Evening star., 1953-10-05
BY the Associated Press

day strike injunction under
the Taft Hartley law.
By the AsSocioted Press
NEW YORK, Oct. 5.-Antici-
pated Government action today
may bring a quick end to an
economy-crippling strike of long
Shoreman from Maine to Vir-
ginia.
A special three-man presi-
Dental Board of Inquiry ex-
pected to deliver to the White
House by early afternoon a re-
port containing findings indicat-
ing whether the walkout is en-
dangering the Nations welfare.
The report to President Eisen-
hover will make no specific
recommendation, but almost GER
tainly will result in his asking
the Justice Department to seek
in Federal Court an 80-day in
junction under the Taft-Hartley
Law.
May Be Served BY Tonight.
It is possible that an injunc-
ton could be obtained and
served by tonight. Leaders of
the striking International Long
Shoremen's Association QLA
have said they will instruct their
men to obey such a court order.
An estimated $4,000 to $4,000
lila members from Portland,
Me, to Hampton Roads, Va, are
involved in the wage-contract
dispute which erupted into a
strike at midnight last Wednes-
day.
Some big transatlantic pas
Senger liners have been diverted
from the strike bound ports. The
cost of the walkout in New York
has been estimated at SIS mil
lion a day.
The contract fight between the
lila and the New York Shipping
Association, representing ITO
shipping and stevedore COM
panies, is further complicated by
efforts of a new AFL docks union
seeking to win over longshore-
men from the LILA.
AFL leaders formed the new
union-International LongShore-
mems Association, AFL QLA-
AFL)-after ousting the old lila
for failing to purge itself of
racketeering elements.
Public Hearings Held.
President Eisenhower's Board
of Inquiry in the dock strike held
public hearings here Saturday,
then spent yesterday preparing
its report.
After hearing testimony from
union and shipping representa-
tives Saturday, all three board
members said the situation is
serious.
During the 80-day cooling
off" period which the Taft-Hart-
ley injunction would allow, the
lila and the shippers would be
expected to try to negotiate their
differences.
However, the shipping firm
representatives at Saturdays
hearing indicated they might be
reluctant to come to terms with
the AFL-ousted union. They told
the board they had been notified
by the AFL that its new ILA-
AFL intended to contest the LILA
for the right to represent the
longShoremen.
Locals Pick New Officers.
Loyal LILA members of two To-
calS-No. 1,171, composed of
coopers. and No. CTS, checkers
and clerkS-which last week
bolted to the AFL, met yester-
day to contest the actions of
their leaders.
The leaders of the two locals
had announced that their men,
bers had voted to join the AFIL.
DiSSidentS yesterday elected
new slate of officers and said
they would remain with the lila.
The full membership of the To-
calls did not participate in any
Of the votes.
Queen Mary Diverted.
Meanwhile, some 26O travellers
from Europe arrived in New York
by train from Halifax, Nova
Scotia. Their ship, the British
Cunard liner Britannia, was di-
verted there from New York Sat-
urday because of the strike. The
Britannia passengers were exam
lned by immigration authorities
on the train and underwent Gus
toms inspection of baggage at
Grand Central Terminal.
The Cunard liner Queen Mary
also has been diverted to Hall
fax and docked there today. The
British Mauretania is due in
New York today and will attempt
to dock without the use of tugs,
whose crews are lila members.
The striking lila is seeking 13
cents more an hour in a wage
and welfare package. The en-
ployerS have offered an 8la cent
package. The present basic rate
Is $2.27 an hour.