Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-06-20
Senate Labor Debate
Near Key Test Votes
On Injunction Power

BY the Assoeioied Press
The Senate labor law debate to-
day edged toward a series OF key
test votes on how to deal with
strikes imperiling the national
welfare.
. Senate leaders hoped for a
showdown by nightfall on that
issue. 1t Is regarded generally as
q key issue because the outcome
is expected to point up pretty
definitely for the first time the
voting strength Of:
/. Those in the Senate who
want to get rid Of all or most of
the Taft-Hartley law. and 90
those who want to preserve most
of it.
AS the third week Of labor legis-
iation debate began. nearly all
Senators in the second group
were backing a proposal by Sem
ator Taft, Republican. OF Ohio
which would keep the Taft-dart-
ley provision for injunctions
against critical strikes.
. Opponents Far From Agreement.
The Taft plan also proposes
Government seizure of struck
plants-something which is not
authorized under the present law.
Senators in the other group
{ those opposed to the Taft-Hartley
1aw-are far from being agreed
on an alternative to the Taft
Hartley injunction, a provision
the labor unions hate.
But the plan which appears to
have the most support in that
camp is one by Senators Douglas.
Democrat, of Illinois, and Aiken.
Republican, of Vermont. 1t would
let the Government seize plants
for up to 80 days.
The Douglas-Aiken plan says
nothing about injunctions, but its
sponsors have acknowledged that
once the Government had seized
o plant or industry, the way
would be open for an injunction.
Douglas Sees Chance for Plan.
Senator Taft predicted over the
week end that his plan would be
approved. He said he expects that
about 16 of the Senate's 81 Demo-
Gratis will vote for it, and that
only four or five of the AZ Repub-
lican Senators will ballot against
1t.
p But Senator Douglas took look
Mt Senator Taft's estimate and de-
clared:
II still think we have a good
chance. I am not worried"
On the other hand, another
Democrat who favors the Douglas
Aiken plan said privately. after
some nose-counting. that it
doesn't have a chance. d
Both the Taft plan and, the
Douglas-Aiken proposal would
junk the national emergency Sec
ton Of the Truman adrninistra-
TONS Taft Hartley repeal bill.
TIVE Other Proposals Offered.
That section provides only for
q 30-day cooling-off period. 1t
says nothing about either injunc-
tions or seizure. but Senator
Thomas. Democrat, of Utah, the
bills sponsor, says 1t Is written
no as to permit both-if the Pres
ident wanted to use his inherent
powers"
There also are two other ma
tional emergency plans before the
Senate.
One by Senator Ives. Repub-
lican. Of New York would require
Congress to deal separately with
each critical strike. His amend
ment provides for neither injune-
tons nor seizure.
The other plan. by Senator
Morse, Republican, Of Oregon, also
calls for case-by-case handling by
Congress. However. the Govern
ment could seizure a plant unless
Congress vetoed the idea. Senator
Morse's amendment would permit
no injunctions which were not
specifically authorized by Con-
gress.
The administration bill would
replace the Taft Hartley law with
o modified version of the old
Wagner Act. plus few amend
ments. The Senate already has
written four Taft-Hartley fea-
lures into the bill. so there is
no chance the bill will pass in the
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