Evening star., 1950-12-30
Lewis Will Take Part
In Policy Conference
On Control Of Wages
By jones Y. Newton


John L. Lewis has accepted the
Governments invitation to take
part in conferences here designed
to lay the groundwork for a ma
tional policy on wage control, 1t
was learned today.
The United Mine Workers pres
ident was one of nme top level
leaders of labor and management
asked by the Wage Sterilization
Board to participate in the meet
ings to be held January 10, II and
IL. 4
There had been speculation, and
considerable concern among Fed
eral officials, as to whether Mr..
Lewis would take part in the con-
ferences.
Scuttling Attempt Feared.
1t had been feared that Mr..
Lewis would sit back and scuttle
any policy the Government might
adopt in the field of wage stabili-
zation. His miners are expected
to hit for sizable pay raises in
the next few months.
Meanwhile the wage board.
headed by Chairman Cyrus S.
Ching, sent to industry and labor
a list of questions it wants to
discuss in the wage policy meet
ings.
Mr.. Ching said the questions
were not intended to limit dis
cusslons. but rather to promote
orderly consideration" at the
meetings. Besides the UNIV, the
organizations invited to the con-
1erences are the AFL, CIO, rail-
road unions. International As
sociations of Machinists, National
Association of Manufacturers.
United States Chamber of Com
merce, Committee for Economic
Development and the State Coun-
Gil OF Chambers of Commerce.
Questions Asked.
Mr.. Ching emphasized that his
board has reached mo conclu-
sions" on the control problems he
posed. The questions were:
/. Whenever wage stabilization
is instituted. special conditions in
dlf1erent industries, differences of
labor contract expiration dates
and differences in wage agreement.
mean some employers and wage
earners will feel sterilization is
unfair to them. What such prob
lens are serious enough to war
rant recognition and what policy
would meet the problem?
2. Should "escalator" clauses be
recognized. and. if so, without
limitation or should they be al
lowed to carry wages only so far
up? Escalator clauses in wage
contracts provide for automatic
increases If the cost of living
rises.
3. Some contracts provide for
new wage discussions at a fixed
future date and others provide
Tor increases at set dates. ITO
what extent" should these proyi-
sions be recognized. and how?
Unsettled Conditions,
4. Wage rates are established
Tor whole industries. perhaps
spread out over several areas of
the country and for areas, per-
haps with many different indus
tries. Increases or decreases of
wages in an industry may unsettle
wage conditions in an area. or
area increases or decreases may
unsettle conditions in an industry.
How can stabilization deal with
this?
S. What to do about wage
policies within a plant-adjust-
ments to deal with reclassification.
promotions. transfers. etc.?
6. Should increases be permit
ted to correct sub-standards of
living?"
Z. What standards should be- set
up to govern approval of bonuses.
health. welfare and pension plans?
In another development, Price
Stabilizer Michael v. Di Sale
said last night that firms handling
food products were included in
the Governments call December
19 for voluntary price freeze.
In statement issued in answer
to requests for Qualification of
the appeal to business and in
dustry to hold prices at fair"
levels, Mr.. Di Sale said:
Food distributors may base
price increases only on actual
costs paid, and not on market OF
replacement orders" This meant
that food already in warehouses
and on store shelves should be
sold without increases and that
prices should go up only when
stocks are replaced at higher
costs.
ZoI ~-ITI D.