The Wilmington morning star., 1947-01-07

party to final and binding arbitra-

ton.
Point number two is the extern
sion OF the facilities within the
Department of Labor for assisting
collective bargaining.
One of our difficulties in avoid
ing labor strife arises from a lack
or order in the collective bargain
ing process. The parties often do
not have a clear understanding of
their responsibility for settling dis
putes through their own negotions.
We constantly see instances where
labor or management resorts to
economic force without ~exhausting
the possibilities for agreement
through the bargaining process.
Neither the parties nor the govern
ment have a definite yardstock for
determining when and how govern
ment have a definite yardstick for
voked. There is need for integral
ed governmental machinery to
provide the successive steps of
mediation, voluntary arbitration,
and - ultimately in appropriate
cases - ascertainment of the facts
of the dispute and the reporting of
them to the public. Such machin-
cry would facilitate and expedite
the settlement Of disputes.
Point number three is the broad
ening of u program Of social
legislation TO alleviate the causes
of workers insecurity.
On June II, 1916, in my message
vetoing the Case bill. 1 made a
comprehensive statement of my
views concerning labor-manage-
ment relations. I said then, and
I repeat now, that the solution of
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT difficulties is
to be found not only in legislation
dealing directly with labor rela-
tons, but also in a program de-
signed to remove the causes of in
security felt by many workers in
our industrial society. In this con-
nection, for example, the Congress
should consider the extension and
broadening of our social security
system, better housing, a compre-
hensive national health program,
and provision for a fair minimum
wage.
Point number four is the ap-
pointment of a temporary joint
commission to inquire into the en-
tire field of Acknowledgment
relations.
I recommend that the Congress
provide for the appointment OF a
temporary joint commission to I'M
dertake this broad study.
The President, the Congress, and
management and labor have a
continuing responsibility to cooper
ate in seeking and finding the
solution of these problems. 1
therefore recommed that the COM
mission be composed as follows:
twelve to be chosen by the Con-
gress from the members Of both
parties in the House and the SEN
ate, and eight representing the
public, management and labor to
be appointed by the President.
The commission h o d be
charged with investigating and
making recommendations upon
certain major subjects, among
others:
First, the special and unique
problem of nationwide strikes in
vital industries affecting the public
interest. In particular, the COM
mission should examine into the
question of how to settle or pre-
vent such strikes without endan-
gering u general democratic
freedoms.
Upon a proper solution Of this
problem may depend the whole in
dustrial future of the United
States. The paralyzing effects of
a nationwide strike in such indus
tries as transportation, coal, oil,
steel, Or communications can re-
suit in national disaster. We have
been able to avoid such disaster,
in recent years, only by the use of
extraordinary war powers. All
those powers will soon be gone. In
their place there must be created
an adequate system and effective
machinery in these vital fields.
This problem will require careful
study and a bold approach, but an
approach consistent with the pres
ervation of the rights of our peo-
pie. The need is pressing. The
commission should give this its
earliest attention.
Second, the best methods and
procedures for carrying out the
collective bargaining process. This
should include the responsibilities
of labor and management to nego-
tate freely and fairly with each
other. and to refrain from strikes
or lockouts until all possibilities of
negotiation have been exhausted.
Third, the underlying causes of
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT disputes.
Some of the subjects presented
here for investigation involve long
range study. Others can be con-
sidered Immediately by the COM
mission and its recommendations
can be submitted to the Congress
in the near future.
I recommend that this commits
sion make its first report, includ-
ing specific legislative recommen-
dations, not later than March Is,
1947.
Restriction of monopoly and pro-
motion of private enterprise.
The second major policy I de-
sire to lay before you, has to do
with the growing concentration of
ecnnomic poWnr and tho fhrnat fo