Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-10-25

Just before the deadline for the
striking steelworkers and the COM
panies to report the status OF
their negotiations to the presi-
dental fact-flnding board, hopes
ran high for a settlement.
A new, scaled-down contract
proposal had been made by the
union and q counter-proposal by
management. Agreement, closer
than any time before, proved as
elusive as ever. The talks col
lapsed.
But, as Alexander Pope OBJ
served: Hope springs eternal in
the human breast"
This week end, after four days
crowded with legal moves in two
Federal courts. the wellsprings OF
hope we're bubbling again. Union
and company representatives
we're back at the bargaining table,
They had returned eagerly. The
pressures of self-interest and ma
tional well-being were never
greater in the 1903 days of the
strike which has shut down 81 per
cent of Americas steelmaking
capacity and caused losses in pay.
profits and tax revenues now
counted in the billions of dollars.
An afternoon bargaining session
broke up yesterday with signs of
any progress obscure. But the ne
gotiators planned to sit right down
again today, the first time they
have scheduled a Joint meeting
on Sunday since the strike be-
gan July Is.
The events of the week which
brought about resumption OF
the contract talks were these:
MONDAY. The fact finding
board, headed by Prof. George w.
Taylor, reported its findings to
President Eisenhower. 1t said it
saw no chance for an early settle
ment.
Mr.. Eisenhower then took the
next step in the Taft-Hartley Act
emergency procedures. He di-
rected the Attorney General to
seek Federal injunction to bring
the steelworkePS back to their
jobs for an 80-day period. Said
the President: 1T is a sad day
for the Nation"
TUESDAY. The Government
asked Federal Judge Herbert P.
Sorg, a Republican. in Pittsburgh
to grant the cooling of" injunc-
ton because of a national emer-
gency brought on by the strike.
The United Steelworkers of Amer
lea objected on the grounds there
was no threat to the national
health and safety" as required by
aft-Hartley before an injunction
may be sought and, further. that
the injunction provisions Of the
act were unconstitutional.
The union argued that the pro-
visions confer on the courts duties
which are not judicial and are not
connected with any case. 1t
added that it had no legal dis
pute with the Government, but
solely an economic dispute with
the steel companies.
WEDNESDAY. Judge Sorg
granted the 80-day injunction to
end the steel strike, but judge
of the Court of Appeals for the
Third Circuit in Philadelphia is
sued a temporary stay in execu-
ton until Thursday morning to
see whether the stay should con-
tinue beyond that time.
THURSDAY. A Circuit Court
panel of three judges, all Demo-
Gratis, voted to stay the District
Court order to end the steel strike
until Monday tomorrow or Tues
day so that it might have more
time to study whether to uphold
the order or cancel it. At the
same time, the panel directed the
steel companies and the union to
resume negotiations in an effort
to reach an agreement.
FRIDAY. David j. Mcdonald,
president of the United Steel
workers, sent out a telegram ask
ing management to meet Monday
morning for talks. Management
replied. in effect: why wait?
Let's meet Saturday"
SATURDAY. Union and man.
agement representatives resumed
collective bargaining amid hints
of new contract proposals. Re-
ports circulated that Mr.. Eisen-
hover might order his fact-f1nding
board. which had made substan-
tial progress in bringing the OPP
posing sides closer together, back
to work to help mediate the
dispute.