Evening star., 1952-05-31
Action in Congress
Unlikely This Year
On New Strike Law
BY the Asseciassd Press

NIL bvOW 0bH bNV Inv
BY the Asseeiassd Pres.
Efforts in Congress to find q
new method of dealing with ma
tional emergency strikes have
produced q rash of legislative pro-
Iposals. some Of them revolu-
ltionary. but a final answer ap-
pears to be far OF.
In the opinion of congressional
labor experts, Congress is not
likely to take any decisive action
this year despite weeks Of hear
ings by several committees of
both houses.
The question is this: How far
and in what way should the Gov
ernment intervene In deadlocked
labor disputes which threaten to
erupt into strikes and imperil the
national welfare and security?
President Truman's hotly con-
tested seizure Of the steel industry
last month was the springboard
which, bounced five committees
into quick consideration Of meth
ods to prevent national emergency
strikes and the more immediate
question Of whether the steel
seizure was lawful.
Steel Ruling Awaited.
Mr.. Truman did not use the 80
day no-strike provisions Of the
Taft-Hartley Act. He relied upon
inherent" constitutional power
to seize the steel mills. The
Supreme Court may rule next
week on whether he possesses
such power or acted illegally.
Bills recently introduced in
Congress in the wake of the steel
seizure include, among others, one
which would allow 60-day seizures,
one which would allow indefinite
seizures and one which would sub
ject labor unions to prosecution
under the antitrust laws.
Also occasionally mentioned is
a possible prohibition on industry
wide bargaining as a cure to Ma
tion-wide strikes in vital indus
tries.
Senator Taft. Republican, of
Ohio, says he does not favor ban
ming industry-wide bargaining.
Senator Taft is leading the race
for the G. o. p. presidential nom
ination.
Opposes Bargaining Curb.
He said in an interview:
"You don't want to curb indus
try-wide bargaining unless you
see no other alternative to pre-
vent national emergency strikes"
Senator Taft also said he would
not amend the antitrust laws so
that unions could be liable to
prosecution as conspiracies in re-
straint Of trade.
The House approved a ban on
industry-wide bargaining in l947
when considering the Taft-Hart-
ley labor law. But the Senate re-
fused to 60 along.
Congressional observers say
that a large part of industry
would resist any such prohibition
today. Associations Of employers
who join together for collective
bargaining purposes are at least
assured that one of them is not
going to get o worse deal than
another when the work contract
is finally signed. Whatever the
terms. they are the same for all.
Pure industry-wide bargaining
applies only where all employers
and all employees in one industry
delegate their bargaining to one
agent each.
Spotlight on Morse Bill.
A bill introduced by Senator
Morse, Republican. Of Oregon ap-
pears to be getting the most Sc
rious attention In the Senate.
Senator Morse's proposal would
allow presidential seizures UP to
60 days in strikes or threatened
strikes which seriously affect the
country's security. The seizure
could last longer with congress
sional approval or Congress could
void it.
Industry and union onicials
who have testified on the Morse
bill have all been against 1t. But
Senator Douglas, Democrat, OF
Illinois. says he thinks it is the
best thought-out" proposal yet
offered. And Senator Humphrey,
Democrat. Of Minnesota, chair
man of the Senate Labor-Man-
agement Relations Subcommittee
| studying the bill. has indicated
that If 1t becomes necessary to
grant the President specific seiz-
ure powers, the Morse bill may be
the best way to do it.
. The measure would set up an
emergency board to study the
dispute and make recommends
tionS for settlement. During
seizure. the Government could
raise the wages Of employees and
put in effect the boards recon-
mendations. It could also i'm
pound all profits, use them for
operating expenses and pay the
owners compensation.
National Association Of Manu-