Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-10-13

ceeded at least in clarifying
the issues. Qualification, DR..
Taylor said, is the first step
in mediation.
Mr.. Mcdonald confirmed re-
ports that he talked last night
to several executives of the
auto industry. He said he dis
cussed his demand for nego-
tiation by top executives Of the
steel companies.
He denied a rumor that he
told the auto executives about
a new wage proposal. All dis
cussion of wages. he said, was
in terms of general philoso-
phy"-the theory that wage in
crease for steel workers would
boost purchases Of auto and
other gods.
Profit Seen With Price Cut
Otis Brubaker, research di-
rector of the union, testified in
support of the unions demand
for wage and benefit improve
ments costing an estimated Is
cents an hour in each year OF
IA new contract.
Discussing profits, prices and
productivity, Mr.. Brubaker said
the IL largest steel companies
could grant demands, cut steel
prices 81 a ton and still earn
net profits after taxes equal to
the 1857 record.
The union was scheduled to
conclude its testimony before
the board late today. r. Conrad
Cooper. chief management ne
gotiator, and other company
spokesman were slated to pre-
sent their cases tomorrow.
The top executives with
whom Mr.. Mcdonald wants tc
negotiate are Roger Blough Of
United States Steel, A. B
Homer of Bethlehem, Avery
Adams of Jones & Laughlin
and Charles White of Republic
Steel.
Striving for Settlement
DR.. Taylor left no doubt that
he is going all out to achieve
a voluntary settlement Of the
strike.
The board must report its
findings to President Eisen-
hover Friday. Asked if he
hopes to report good prospects
for a settlement, DR.. Taylor
replied: boy. I hope we can
say that"
But, he added. it is too soon
to judge the outlook. Talks
with the antagonists so far
have been exploratory" he
said.
DR.. Taylor left open the pos
sibility that the boards report
may suggest a delay in i'm
posing an injunction to senc
the 100000 steelworkers back
to the struck mills and fur
naces.
He presumably will propose
Joint meetings of the union anc
the companies if separate con-
ferences develop promising
leads for a settlement.
Focus On Issues
He made it clear that thu
board of inquiry is concen.
trating on clarifying strike
issues, and almost ignoring the
question of whether the strike
imperils the national health
and safety. That question ha.
been decided by the President
DR.. Taylor said, and it is up Il
the courts to decide whether the
judgment is correct.
If the President stands by hi
determination that the strike
endangerS the national health
and safety, he can order thu
Justice Department to seek al
80-day injunction after receiv'
ing the boards report. Even i
the strike is enjoined, DR.. Tay'
lor's board probably will con
tinue its mediation efforts.
Yesterdays testimony by thu
union emphasized the diff
Guilty of the issues and tn,
depth of the bitterness.
| Union President David J
Mcdonald declared fatty tina
the steelworkers never vii
surrender" on the key issue o
local work practices-even il
a trade for wage increases
If an Injunction is issued
Nj. Mcdonald warned, "ther
may be a truce enforced by lay
but there will be no permanen
peace. In the end the com
panies must realize that unit
they abandon their calculated
program to destroy the uniol
as an effective force. they vii
lnnt he oh1a IN continue thoi