Evening star., 1947-01-28
|SchweIIen)ach
Critical Of Most
New Labor Bills
Backs Truman Program
In Testimony Before
Senate Committee
By J. A. OLeor

Secretary of Labor Schwellen-
bach, predicting there will be
fewer strikes this year than last,
today criticized most of the bills
pending in Congress to place a
wide variety of curbs on labor
unions.
The Secretary, appearing before
the Senate Labor Committee, urged
Congress to follow President Tru-
mans recommendation and set up
a commission to study labor prob
lens, in preference to hasty passage
of specific remedies.
Mr.. Schwellenbach opposed the
banning of industrywide collective
bargaining, outlawiig of the closed
shop and abolition of the checkoff
system, by which union dues are
collected as a payroll deduction.
Bargaining Forgotten Art"
He told the committee that, while
the art of collective bargaining has
been forgotten" he believes that
management and labor, given a
reasonable opportunity, can relearn
the process and work out their prob
lens between themselves.
He did not have time, apparently
TO include in his prepared statement
any comment on the latest labor
bill INTRODUCED yesterday by Senator
Ball, Republican, of Minnesota
which would permit the firing of
strikers
Senator Thomas, Democrat, Of
Utah, another member of the Labor
Committee, called the new bill
most reactionary."
Many of Secretary Schwellen-
bach's criticisms were directed at
the revised Case bill, similar in most
respects to the measure Mr.. Truman
vetoed last year. It has been re-
introduced, with changes, by Sena-
tors Ball, Taft, Republican, of Ohio,
and Smith, Republican, of New
Jersey.
Wouldn't Take Six Months.
Senator Smith, wanted to know
if the Secretary would put off all
labor legislation for six months If
commission is created.
Il don't think it would take six
months" the Secretary replied,
pointing out that Mr. Truman said
in his message the commissions
first report could be made by
March Is.
| Mr.. Schwellenbach conceded,
however, he has seen no "inclina-
ton on the part of the majority in
Congress" to set up a study COM
mission. For that reason, he said,
he would like to see special COM
mittee assigned to analyze proposed
changes in the National Labor Rela-
tions Act, even if. Congress decides
to go ahead with other bills placing
new restrictions on unions.
The Secretary digresse dto say he
has never taken the position the
Wagner Act was something that
should never be touched" No act,
he added, was ever perfect as first
enacted.
Opposes Mediation Board.
Turning to the sheaf of legisla-
ton before the group, Mr.. Schwel-
lenbach:
Declared that creation of media
tion board, either inside or outside
the Labor Department, would "im-
pede industrial peace rather than
further it."
Opposed abolition of the Labor
Departments conciliation service.
Said it would be "a serious blow
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics to
force it to make public all agree
ments and arbitration awards, which
have been obtained through the vol
untary cooperation of employers.
Declared supervisory employees are
entitled to organize and bargain col
lectively, provided that they do not
belong to the same union as pro-
duction employees or union DOM
mated by such production em-
ployes union.
Criticized the language of pro-
posal to make it easier to sue unions.
Calls for Safeguards.
Urged that provision to outlaw
secondary boycotts be modified in
line with the Presidents recommen-
dations Ito exempt boycotts in
tended to protect wage rates and
working conditions.
Asked for safeguards in a proposal
requiring registration of labor or
ganizations so as not to force crea-
ton of q new bureau in the Labor
Department to handle them.
| Declared that a substantial ad-
vance in industrial relations would
be destroyed" by enactment OF leg
islation outlawing the closed shop,
union shop and maintenance of
union membership.
Mr.. Schwellenbach said the bill to
ban Nationwide bargaining in big
industries assumes that local unions
and local membership would be less
(See LABOR, Page A-60