tee, declared:
IT don't like either bill, but the
Senate bill would be the lesser of
two evils, particularly since it per-
mits industry-w wide bargaining"
While terming the Senate meas
ure not too bad as it stands. Mr..
Hartley said he thinks it could be
improved by tacking on stch House
provisions as the bans on mass
picketing and violence on picket lines
and the section titled bill of
rights" for labor. The New Jersey
Republican said he wants q bill
strong enough to override q Veto =
Senator Ellender. Democrat, OF
Louisiana. another conferee, said
that requires acceptance Of the Sen
ate measure without fundamental
revision"
Senator Ellender calculated that
from 10 to IA Senators who voted
iyes yesterday would refuse to vote