Evening star., 1949-02-07

inherent powers claimed by ad-
ministration spokesmen.
For several minutes the com.
mittee was plunged into another
Fof the word battles that have
marked the hearings. as Senator
Taft denied he was conceding the
existence Of any broad powers In
the Constitution that would en-
able the President to seize prop
erty or draft workers In time OF
peace.
Senator Humphrey inquired why
Senator Taft was specifying the
powers Of seizure and drafting,
Senator Taft replied because they
were the chief remedies that have
been suggested in the past.
so you think that in q grave
national emergency the President
would DO powerless to act?" sena-
tor Humphrey asked.
Says Congress Could Be Called.
That's right" Senator Taft re-
torted. THE Congress II not in
session. could be called into ses-
sion in IL hours. to deal with such
an emergency.
Senator Taft said If the Presi-
dent had such implied powers" it
would mean the end OF the liberty
Of the people"
Mr.. Denham told the committee
earlier he has done everything in
his power as NLRB counsel to
establish public confidence in the
principles and objectives OF the
Taft-Hartley Act.
Indeed" he continued. II con-
sidered that to be one Of the ma
jor responsibilities OF the ONCE
Of general counsel. Now to change
my position would stultify me,
and would justify the members
of this committee and the public
in questioning my sincerity in
accepting appointment as general
counsel.
Il could not have accepted un-
less ! felt that the statute was
basically sound. Further, do not
believe the President would have
appointed me TO that ONCE unless
he felt that such was my belief"
Confidence Essential.
Mr.. Denham testified that con-
fdence In the fairness and i'm
partiality of the Government
agency regulating a subject like
labor management is essential.
Il think you will agree that
lack Of such confidence was one
of the most serious and frequently
voiced criticisms of the Wagner
Act and the old board" Mr.. Den
ham went on.
Much of the attack upon the
administration of that act was,
I believe, unjustif1ed, but the i'm
portant fact is that a very large
segment of our population directly
involved In labor relations lacked
this essential confidence in the
integrity Of the boards proceed !
ures."
Mr.. Denham said Congress tried
in the Taft-Hartley Act to remedy
that situation and that making
the general counsel independent Of
the board was the keystone of
that reform.
The committee entered the
four-day home stretch of its ex-
plosive hearings amid indications
that . dozen Southern Senators
may join the Republicans in favor
Of keeping many provisions Of the
present law.
With feeling running strong be-
tween Republicans and Democrats
on the committee over the wisdom
of closing the hearings Thursday.
one Southern Democrat, Senator
Ellender Of Louisiana. threatened
yesterday to move to send the bill
back to committee when it reaches
the floor If he finds full hearings
have not been held.
Some Republicans think as
many as IA Southern Democrats
will join with 38 or 40 Republi-
cans to preserve most of the Taft
Hartley law. If that forecast is
borne out. it will mean defeat for
the administration bill In the
Senate.
Lucas Discounts Claim.
Senator Lucas Of Illinios, Dem
ocratic floor leader quickly dis
counted the Republican claim,
however. calling it political prop
aganda" and speculation" Sen
ator Lucas made no claim of his
own. contending that neither side
has made any complete poll.
One high-ranking Republican
believes, however. the number of
Southerners voting with the Re-
publicans will vary on each of a
score Of amendments likely to
be fought out on the Senate floor. !
The administration has the votes |
to get its bill out of the committee
without major change. The real
battle will start then as the Re
publicans seek to restore. one by
one. most of the stricken provi-
sions of the Taft-Hartley Act.
Howard U. Missing Rifles,
Found on Target Ronge