Evening star., 1951-03-09
Some Progress Made
lin Efforts 10 Solve
Wage Controls Issue
By jones Y. Newton

OVcl wage COtlGIOlS ana GIle Type
of board that should administer
the program continued today with
the Government trying hard to
compromise the differences.
Economic Stabilizer Eric A.
Johnston was discussing the prob
lem with industry-representa-
tives of the National Association
of Manufacturers, the United
States Chamber of Commerce and
the Committee for Economic De-
velopment
Mr.. Johnston already had met
twice this week with labor Off
cials and once before with busi-
ness advisors. He had indicated
late yesterday after lengthy con-
ferences with labor that some
progress had been made toward
a settlement.
Board Is Main Issue.
The main argument was over
re-establishment of the Wage
Sterilization Board. torn apart by
the resignation of labor members
three weeks ago.
Labor has made it clear it will
have no part in the wage control
program unless an entirely new
board is appointed and it is given
authority to handle labor man.
agement disputes as well as the
present power to administer wage
controls. That would be setup
similar to the War Labor Board
OF the last war.
Industry is strenuously opposed
to single board handling both
disputes and wage policy. It's
spokesmen have indicated indus
try would have no part in such a
setup. Approval of both labor
and management is necessary be-
fore the wage board can be re-
eStaollShed as an operating
agency.
Labor Continues Attack.
Meanwhile, two top spokesmen
for labor continued the attack
on the Governments entire de-
fense program which led a week
ago to the resignation of union
representatives from all Federal
defense agencies.
George Meany, AFL secretary
treasurer. accused the three pub
lie members of the wage board
OF having taken orders direct
ly from Mobilization Director
Charles E. Wilson in setting a
ceiling on wage increases of 10
per cent above levels of a year
ago.
He was questioned on a radio
forum on the issues which
prompted the labor members to
resign from the wage board.
The three public members. we
believe, received their orders from
Mr.. Charles Wilson directly and
they, in turn. prevailed on man.
agement members of the board to
go along with their wishes" Mr..
Meany said.
Labor was not there at any of
the decisions on February Is,
which prompted US to quit the
meetings"
General Motors Wilson Named.
Mr.. Meany said that another
Charles Z. Wilson. the president
of General Motors Corp, was re-
sponsible for the wage, control for
mula proposal being raised from
8 to 10 per cent above last years
levels. He added: Charles Wilson
OF General Motors didn't want his
organization to be the butt of an
argument over the wage dispute. -
Mr.. Meany cited that as an ex-
ample of big business control Of
the defense program, which labor
claims is being exerted through
Mobilization Director Wilson. the
former president of the General
Electric Co.
The AFL official said labor so far
had not called for the removal
from Office of Mobilizer Wilson.
but he indicated it might be re-
quested unless labor is given a
voice in defense program policy.
I'VE can't get along with the
Charlie Wilson we've had in the
defense mobilization program un-
less he changes his ways" Mr..
Meany declared.
Would Take No Strike Pledge.
He added that labor would be
ready to take a no-strike pledge
whenever the President of the
United States says that an emer-
gency exists warranting such a
pledge"
In another radio broadcast, AFL
President William Green con-
tinued the attack on the way the
defense program is being ad-
ministered and said it could lead
to spread of communism in the
country. He confined his remarks