Evening star., 1949-01-31
Labor Bills False Teeth Can't
Cone With Lewis, Aiken SAYS

To carry out this purpose is the
objective of the bill before this
committee"
Round Table Held.
Before Mr.. Tobin began to- testify,
Republicans and Democrats on the
committee held an informal round
table discussion on how the hear
ings should proceed.
Chairman Thomas agreed with
Senator Taft that an effort be made
to lay before the committee the Wag-
ner Act, Taft-Hartley and the new
administration bill in parallel COL
umns for comparison.
Senator Smith outlined his indi-
vidual goal when he said he wants
to give the proper environment
and the proper incentive for himself
and his co-workers-not warfare. -
Senator Smith said he hoped the
worker would be given incentive"
through expansion of social security,
lower prices and a fair labor act so
that there no longer would be the
desire of labor to try Ito get as
much as it can in wages for the
least work"
Opposes Exploitation.
Senator Smith said he did not
want the country exploited either
by big business or big labor" and
suggested the preamble Of both the
Wagner and Taft Hartley Acts be
rewritten on a keynote of harmony.
MIR. Tobin listed the following as
some of his major objections to the
Taft Hartley law:
1t places a mandate on the Ma
tional labor Relations Board to seek
injunctions against unions in all
secondary boycott cases, including
those for perfectly legitimate OBJ
jectives, such as the protection Of
labor standards" In no case, he
added, it is mandatory that the
board seek injunctions against man.
agement.
It places tremendous" power in
the hands of one man-the general
counsel-ln controlling enforcement
OF the act. 1t completely outlaws
peaceful picketing in many situa-
tions."
The checkoff-a legitimate labor
management practice - has been
surrounded with many unnecessary
pl ocsdural requirements, violation
Of which carries criminal penalty
Union Security Impaired.
The Hartley Act impaired
legitimate union security" by max
ing State laws prevail where they
are more restrictive than the Fed
eral statute
AS result of this provision. he
said. even union shops are banned
in some interstate industries. The
Taft Hartley law banned the closed
shop, but sanctioned the union shop
if a majority Of the workers agree.
Mr.. Tobin labeled "unfai' and un-
democratic" the Taft Hartley ban
on political contributions and SPEND
ing by unions He calico it discrim-
inatory because il selected labor
organizations "a; the only type of
voluntary associa tions which are to
be denied effective political par
ticipations
Corporations Still Barred.
Corporations have long been bar
red from political contributions and
still would be barred.
Mr.. Tobin defended the bills
proposed transfer of the United
States Cancellation Service, now in
dependent, into the Labor Depart
ment Replying in advance to the
contention that the service could
not be impartial as a part Of the
Labor Department. Mr. Tobin said:
Il cannot state too strongly that
l., as Secretary of Labor, consider
myself to represent the more than
140 100000 American people and
every segment of our economy"
Floor Fight in Prospect.
The administration should have
easy sailing in getting it's bill out
of the Senate Committee. The
Democrats have an 8 to 5 ratio, and
oAAS IS VII GIl6
side of the White House viewpoint.
When the bill reaches the Senate
floor, however. it will be wide open
to amendment. With the freedom of
debate allowed in that body, long
fight is in prospect. The committee
already has agreed TO complete the
hearings by February 10.
One Democrat on the committee
Senator Ellender of Louisiana
charged yesterday the administra-
ton bill would leave the country
practically defenseless" against ma
tional emergency strikes. 1t would
please men like John L. Lewis"
he added.
His criticism was of set, however
by praise from Senator Morse, lib
eral Oregon Republican, for the
voluntary approach the administra-
tion bill takes on national emer-
gency strikes. Senator Morse said
he likes the emphasis on "volun-
tary procedures" in place of the in
junction weapon in Taft-HartIev