Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-06-08
Steel Truce Seen
Today or Tomorrow;
One Issue unso!ved
Continued From First Page.

\NOuIIuue0 from F1TSG PageJ
Murray nor John A. Stephens,
United States Steel vice president
and chief management spokesman,
would talk about what took place
in the meetings.
John r. Steelman, assistant to
President Truman and acting de-
tense mobilizer, also refused to
answer any and all reporters queS-
lions. Mr.. Steelman is the spon-
sor Of the renewed negotiations.
He made only this brief statement:
1.-THE joint session has recessed
until II am. tomorrow so the sub
committees of both parties may
meet with their own people to-
night and go over the situation in
preparation for tomorrow's meet
ing"
Top Steel Men Here.
The top officers of all of the
"big six" companies taking part
in the peace talks are here. They
began immediate discussions of
the settlement proposals.
One of the WSB proposals to
which the companies have object
ed strenuously called for payment
OF time-and-a-quarter wage rates
for all Sunday work starting next
January l. It was believed this
issue would be compromised and
put in different form. For ex-
ample, the companies might pay
a 20 per cent bonus for work on
Sundays.
Many of the industry officials
agree privately that some pre-
MUM should be paid for work onI
Sundays. The practice now is not
to pay overtime unless the hours
put in comprise overtime-add upE
to more than 40 hours or more
than five days within a week.
The question of retroactive pay
had not been settled tentatively.
The unions old contract expired
last December 81. The WSB pro-
posed a 1919 cents an hour in
crease should be made retroactive
to that date.
But it seemed likely the union
would yield some on that point.
There was talk that the new con-
tract might be dated March Is.
In that event the workers would
get their full increase paid back
to that point. The size of the in
crease would be larger than WSB'sI
first step. But the companies would
not have to pay it back so far.
Sincere Effort to Settle.
There was considerable pressure
on both union and management
to settle the dispute And both sides
repeatedly were making sincere
efforts to reach agreement. The
pressure was built up by the strike
which soon will have a serious
effect on the defense and civilian
production programs.
A few of the operators, however.
were said to favor waiting until
Congress takes some action deal
ing with the strike. The Senate
will take up tomorrow some pro-
poSalS which are in the form of
amendments to bills extending
wage and price controls.
One, introduced by Senator
Byrd. Democrat, of Virginia,
would compel the President to in
woke the Taft Hartley Act against
the strike. The act provides for an
80-day strike Injunction. Mr.. Tru-
man has refused to use this on the
grounds that the steelworkers
postponed strike action for more
than 80 days. He also pointed out
that an injunction would not
settle the basic dispute and might
make it more intense.
The steel industry's demand for
a substantial price increase toE
Offset the higher wages has BEEN
a major obstacle to agreement.
The administration at one time
offered a price boost of $3.50 al
ton. The Companies said it was
not enough. It was believed the
final price settlement would pro-
vide an increase of IS or $3.50 a
ton. The present average price of