Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-06
Administration
Drafts Curbs on
Corrupt Unions
BY CECIL HOLLAND
star stan Correspondent

NEW YORK, Sept. 6.-The|
Eisenhower administration Is
at work on legislation designed
to curb corruption and gang
sterism in labor unions.
The legislation likely win bel
recommended to the next Con-
gress If organized labor fails
to clean house.
This was revealed here yes
terday by Secretary of Labor
Mitchell. He said the Labor,
Justice and Commerce Depart
rnents we're working together
on possible changes that might
be recommended in the ma
tional labor laws and added:
"What they might be viii
depend on how well labor
eleanses its own house."
Mr.. Mitchell expressed his
confidence and that Of the pub
lie in the efforts Of AFL-CIO
President George Meany to
correct abuses In organized
labor as revealed by the select
Senate committee investigating
improper labor management
activities.
HOffa Reference Seen
eff, however, other people
appear on the scene" the Sec
rotary added significantly.
there may be demands for
maximum controls"
Mr.. Mitchell mentioned no
names. But his remarks APP
peared to refer to James r.
Hoffa. the Detroit Transfers
bigwig whose activities and
connections with New York
labor racketeers are under in
vestigation by the Senate COM
mittee.
The 44-year-old Hoffa ap-
pears certain to succeed the
discredited Dave Beck as pres
ident Of the International
Transfers Union. the largest
in the country. with is million
members, at the unions con-
vention in Miami Beach start
ing September 80.
Mr.. Mitchell was one Of the
principal speakers at Q meeting
Of about so labor news repor-
ers sponsored by the Louis
Stark Memorial Fund. Inc.
The fund was established In
memory of Louis Stark. New
York Times Pulitzer prize-win-
ming reporter and dean Of la
Dor writers, who died in 1884.
FayOrs Publicity on Funds
Mr.. Mitchell said the admin
istration also would push for |
legislation to require full dis
closure on union pension and
welfare funds and for authority |
for the Labor Department to |
make public reports on other |
union funds. Bills covering
these subjects were introduced
in the last session but were not
considered.
The Secretary said the adj
ministration was considering
AL areas" Of new labor legis-
lation. but he added that he
was unable to say now what
specific legislation would be
recommended. The real hope
for correction Of abuses in or
ganized labor, Mr.. Mitchell
said. rests with labor. itself, and
its leaders.
Others who appeared on the
opening program Of the three
day conference of labor re-
porters were william Grede Of
Minneapolis. former president
Of the National Association of
Manufacturers; David Kaplan,
head of the Economic Distri-
button Foundation. George w.
Taylor, who was chairman of
the War Labor Board and now
Is a University Of Pennsylvania
professor, who presided. and
Turner Catledge. managing
editor of The Times.
Legislation Needed
Mr.. Grede said the Senate
committees revelations Of
abuses in labor unions points:
to the need for some sort OF
remedial legislation" including
q right-to-work law, elimina-
ton Of secondary boycotts and
freedom from political coercion.
Both Mr.. Kaplan and Secre-
tary Mitchell questioned
whether such legislation as
right-to-work laws would cor
rect any abuses in organized
labor and union activity.
Mr.. Catledge praised Louis
Stark as "the pioneer" in OBJ
Jective labor reporting. Mr..
Stark was sent to Washington
in 1888 on a temporary assign
ment and remained for Is
years.
A $4,000 fund was raised on
his death to be used in furth-
ering his aims and principles as
q reporter Of labor news.