Evening star., 1954-08-06
Evidence Is Studied
In Probe Of 'Payoffs'
To Agents Of Unions
By Miriom Gutenberg

Members OF the House Anti
Racketeering subcommittee to-
day began to Sift the evidence of
four days of painters union
hearings to determine what for
NAL recommendations should
come out of the mass of charges
and countercharges.
Subcommittee Chairman Ben
der of Ohio said that obviously
some one was lying and obviously
there are some things about the
situation that aren't on the
level"
The hearings centered on al
legations that some officials Of
District Council 81. Brotherhood
Of Painters, Decorators and
Paperhangers of America. AFL,
extorted bribes and took payoffs
from painting contractors for
special favors.
Goodwill Bought.
Representative Hoffman Of
Michigan, chairman of tn e
House Committee on Govern
ment Operations, to which the
subcommittee will submit its re-
port. commented:
The evidence appears to be
conclusive in support Of the con-
tention that, in order to do busi-
ness. contractors who obtain jobs
in the Washington, Maryland
and Virginia area. if they would
operate, must have the good will
of business agents of District
Council 81.
Apparently, it has been Gus
tomary for the contractors to
purchase this good will by making
gifts or payments to business
representatives or agents of Dis
trict Council 81. From a prac-
tical standpoint. it is immaterial
whether these payments are in
duced by fear or a desire to. as
one contractor expressed it, Gre
ate favorable atmosphere.
From a legal and ethical
standpoint, the practice of solic-
iting, accepting or volunteering
such payments is unsound. 1t
imposes an unjuStif1able tax upon
industry and it is doubtful that
any substantial benefits are OBJ
tanned for the employees who do
the work."
Would Curb Authority.
Mr.. Hoffman said the testi-
.mony, in his Judgment, shows
the Taft-Hartley Act should be
amended in such a way as to les
sen the authority of union off,
cials to determine which mem
bers of the locals should go on
a job.
Arbitrary authority Of union
officials to make trouble for con-
tractors or secure better terms
for the men who do the work
should be taken from them" Mr.
Hoffman declared. 1.-THE mem.
bership of the locals should, ir
fact as well as in theory, have
final control over the working
conditions and the terms of the
bargaining contracts
He said the authority nov
exercised by union official.
should be restricted because thai
authority "as presently exer.
cised, is an invitation to those
individuals to shake down con.
tractors and that without hene.
fit to the workers"
Mr.. Bender pointed out thai
Justice and Treasury Depart.
ment officials have sat in on thu
hearings. Along the same line
Mr.. Hoffman said it was ur
to the Justice and Labor De.
partments to determine whether
any of the witnesses should bt
prosecuted either for violation.
of the Taft-Hartley Act, the
Hobbs Anti-Racketeering Act, OF
for perjury.
A subcommittee decision or
recommendations, Mr.. Bender
said, will await the completion
! Of testimony. One witness whit
pleaded illness will be interviewed
in Philadelphia by Representa-.
tive lizard, Democrat, of Texas
Then, Mr.. Bender said, the sub.
committee will hold its report
meeting next week.
Final witnesses yesterday
afternoon included Baltimore
union men who denied receiving
/ payments from q contractor. The
! last witness was Ernest j.. Fon.
/ tana, president of Local 1853 o1
the painters union here, who
said he sold paint, but got only
5 per cent Of his business from
/ L.