Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-21
BY LEE M. COIN
star star Writer

The outlook for labor reform
legislation was more confused
than ever today. with unions
and their critics racing on in
all directions.
Top leaders Of the AFL-CIo
are battling In the House to
kill Injurious" sections Of the
Senate's bill, which they in
dorsed before tough amend
ments were added.
James r. Hoffa's Transfers
Union is lobbying to soften
even the AFL-CIO's reform
proposals. but Mr.. Holfa set
back his own cause with q
speech interpreted as q threat
to Congress.
Secretary Of Labor Mitchell
still wants the House to pass
the Eisenhower administra-
tons reform bill, but the
President has changed his po-
sition and the sponsor Of the
administration bill has de-
serted.
Organized labor's most Sc
we're critics are working on
union regulatory measures that
would go far beyond any Sc
rious proposals to date.
Action in Doubt
These and other cross-cur-
rents raise serious doubts about
prospects for enacting any
labor reform legislation this
year. many observers believe.
Until recently, the outlook
seemed bright for legislation
along the lines of the Senate's
bill. but now the various fac
tons may fight each other to
q standstill.
The AFL-CIo executive coun-
Gil yesterday announced it will
wage q vigorous battle" in the
House to overhaul the bill
passed by the Senate last
month.
Amendments adopted on the
Senate floor through malice or
ignorance" the council said,
transformed an acceptable re-
form bill into a measure that
could hamper legitimate trade
unions engaged in legitimate
pursuits and would unwar-
rantedly jeopardize the liberties
OF all honest trade unionists. y
The council concludes It's
quarterly meeting at AFL-CIo
headquarters today. 1t expects
to concentrate on internal
problems.
Council Hits at Critics
Enemies Of organized labor
the council charged, are using
the slogan Of reform as "a
sword designed to destroy
legitimate unions and free COL
lective bargaining" instead OF
just cracking down on racke-
teering..
AFL-CIO President George
Meany refused at a press con-
ference to pinpoint objections
to the Senate bill. One prob
able reason Is that the ALL
CIO and the Transfers Union
oppose some Of the same Sec
tons of the measure. Mr.
Meany does not want to iden-
tify the labor federation with
Mr.. Hoffa's lobbying campaign
Informally, AFL-CIO officials
indicate their opposition CEN
tiers on three provisions added
to the Senate bill through floor
amendments:
/ Prohibitions against "hot
cargo" clauses, through which
unions pressure truckers moi
to handle goods from COM
panies engaged in labor dis
putes.
Safeguards for the rights Of
rank-and-file union members,
the Senate's "bill Of rights
could encourage dissidents ant
generally create chaos in union
ism, labor spokesman maintain
Limitations on organizations.
Ipicketing.
No Threat Voiced
While the councils resolution
implied that it would rather
have no legislation than accept
the Senate bill, leaders tried tt
avoid q threatening tone. In.
stead Of taking an all-or-noth.
ing stand, they emphasized thai
the AFL-CIO will continut
fighting for sound" anti-rack.
eteering legislation that woule
not weaken honest unions.
/ Mr.. Hoffa Of the TeamsterI
yesterday denied he had threat.
ened to call a Nationwide
i 1T