Evening star., 1952-05-07
Steel Pay Plan
is Defended by
|WSB Chairman
Board Adheres to
Congress Policy,
Feinsinger Testifies
By jones Y. Newton

chairman Nathan p. FelnSinger
denied fatty today that his Wage
Stabilizatione Board had ever "vio-
lated or failed to respect" the ma
tional labor policy as outlined by
Congress.
Mr.. Feinsinger testified before
the House Labor Committee. The
group is conducting full investi-
cation of the WSB. Special en-
phaSis is being placed on the
boards proposals for settling the
steel dispute.
Mr.. Feinsinger said his board in
its decisions had complied with .
the letter of both the Taft -Hartly
and the Defense Production Acts.
The former outlines labor -man-
agement relations policy. The
Defense Act lays down policy for
wage and price controls. Mr.. Fein-
singer said that in neither case
had his board departed from the
intent of Congress in passing the
laws.
Mr.. Feinsinger has been the
center of storm surrounding the
Administrators handling of the
steel dispute. He announced yes
terday he would leave Government
June 80. Hhe has been on leave
as a professor in the University
of Wisconsin Law School.
Proposed accent Raise.
In the steel case the WSB pro-
posed a 26-cent per hour increase
in wages and other benefits. The
CIO United Steelworkers would
receive these benefits over an 18-
month period. The steel COM
panies rejected it, and President
Truman seized the mills to prevent
Ia strike.
Yesterday, former Defense Mob
ilizer Charles E. Wilson told the
Labor Committee the 26 cents pro-
posal was twice as much as the
CIO union would have received
If the Government had not in.
tervened. Mr.. Wilson resigned
from Government five weeks ago
because of differences with Presi-
dent Truman over the handling
OF the dispute.
Mr.. Wilson said the WSB should
be made up of all pubic members
instead of the present equal repre-
sentation of the public, labor and
industry. He also said the board
should not be permitted to settle
labor disputes as we'll as to ad-
minister wage control policy. He
said that in steel WSB was more
concerned with making recon-
mendations to satisfy the union
than it was in holding down wages.
Mr.. Feinsinger denied fatty that
his proposals for the steelworkers
were out of line with stabilization
policy. He said the 26-cent package
was entirely within control law
and regulations. He added that
the 18-month contract advocated
by the board offered far more
stability than a one-year agree
ment. which is normal in the in.
dustry.
Makeup of Board Defended.
AS for the suggestion that the
WSB should be made up of pub
lie members only, Mr.. FeinSinger
said:
IF we are to consider the i'm
pact of Government controls on
collective bargaining. on indus
trial peace and on defense pro-
duction, we most certainly need
the help of people who are able
to represent adequately and
vigorously tn point of view Of
labor and management.
IF we are to have that help
it can best be given by men who
have equal status in voting than
otherwise"
Mr.. Feinsinger said he didn't
contend that the boards record in
handling disputes had been per-
feet. He said, however, that the
record was good when it is con-
sidered the board has been oper-
ating, without no-strike pledge
and without the patriotic stim-
ulus of an all-out war"
He also denied that his board
"has rubber-stamped petitions for
approval of wage increases" He
said that in nearly $500 cases or
over ID per cent. of those coming
to sthe board. wage increases re-
Iqufsted either had been reduced
or denied.
Mr.. Wilson told the committee
yesterday it never was intended
for the WSB to force the union
shop" or other non economic de-
cisions, on an entire industry as
proposed in the boards steel rec
concentrations.
Public Members Assailed.
In biting terms. he struck at
the boards six public members.
who sided with the six labor mem
bers against the six industry
members in the steel case.
It was his general belief" he
asserted in response to questions
by Chairman Barden, that public
members of the board worked with
union members to the virtual ex-
clusion of industry members.
Ayn,v Enninnore Hnva