Evening star., 1947-05-15
The Political Mill
Prospect Seen Bright
For Labor Low Change
Truman Now Believed Likely % Sign
Conference Bill
The Political Mill
BIZ Gould Lincoln

The prospects Of substantial remedial labor
legislation are brighter today than they have
been for more than decade. Ia the nrst
place, both houses Of Congress have now
passed labor bills by more than . two-thirds
vote III each house. IN the second place, Pre6i.a
dent Truman il tor the trst time believed hkslys
to sign the bin which finally emerge from
conference and Is sent to the White House.
Certainly some Of his Democratic advisers win
urge him to do 80 provided the measure u
pretty much as 1t went through the Senats.
There can be no doubt any longer that the
country and that includes Z large segment Of i
labor itsen-is expecting md favcFing iabor
legislation. For the President to ignore that
sentiment and slap veto on the labor bill
might please the professional labor leaders !
twho oppose any labor legislation whatever)
and tie them to Mr.. Truman. It would, on q
the other hand, ALLEVIATE q largo number OF
voters. The fact that the President has signed I
the portal-to-portal pay bin, despite the ap- ]
peals Of some labor leaders, lends color to ths
increasing belief that Mr.. Truman viii ulh-
mately approve labor legislation.
Legislation Long Overdue.
II Mr.. Truman signs the labor bill, 1t viii b
i good thing for the country. Legislation to
curb the excuses Of organized labor and some
Of its leaders has long been overdue And Il
1t IS good for the country, 1t Is inconceivable
that Mr. Truman would gain in the long run
by seeking to stine 1t with presidential veto.
Further there is no assurance that the Con-
gress would not pass the bill over the veto. The
House voted to in support Of the bill, and
the senate vote, 68 to "a, was almost as con-
elusive.
True. some Democrats In Congress who have
strongly favored labor legislation have never
vet faced q vote to override presidential veto
except when they did vote with Republicans
to override Roosevelt veto Of the Smith.
Connally antistrike bill during the war. Ihs
consensus is, however that II the bill remains
substantially as it passed the Senate-less
drastic than the House version-there would be
a GOOD chance Of overriding Truman veto
should 1t come.
In some quarters it has been predicted IN the
past that Mr. Truman would sign the portal-to-
portal bill, making himself solid thereby with
one group-the employers-and then take the
side of the labor leaders and veto the general
labor bill. But it doesn't look now as though
that course would satisfy the country or
majority of the voters. The President sought
to ease the blow to the labor leaders when he
signed the portal pay bill, outlawing vast
number Of suits involving $5,00000o,O0o by
sending message to Congress urging that the
minimum wage should be set at 65 cents an
hour, instead Of the 40 cents now in the law
It is unlikely Congress will agree to sucn an
increase In the minimum wage ct this time,
although 1t might agree to a figure higher than
40 cents. II the Presidents recommendation
is not met, undoubtedly the Democrats viii try
to pin an "unfriendly to labor" sign on the Re-
publican Party. It seems clear, however, that
a new 65-cents-an hour minimum wage would
be adding to already high prices and to In
flation.
Independent on Issues "a
The politics of this labor legislatio ntmsys not
have any effect on President Trumans hnhi
attitude. He is independent when 1t comes
to acting on important, issues. bIt does appear.
however, that the radical labor outfit win hSvs
no place to 60 except to Truman in the presi-
dental race next year whether the President
signs the labor bill or not. As for the more
conservative labor group, and for many inde-
pendents among the voters, his approval OF
the labor bill will go further to help him than
not. Mr. Truman began to pick up strength In
the country when he showed hrmness In deal
ing with the threatened railroad strike ana with
the coal strike. He can kick 1t overheard by
kowtowing now to the labor leaders.
The final version of the labor bill Is still
guess 1t seems certain, however, that 1t will
not carry q ban on industry-wide bargaining.
That was defeated in the Senate, and 1t Is
not believed that the Upper House would vote
to override veto if the President based 1t upon
opposition to an industry wide bargaining ban.
Chairman Hartley of the House Labor Com
mittee has expressed the opinion the bill IN
its final form would largely follow the lines
of the Senate measure And that is the ex-
nectation of many Republicans as well as
Democrats. However, the House will insist on
writing into the bill some of its own provisions.
omitted by the Senate, as for example, q ban
on mass picketing and violence in strikes.
Naturally, If the President approves the labor
bill, Democratic campaign next year based
on the proposition that the Republican Con-
gress is destroying organized labor In this
country would be 'out" No such charge could
be sustained.
Questions and Answers