Evening star., 1951-04-19
Truman Will Appoint
1910 New Wage Board
Within a Few Days
By jomes Y. Newton

President Truman will appoint
in the next few days a new 49,
man Wage Sterilization Board tc
administer wage e-control policy
and to suggest settlement terms
for labor disputes that threaten
the defense effort.
The enlarged board with broad
ened authority will replace the
old nine-member WSB, which has
been unable to operate in the
wage-policy field since It's labor
members resigned In a huff last
February Is.
Officials said today they hoped
to have the new board fupcticning
some time next week. It will
have six representatives each Of
labor, industry and the public.
Powers to Be Limited.
There were indications the new
panel would have few. II any,
members Of the old one. Months
ago, Cyrus S. Ching. chairman of
the old board, wrote Mr.. Truman
that he would like to resign and
return full-time as director of the
Federal Mediation and Concilia-
tion Service.
The administrations first choice
as chairman of the. new board
is DR. George w. Taylor. labor
relations expert and professor at
the University of, Pennsylvania.
He was chairman bf the War La
Dor Board in the late days of
World War II. e
David L. Cole Mentioned.
DR.. Taylor. who has been serv-
ing the Government recently in
an advisory capacity, turned down
the Craftsmanship of the present
wage board. Federal officials were
far from certain he could be per-
suaded to take the new post. In
the event he does not accept,
the job may go to David L. Cole,
labor relations expert Of Paterson,
N. J. r
Mr.. Truman announced his in
tention Of creating a new board
with somewhat limited powers to
handle labor management dis
|putes at his news conference late
yesterday.
In doing 50, the President
brushed aside the objections of
business and industry leaders who
felt board powers should be re-
stricted to setting and administer
ing wage control policy and the
handling OF some disputes result
ing from controls.
Types Of Disputes Covered.
The new hoard will handle the
following types of disputes:
l. Those arising as a result of
wage controls. IL
2. Disputes which both. the
unions and management agree to
certify to the board on an arbi-
tration basis. s
8. Disputes certified to 1t by
the President as likely to affect
the national defense effort.
In the last case, the board will
be permitted only to recommend
terms for settling the disputes.
Its recommend ndations win not be
That is where the Presidents
plans for the new board would
get around provisions Of the De-
tense Production Act which state
that agreement of industry and
labor must be obtained before O.
Notwithstanding board can be
set up. ~ '''Ts-1 -, 's '''' ~ ,
Power Called Inherent.
Federal attorneys said that Mi.
Truman, as President, has the in
herent power to certify any dispute
held likely to interfere with ma
tional defense to any board on the
basis that the board merely would
suggest ways of settling the dis
pute. In other words, that part
OF the authority to be given the
new board would be obtained out
side Of the controls law,
The plan to be followed by the
President was approved by the
Mobilization Advisory Board on a
12-to-4 vote last Tuesday. It was
approved by the IL public, labor
and agriculture members. The
four industry representative dis
sented.