Evening star., 1949-06-12
Senators Split on Way
To Junk Taft-Har1Iey
Injunction Provision
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

~ me Assoeiofeo Pfsts
Senator'S trying to Junk the
Taft-Hartley laws provision for
injunctions against strikes which
threaten the Nations welfare
found themselves split yesterday
on how to do it.
Senator Morse. Republican, Of
Oregon parted company with a
group of Democrats opposed to
the injunction and reopened dis
cussions with Senator Ives, Re
publican, Of New York, on that
and other labor law issues.
Meanwhile, Senator Aiken, Re-
publican, Of Vermont. said he is
discouraged about the prospects
for a bipartisan labor bill. He said
again he believes President Tru-
man is blocking an effective com
promise.
Climax Due In Few Days.
Sometimes it looks as though
the White House doesn't want
good labor legislation" Senator
Aiken declared.
He added that the President ap-
parently wants to make the Taft
Hartley law a campaign issue
again in the 1850 congressional
elections.
The big Senate battle over
whether to keep the Taft-Hartley
laws court order section-bitterly
opposed by the labor unions-is
expected to reach a climax in a
few days when voting on a new
labor law begins.
The provision lets the Govern
ment get 80-day injunctions to
block strikes which imperil the
national health or safety.
The administration labor bill
before the Senate would repeal
the present law and replace it
with the old Wagner Act plus q
few amendments. The admins
tration measure has no injunction
provision. 1t calls for only a 30
day cooling-off period in critical
disputes.
Sharper Teeth" Proposed.
A week ago a group of Demo-
cratic and Republican Senators
got together and decided that the
administration bill needs sharper
teeth" for dealing with such dis
putes-but something short of the
Taft Hartley laws court order
section.
Members Of the ., bipartisan
group said then they had agreed
on q plan for giving the President
authority to seize struck plants in
national emergency cases.
The group named Senator
Morse. who then was out Of town,
to introduce the amendment.
When he returned, Senator Morse
said the proposal did not satisfy
him and he refused to 60 along.
Meanwhile Senator Ives offered
an amendment which would re-
quire Congress to deal separately
with each national emergency la
Dor dispute. The President could
recommend the seizure, but that
plan would be out the window if
both branches Of Congress vetoed
the idea.
Conferring Again.
Senator Morse, it was learned,
has indicated to Senator Ives that
he prefers something along the
lines OF the New Yorker's amend
ment. The two Senators worked
closely for weeks on general la
Dor bill, then gave up, and now
are conferring again.
Senator Ives told a reporter
they might turn up with several
amendments to either the ad-.
ministration bill or to a substitute
measure sponsored by Republican
Senators Taft Of Ohio. Donnell Of
Missouri and Smith of New
Jersey.
The substitute bill would make
% changes in the Taft Hartley
law, but retain its basic provisions
including the emergency injunc-
ton.
Senators trying to get rid of the
Injunction feel that their chances
already have been dealt q blow
by John Z. Lewis action In order
ing a weeks shutdown Of the coal
mines, starting tomorrow. They
believe that move by the United
Mine Workers boss strengthened
the hand of those who favor the
Injunction.
Aiken Backs Seizure Plan.
Senator Aiken, originally lined
up with the anti-injunction group,
said he still favors the seizure
proposal. But he added that he
is willing to let the Government
get an Injunction In top emer-
eencies once a struck plant had
been seized.
He predicted that il Senator
Taft goes ahead with his plan to
substitute his bill for the admin
istration measure. the substitute
will be defeated.
The Senate plans to lay aside
the labor bill debate tomorrow to
take up the international wheat
agreement, but 1t Is expected to
dispose of that shortly and resume
the Taft-Hartley repeal battle on
Tuesday.