Evening star., 1953-05-08
TobeyC|ashes
With Meany
Al Dock Probe
AFL Chief DiscIuims
Power to Fire Ryan,
Indicted Union Boss
By the Associoted Press

d1SIIIy COlU OcIldGOF 1ODey, he.
publican, of New Hampshire to-
day that well decide-you
won't" as to what the labor
federation will do about a clean
up on the racket-ridden New
Jersey waterfront.
We'll decide" Senator Tobey
shouted back at him in a stormy
exchange at a Senate Commerce
subcommittee hearing. We'll
pass legislation that will put the
hooks into this situation"
The clash between the pom
derous labor chief and the Sen
ator. chairman of the investi-
eating subcommittee, was set of
by a demand from Senator Tobey
for faster action in the AFL s
moves to clean racketeers out of
its International Longshore-
mems Association.
Mr.. Meany had testified he
has no power to kick out Joseph
P. Ryan as the LAS president,
or to penalize the union itself
if it fails to clean house.
Says He Lacks Power.
He said authority to take such
actions is vested by the AFL
constitution in the unions an
nual conventions, and that he
personally lacks authority even
to call a special convention
ahead of it's scheduled meetings
next September.
Senator Tobey contended that
could mean too long a delay,
and demanded:
Don't you think you ought
to amend the constitution" j."
We'll amend the constitution
as we think it should be
amended" Mr.. Meany broke in.
And we will not ask YOU"
Senator Tobey contended that
Mr.. Meany was misinterpreting
his remarks and Downey Rice,
the subcommittee counsel, as
Sured the AFL chief that he felt
1T is not our function to order
the AFL around" but that Fed
eral legislation to force a cleanup
might result from the hearings.
Makes Quick Rejoinder.
At another point Mr. Meany
told Senator Tobey "Well amend
our rules when we think they
should be amended crime
is not just peculiar to trade
unions"
Senator Tobey told him the
hearings have shown "a satu-
rated solution" of crime on the
docks.
Senator Tobey roundly de-
nounced Ryan, who is now await
ing trial on charges of misusing
some $11,300 of union funds.
Hes a liability to the union
movement" Senator Tobey as
serted. THE union members
ought to throw him out"
Mr.. Meany said he expects on
May 20 report from the union
itself on what house cleaning
plans it has, but that he per-
sonally could do nothing" at
that time to force compliance
with an AFL directive to the
union to carry out a house clean
ing.
Defends Ryan'S Rights.
Mr.. Meany insisted that in
his eyes, Ryan and his associates
at the top of the union stand
innocent until they have been
convicted of something. Mr..
Rice had pointed to charts he
SAID showed many of the lila
officials have criminal records.
IF a member of Congress is
accused, does the Congress kick
him out?" Mr.. Meany demanded,
his voice rising. They wait till
he is convicted"
Senator Tobey recessed the
hearings for about 10 days, which
would bring it back into session
about the time the lila report
is due.
Before the recess, Mr.. Rice
announced move by the sub
committee to try to invoke penal
provision of the Taft-Hartley
Labor Relations Act against per-
sons named thus far in the hear
ingS.
He spoke of making a test case
on a section of the labor act
which forbidS a union official to
take money or anything of value
from an employer whose work.
ers he represents.
Earlier, Senator Tobey stormed
at Mr.. Meany that the ILA
hasn't done "a damn thing
about meeting AFL demands for