Evening star., 1947-03-09
Labor Hearings End,
Senate Starts Work on
Legislation This. VI eek
By jones Y. Newton

Legislation This WeeI
BY james Y. Newton
/ The Senate Labor Committe
ended lengthy public hearing
on labor legislation yesterday il
a session marked by proposal
/ for renewal of Federal power t.
seize struck facilities vital t
public welfare and for wild
changes in the Wagner Labo
Relations Act.
Chairman Taft announced tina
the committee, after six weeks O
public hearing. airing Of the hos
of labor bills under consideration
would begin executive sessions thi
week to draft proposals for presenta
ton to the Senate.
He said he did not know when ,
bill will be completed. II could sa,
two weeks, but I probably would b.
wrong" he added.
Fioreuo H. La Guardia suggested
at yesterdays hearing that Govern
ment authority to seize and operat
strike-bound facilities be revived
Wartime power to take over vita
plants and mines, under the Smith
Connally Act, ended with Presiden
Truman's December 81 declaration
of the end OF hostilities.
| Mr.. La Guardia, who described
himself as "the unauthorized spokes
man for ,unorganized America,
would limit seizure to transpor
facilities and utilities.
Reilly Final Witness.
Gerard D. Reilly, former membe
of the National Labor Relation
Board, indorsed at least a dozel
changes in the Wagner Act: MI
Reilly was the final witness befort
the committee. He resigned las
summer after five years on tn
NLRB, which administers the Wag
ner Act.
Mr., La Guardia said he though
new labor laws are needed, but h
warned against "hasty" action b.
Congress. He proposed instead {
16-man study commission" to dea
with the problem, including repre-
sentatives Of Congress, labor ant
management.
The former New York City mayor
would have the commission or Con.
gress use its influence to bring about
amalgamation of all labor organ.
izations in the interests Of indus.
trial peace. He ran into trouble
there. Senator Ball, Republican
of Minnesota, who has introduced
a bill to break up the bargaining
House in 1882 was co-sponsor Of the
Norris-LaGuardia Act, said he
agreed with the Supreme Court
ruling that the anti-injunctior
statute should not prevent the Gov.
ernment from restraining a strike
like last November's coal stoppage
II had in mind then (when tn,
act was being considered) as I d.
now that it Is not applicable to tha
Government" where the Govern
ment is dealing with its "own EN-.
ployes," he said. The court held tn,
miners are United States employeI
under Federal operation OF the seizee
soft coal mines.
Surprised at Role Of Act.
Mr.. LaGuardia added, however
that in 1882 situations such as in
volved in the coal dispute wer
quite remote" He said that whel
the coal crisis came he was sur
prised the Norris-LaGuardia Ac
figured so prominently in it. H
said he had thought the very ma
| ture of authority to seize gave tn
Government power to do anythin
necessary" to operate the mines
and that the Act would not stan
in the way Of that emergency powe,
do you think we should continu
the powers of the Smith -Connall
Act to take over properties?" aske'
Senator Smith, Republican, of Ney
Jersey.
II would continue the principle,
replied Mr.. LaGuardia, "of the Gov
ernment taking over anything, wher
power Of national unions, was highl,
critical.
Bears Fears Labor Hierarchy.
Senator Ball, over the protests o
Mr.. LaGuardia, said the merge
idea would bring about create
concentration of power In labor,
would lead straight to socialism O
some form a stateism," would Gus
build up a great labor hierarchy.
Mr.. LaGuardia said it would be
democratic organization" Mr.. Bal
replied "You hope"
II can't see the right to strik
against the Government or an
agency of the Government" Mr.. La
Guardia remarked at one point.
In reply to a question, the forme
mayor who as a member of tn
the cessation of service would en-
danger the public health, safety Q
national economy. The Govern
ment has an obligation to continu
operation, no matter what 1t take
to do it."
\ At another point, Mr.. LaGuardi
said:
"As We give labor a share in it
own production, the effort is sti
made to retain the old margin @
profits. That can't be done. TIL
amount may be there in volum.
but not of the percentage value Q
the 1905. You can't do it an
build up the American standar
of living"
Last Hope for Free Enterprise.
Then, you agree with me-" aske
Senator Morse, Republican OF Ore
gon, that there Is inherent in tn
labor movement the drive of fre
workers to obtain q greater shar
OF income from their production
That to avoid socialism we mus
develop the techniques Of collectiv
bargaining?"
"It's the last hope we have TO
maintaining free enterprise" MI
LaGuardia replied. Il think W
can retain it for the next so or 7
years. Beyond that I don't know.
Mr.. Reilly, the former NLRl
member. indorsed Senator Balls bi
to ban industry-wide bargaining q
I