The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-06-03
President
Remains Silent
On High Courts
fiction
ny NORMAN WALKER

WASHINGTON R - A bitter,
about strike shut the vast steel
industry down tight today and the
Whits House weighed its next peace
move in the 6.month-old union.
management struggle.
Leaders Of both the industry and
the striking CIO Steelworkers I'M
ion suggested renewed contracts
talks but neither side proposed a
date for negotiations.
Unless the contenders get togeth-
or soon, it was believed President
Truman would take some new ac-
ton to end the strike--because the
waIkout is costing the nation and
It's crucial defense effort 100000
tons OF steel daily.
Mr.. Truman had about three
choices: ID Sit tight a while to
see what the industry and union
may accomplish on their own, t2)
invoke the Taft-Hartley Laws 80.
day court injunction provisions
against a continued strike, or t3)
ask Congress for special legislation
to deal with the situation.
A high administration official
said those were the alternatives
being debated at the White House.
He expressed q personal opinion
10 reporter that Mr.. Truman
would invoke the TIL Act. as many
members Of congress have de-
manded. Other Truman advisers
repeatedly were counselling against
this, favoring the appeal to Con-
gress.
Mr.. Truman Ii likely to be wary
of his next move, in any event,
after being rebuffed on his seizure
step. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3
Monday that the Presidents April
3 order taking over the steel in
dustry was unconstitutional.
Mr.. Truman remained silent on
the high courts decision. but
Congress members generally ap-
plauded it. with some exceptions.
Sen. Lehman Cd. -Lib.-N. X. J for ex-
ample, viewed the ruling with dis
may, saying:
Congress must act, without a
moments unnecessary delay, to
pass essential legislation to give
the President the power he needs.
This is no time for politics.
The workers began streaming
out of the steel mills across the
nation within minutes after the
high court acted, even before get
ting formal strike instructions from
Philip Murray, head Of the clio
and the Stcelworkers Union.
II was the Steelworkers second
strike since their contract expired
last Jan. /. The first walkout lasted
only three days, April 2s.May ].
Mr.. Truman may first try to
persuade the industry and union
TO hold new peace talks. John A.
Stephens, u. s. Steel Co. vice pres
ident and a leading industry ne
gotiator, announced Monday night
that the steel firms, now back in
the hands of their private owners,
would ''sit down with the union
without delay to try to reach a
fair settlement of the steel strike. :"
Murray, too, had suggested re.
newed talks but insisted that the
union was still standing on Wage
Sterilization Board tWSBl recon.
mendations for a 26-eent.an-hour
package" increase in an is.m0nth
contract. These terms have been
unacceptable to the industry.
stephens pointed out thct the in
dustry has offered l21a-cent hourly
pay boost, plus about five cents an
hour in fringe" benefits, or Ira
cents In oil. II was understood this
offer was contingent, however, on
government approval of higher
steel prices. Workers presently
make about SIs5 an hour, includ.
ing overtime.
Effects of the steel strike began
being felt almost Immediately. The
government enlarged all ship
ments Of steel from retail ware
houses 70 consumer goods pro-
dueers. However. officials said
most manufacturers have at least
q months supply on hand.
Automobile manufacturers are
likely 20 run into trouble IL the
strike lasts any time. Officials said
they are ,iown TO u 2.week supply,
Some coal. iron ore and other
mining facilities began TO close
because Of the steel stoppa Sc. Coal
Ii generally in plentiful supply
above ground.