The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1958-05-30

Washington The pain OF laboT
legislation through Congress usually
IN streWn with hazardous hurdles
and the rate Of progress is subject
10 many uncertain factors
Consider. Tor example. the pres
n status OF legislation passed IN
animously f88 to o. by the Senate
for disclosure to the Secretary Of
Labor 81 the details of all pension
and welfare funds.
Backed by such an overwhelming
Vote. ore would normally expect
that Inc bill strongly opposed BY
industry-Would zooln through the
House and onto the statute books.
But what happened?
Some influential House members
we're convinced that the measure
should ID given careful scrutiny
ard 50 that is to BE- done. There
are widespread predictions that
this action means the death Of the
legislation for this session Of Con
gress-but. At the present time. that
cannot safely be assumed,
What happened specifically vas
this The Labor Committee voted
Is to IA. for the appointment Of a
subcommittee to consult with but
not to hold hearings insurance
groups. business groups. labor
groups and other interested parties
and. as soon as possible. to make
\ report that VIII bc the basis of
hearings by the full Labor Com
mittee.
This action was taken On a
motion BY Rep. Teller (D-NY who
is reported to be opposed to the
measure.
The subcommittee Is To BE- ap-
pointed by Rep. Barden fD-NCl.
chairman Of the full committee.
IN tho past he has been a strong
advocate Of states rights and an
tagonistic to increasing the power
Of the federal government.
Obviously. the outcome Will be
determined large measure. at
least-by the length of time re
CURED To select the subcommlt-
tee, 10 organize for the study. TO
make the study. for the full com
mlttee to hold hearings and agree
on recommendations. for the Rules
Committee to permit floor debate
I ~ frpnl3nnftIt yinu-C c,yoh nrDnnco1c
with distastel for House action, for
consideration by the Senate-HOuse
Conference Com mittce tif the
House should change the Senate
bill and finally. for final approval
Of the Conference Agreement BY
the Senate and House.
All Of this could take a very long
time and. in II event, the
date Of Congressional adjournment
whether early or late) could be
decisive. This is an election year
and Senators and Representatives
naturally want to get back home
as early as possible to campaign.
General Labor Legislation
General labor legislation Is in a
somewhat similar situation-but the
consensus in Washington still is
that Congress is unlikely to pass
any effective measure at this time.
Hearings have started before a
Senate Labor Subcommittee headed
by Senator Kennedy tD-Mass.1.
who has promised to report a bill
to the Senate by June 10. However.
he wants action limited to remedy
ing the evils exposed by the Nc
Clellan Committee investigation.
Thus, if he has his way, there
would be no recommendation for
such basic action as placing unions
under antitrust laws. protecting the
right Of a worker not to Join a
union if he does not wish to do So.
and prohibiting polictical activity
by unions.
The voting record Of the Senate
Labor Committee in recent years
would indicate that there is little,
if any. likelihood that it will ap-
prove legislation going to the heart