Evening star., 1947-04-20
Opinion Is Divided
Whether Labor Bill
'Writs Affect Steel
BY the Associoied Press

Legislation to block emergency"
strikes by court injunction seems
certain to pass in the Senate as it
has in the House but legislators diff
fered yesterday as to what it would
affect.
Most agreed that it would operate
against telephone and coal strikes.
Whether a steel strike could be
halted by it was question, but one
which appeared of less immediate
Importance in view of the trend of
negotiations in that industry.
Both the House and Senate bills
now contain provisions that would
enable the Attorney General to get
Federal Court injunction, lasting
about IS days, against certain kinds
of serious strikes.
Since the two provisions are basi-
cally the same, despite many differ
ences, members of Congress gen.
orally believe that the bill finally
sent to the White House will retain
this procedure. Senator Ellender,
Democrat, of Louisiana told re-
porter there is absolutely no doubt
about it"
Conference With Truman Urged.
But there is doubt whether the in
junction procedure will become law,
because President Truman may veto
the whole bill.
Senator Smith, Republican, of
New Jersey, said Republican leaders
ought to confer with the President
and work out bill that would not
be vetoed. He told reporter:
THE President doesn't want a
veto. He wants bill. Unless I'm
very much mistaken he would sign
the Senate bill in its present form
He'll only be compelled to veto if
something very radical is added"
The far-reaching House labor bill
has already been approved by that
body, 308 to lot.
The somewhat milder Senate bill
has been approved by the Senate
Labor Committee and will be de-
bated in the Senate, starting prob
ably Wednesday. No major attacks
are expected on the national emer-
gencies" section.
Wsuld Apply to Phone Strike.
When a judge issues an injunc-
ton, the parties must obey it or be
punished for contempt of court, as
John L. Lewis was.
Both the House and Senate bills,
as written, would permit the injunc-
ton procedure in an industry-Wide
utility strike like the present tele-
phone Walkout.
Both are clearly designed to ap-
ply to a coal strike, although Sena-
tors Smith and Thomas, Democrats.
of Utah, Said some question might
be raised whether the Senate version
would cover coal strike in the sum-
mertime-when people do not need
coal to keep warm. CA coal strike
is possible July /, when the soft coal
mines go back to private possession.)
AS for a steel strike, there is sharp
The House bill would permit an
injunction in any case when the
President finds that a dispute 'im-
threatens" the "substan-
tial curtailment" of interstate or
foreign commerce in Transportation.
public utility, or communication
services essential to the public
health, safety, or interest"
Opinions Differ on Steel.
Several members . of the House
Labor Committee said this provision
is mainly designed to stop telephone,
coal, and steel strikes, and therefore
would affect steel.
But Representative Owens. Repub-
ican, of Illinois, said, IT think a steel
strike would have to last some time
before it would imminently threaten
commerce. Representative Kersten,
dispute would not be covered unless
it would affect transportation, utili-
ties, or communications, "and that
wouldn't ordinarily happen unless it
was long strike"
The Senate bill would permit an
injunction whenever the Attorney
General decided that a dispute "af-
fecting substantially an entire in
dustry' imperilled the national
health or safety
Senator Ellender said this would
cover a steel strike. Senator
Thomas said it would not, unless
the words general welfare" were
substituted for national health or
safety Senator Smith said ct
think 1t would cover a steel strike
if it lasted for any extended length
of time"